Waiting time at the salon

[Natural Hair Stylist]

I can't believe this! I now never make my clients wait. Sometimes I am early waiting on them. And I don't double book or triple book unless you are under the dryer then I have that time to do something els. But I try to get you in and out with the quickness and with your hair looking good. I am opening my own salon, and I will let stylist go if they keep their appointments waiting for more than 30 min. Find another salon to work at because this is not going to happen in my salon. No way!

 

[StarScream35]

30 Minutes tops,(which is pushing it) and yes I have walked out on a stylist before. I either re-booked for another day or once I just went down the street to another salon. Once I went in and saw like 4 people waiting and just asked them out right "who yall waiting on?" If they all said my stylist then I'd rebook based on that.

I think part of the problem is us not complaining about it. We just see it as a rite of passage or something. Joking that you need to bring a bag lunch on Saturday's for your appointments.

Now when I read posts about people getting botched trims and long wait times, I blame the CLIENT. Don't complain about what you permit. This site taught me not to be a slave to my hair and I would never hesitate to leave a shop based up, or w/ wet hair.

We use that excuse a lot to: "Well, i had an event to go to..She already based me up...she already had the conditioner in..." No, just GET UP b/c that's a trap too.

Great post and good advice but not everyone can do this. I mean can you imagine what scene that would cause in some cases? I've gone to some stylists I know would make a scene if a person got out of the chair even though it was all their fault. Not every sista is confrontational contrary to the popular belief. Many are just as passive as say Asian women.

 

[StarScream35]

I get so irritated when a stylist is running even 30 minutes behind. I think 20 minutes is my max for being understanding.

Also, a lot of ladies have commented on going to white stylists and not having to wait. There are good, professional Black stylists out there too! I've had two great stylists in Austin and one in LA, all Black, at nice salons, who did a good job and scheduled appropriately.

We just have to seek out the professionals if we want to support Black stylists and still not wait all day. I sometimes think it's more about the salon overall than about the individual stylists -- good salons attract good stylists and are managed well (i.e., won't leave their customers sitting there for hours).

Girl if I had a dollar for every black stylist I've gone to in hopes of finding the right one who is professional, I'd be RICH! This is a serious problem among black stylists and keep in mind when you are particular about the health of your hair, jumping around to different stylists isn't good. I would love more than anything to support black owned salons and black stylists but do they care about me as the client? No they don't. Many simply take advantage of us, so its easier to find a white salon, dominican salon vs searching high and low for that one black stylist who is professional and timely. When I was younger, I didn't know any better but things are different now. My time is valuable just like theirs. If you are constantly late to an appt, believe me the stylist would probably refuse to service you anymore however when they are late and practicing horrible customer service, they expect to be excused and still get paid full price. Believe me when I say, black stylists will be responsible for their own demise. You got dominican salons, white stylists doing AA hair and sistas doing their own hair so black stylists eventually will see what crappy customer service does to a business.

 

[StarScream35]

I can't believe this! I now never make my clients wait. Sometimes I am early waiting on them. And I don't double book or triple book unless you are under the dryer then I have that time to do something els. But I try to get you in and out with the quickness and with your hair looking good. I am opening my own salon, and I will let stylist go if they keep their appointments waiting for more than 30 min. Find another salon to work at because this is not going to happen in my salon. No way!

You are the minority! Kudos to you. The only time I have ever gotten out of a black salon early (within 2 hours) was I took off work through the week, like on a Tuesday and got a 9am appt and was out by 11. But why should I have to take off work just so my time won't be wasted? Actually my time was still wasted because I had to take time off of work. I devoted at least 15 years trying to support black stylists but as much as I hate to say this, I no longer go to American black salons. I have a white stylist, a domincan salon I go to when I wanna stretch my relaxers and occasionally I'll do my own relaxers. I have things to do and places to go vs sitting in a salon for 4 to 5 hours while the stylist tries to do 6 heads at once.

 

[NewHairWOWeave]

I have become accustomed to waiting from 15-30 minutes tops. I went to the salon on Saturday and only waited about 10 min to get started on. the salon was semi-full and there were only 3 stylist and about 8-12 customers. I never wait too long and especially because I am usually a walk in, I never have a problem walking out.

But as I walked past this NEW AA salon I thought how long and how much millions will they charge for a touch up or a wash n set.

 

[StarScream35]

Oh yeah another thing I forgot to mention. Not sure if any of you have had this happen but this has happened to me with quite a few stylists. You've been there all day, it's time to get flat ironed but the stylist will take someone who came in AFTER you because their style is easier or whatever. I wish I would have known about dominican salons and other options back in the day because I sure would not have taken this kind of abuse. And that's exaclty what it is, abuse!