Her Specialty Was Handling Long Hair, But the Client’s Knee-Length Reveal Brought a Challenge She Was Not Prepared For.
When the Original Poster (OP), a hairstylist, accepted an appointment for a mother’s daughter, she was unaware of the lengths she’d have to navigate. Expecting waist-length hair based on prior communication, OP was confronted with knee-length tresses and a personal physical limitation that jeopardized the appointment. Tensions rose as OP had to make a decision that would affect both her professional reputation and a client’s satisfaction.
A New Booking
A mother called into OP’s salon to make a hair appointment for her daughter. The girl’s regular stylist was away, leading them to OP based on a recommendation. The mother inquired about her daughter’s long hair, to which the receptionist affirmed OP’s proficiency with waist-length hair.
Concealed Length
Upon the daughter’s arrival, her hair was tied in a bun, concealing its length. The mother expressed gratitude to OP, mentioning the difficulty in booking due to her daughter’s exceptional hair length.
The Ombre Color Start
As the daughter took a seat, OP requested her to let down her hair to see what she was working with. The daughter had requested a trim and ombre color. However, OP was in for a surprise regarding the hair’s actual length.
Beyond Expectations
The daughter’s hair was much longer than OP had anticipated, reaching her knees. OP realized the complications as the hair was longer than she could handle. At 50 years old and a former runner, OP had trouble with her knees.
Health Considerations
Given her knee condition, she couldn’t kneel to work on such length. The floor would be too painful on her tender joints. OP couldn’t give this girl the level of service she required for such exceptionally long hair.
The Mother’s Intervention
OP called the mother over, removed the protective gown from the daughter, and explained her inability to cut or color her daughter’s hair due to its length. The mother, visibly upset, demanded a refund of the $50 booking fee.
Irate and Seeking Justice
When the mother was reminded that the booking fee was non-refundable, a policy communicated while setting the appointment, she grew angrier and demanded to speak to the manager. The other patrons at the salon turned to stare at the unfolding scene.
Enter the Salon Owner
The salon’s owner was brought onto the scene to mediate. The salon owner decided to refund the booking fee. While it was an amicable decision for the client, it led to a discussion between OP and the owner.
Owner’s Perspective
The owner expressed her displeasure, suggesting OP shouldn’t have accepted the booking for hair of that length. OP responded by highlighting the unclear communication. “Long hair” typically meant up to the waist, a length OP was comfortable with.
Health Over Profession
OP justified her decision, sharing her physical inability to kneel without experiencing pain. It was a health concern, not a mere refusal. After the incident, the mother took to the salon’s Facebook page, airing her grievances and criticizing OP’s abilities.
Defending Expertise
The mother’s narrative on social media painted a picture of OP’s incompetence with long hair. The digital backlash affected OP’s reputation. OP felt a mixture of guilt and frustration. The heart of the matter was the mother’s lack of specificity about her daughter’s hair length.
Moral Dilemma
Facing criticism, OP wondered if her refusal was justified. She acknowledged the mother’s disappointment but also considered the importance of clear communication. Was she in the wrong for refusing to cut the extremely long hair?
Miscommunications and Assumptions
While OP faced the brunt of the mother’s disappointment, other factors were at play. The receptionist’s oversight and the mother’s vague description contributed to the unfortunate situation.
Future Insights
OP contemplates investing in a pump-up salon chair to accommodate people with extremely long hair in the future. Or perhaps even an additional seat cushion 12-18″ thick would be beneficial.
Was The Stylist’s Behavior Appropriate?
OP posts her story online for feedback and judgment from the internet community. The readers in the forum had a lot of mixed views on the matter.
Forum Responds
One reader said, “You assumed long hair meant waist length or less. This miscommunication was on you and the salon, not on the client. A refund was definitely due, and you should have explained that to the manager from the start.”
Another Commenter Thinks
Another responder wrote, “You’re the only one who knows about your physical limitations. If you had a new client coming in with long hair, you should have done your due diligence and reached out to the mom in advance to make sure you were up to the task.”
A Third View on The Story
A different person stated, “I have a friend with hair that long, and they’ve had her stand on step stools and things to make it easier for them to do her hair in the past.”
A Final Perspective on the Matter
Another reader commented, “You were wrong for not checking. She asked if it was okay for you guys to cope with the long hair – instead of asking her how long, you all assumed.”
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