​Hairstylists are so much more than just “that person who cuts my hair.” Case in point: that time you used your appointment as your personal therapy session and vented about your roommate issues for the entire duration of your cut (no judgment). In the end, we want to make our hairstylists happy, because they, in turn, make us very, very happy.

But beyond standard tipping rules, there’s a lot of gray area—which is exactly why we asked four celeb hairstylists all the questions you might feel too awkward to ask your own. Hairstylists Anh Co Tran, Tanya Abriol, Nick Stenson, and Matthew Monzon give us the scoop on what you should really do if you’re running late or unsatisfied with your cut, how much to tip your hairdresser, and more. Keep scrolling to read their perspective.

How late is too late for a client to show up to their hair appointment?
Tran: Typically, 15 minutes is too late because we work in 15-minute intervals here at the salon. If a client shows up super late, it causes me to run late the rest of my day.
Abrio: Showing up 15 minutes late really is the limit, taking in consideration that typically each service takes an hour. Consulting what you want to change about your look, getting washed, and settled in takes another 15 minutes… At that point, it has run into 30 minutes of your appointment time.
Stenson: If a client is over 30 minutes late, it’s hard to keep the client experience at an acceptable level, so it’s best that the appointment is rescheduled. A long delay makes things worse for each customer who follows, and that’s not fair to your clients who arrive on time.
Monzon: If you’re running 15 to 20 minutes late for your hair appointment, you should really call the salon and let them know. It’s a courtesy that really helps all people involved: the stylist, the receptionist, the next client, and yourself.

What should a client do if they’re running late? When should they call?
Tran: If a client is running late, call ASAP. It gives us time to adjust our day accordingly.
Abrio: If a client is running late, they should call at least 30 minutes before their appointment time. Stylists will, at that point, need to adjust the rest of their day so clients after them aren’t waiting.
Stenson: Clients should give the salon a courtesy call and be given the option of rescheduling, based on the how late they expect to be.
Monzon: If you’re running late for your appointment and you know you’re going to be later than 20 minutes, don’t always expect your stylist or the receptionist to be able to sort it out. If you’re running more than 30 minutes late, you should plan on either rescheduling your appointment or know that you may have to wait some time. Know that your hairdresser wants to make you happy and help make you beautiful. But by being late, you’re cutting into everybody else’s time.

Chattiness: yay or nay?
Tran: Chatty or not chatty, it doesn’t matter. It’s part of our job to connect with the client and vibe off of them. I’m happy either way!
Abrio: If a client isn’t chatty, it doesn’t bother me, although I really do love getting to know about a client. Everyone is different.
Stenson: It’s a personal preference, but I don’t mind it. I’m a people person, and I enjoy chatty clients. I especially enjoy when clients are interested in making sure to take the best precautions to take care of their hair and ask me for recommendations. Right now I’m loving Matrix Biolage ExquisiteOil Protective Treatment. It provides a lightweight replenishment and is great for all hair types. I recommend it to all of my clients!
Monzon: The salon experience is different for everybody. Some prefer to just take the time for themselves and not chat; some may want to chat about the latest gossip. The most important thing is to start a conversation with your stylist about the service that you want done with your hair. Bring pictures and references to show what is inspiring you so that you and your stylist are clear on what the finished result should be. That should always be the first conversation.

How much is too much when it comes to sharing things from a client’s personal life?
Tran: It’s up to the client what they choose to talk about. I just try to stay respectful and listen. I don’t like to get into an in-depth conversation with clients.
Abrio: When clients share personal situations in their lives, I really think they’re aware of what boundaries have been set. I’ve had clients share the most intimate things, and I’ve had to dismiss a client because they shared too much and were just way too inappropriate.
Stenson: Listening is part of the business of a hairdresser. We expect to know things about our clients, and frankly, we’re here to listen.
Monzon: Depending on your relationship with your stylist, it can be a bit awkward when you share intimate or personal information. As relationships continue and you get to know someone better, maybe then a bit more information is acceptable. But if you think it may be a bit too risqué or politically charged, it probably is.

Is texting during a hair appointment okay?
Tran: I personally don’t mind texting!
Abrio: Being on the phone texting during an appointment is such a common thing now. I think if you’re in the middle of a conversation, it’s rude, but if it’s not affecting the stylist and their work, it’s fine.
Stenson: If the client is the one texting, my policy is that it’s his/her time to do with what they will—as long as it doesn’t interfere with the cutting/styling process.
Monzon: Texting and cell phone usage have changed the way hairdressers work. Timing is important. For example, if you’re getting color applied, most likely it’s fine. If you're getting a sharp, one-length haircut where the balance is important, it’s definitely not a good time to be chatting or texting. But being in the salon, you should use the time to unplug, relax, and enjoy the experience of being taken care of.

What about talking on the phone?
Tran: It’s not okay. It gets in the way almost 100% of the time.
Abrio: Talking on the phone for a long period of time while having your hair done is definitely not okay. If it’s a quick chat, no big deal, but being on the phone really changes the dynamic.
Stenson: Talking on the phone makes it difficult for a hairdresser to work and is very rude. The stylist and client need to have a mutual respect.
Monzon: If you’re expecting an important call, it would be okay—just ask your stylist on how they feel about it first.

How much would you expect a satisfied client to tip?
Tran: Twenty percent.
Abrio: Tips are a funny thing. I personally always tip according to my experience. I hate the percentage rule. It’s a good guideline, but a tip is a gift, and it’s such a personal situation.
Stenson: Clients who are satisfied generally tip 20% or more.
Monzon: When it comes to tipping, 15% to 20% should be the standard practice.

Should clients tip your assistants? How much?
Tran: Absolutely. My assistants work very hard to keep my day running smoothly and help the client have a satisfactory experience at the salon. Anywhere from $10 to $40.
Abrio: Assistants should always be tipped! I think they are too often looked over, but the same rule applies if they give you a great shampoo. Tip them! When I was an assistant, I would get anything from $5 to $100 in tips, but again, it’s a personal situation.
Stenson: One should always tip someone for providing a service. That amount should be left up to the client.
Monzon: When it comes to the assistants, know that these people are training to become better and more knowledgeable hairdressers. They’re living on the tips that they’re making. When someone knows how to rinse all that color out of your hair and gives you an amazing shampoo and scalp massage, all while keeping you dry, that’s when you can decide how much it’s worth. I know many clients think of the shampoo and scalp massage as their favorite part of the salon experience.

Should a client still tip if they are unsatisfied? How much?
Tran: No, I don’t expect that.
Abrio: If a client is still unhappy after I’ve tried fixing their haircut, I wouldn’t expect them to tip. I would expect little or no tip until you redeem yourself the next time.
Stenson: I don’t think anyone should have to pay for a service they’re unhappy with. A hairdresser should make things right and try his/her best to make a client happy.
Monzon: A tip is something that isn’t expected. I think a tip is something to show the appreciation for the time and execution of the service provided. And if the client is unhappy with the service, don’t leave a tip.

What should a client do if they’re unhappy with their cut or style?
Tran: It differs from person to person and how big of a change they’re making, but telling me immediately so I can fix the problem is usually best.
Abrio: If a client is unhappy with their service, they should definitely speak up. Even if a client calls up two weeks later, they should feel comfortable calling and speaking up. Trust me, we’d rather make you happy than lose you as a client… most of the time.
Stenson: If clients aren’t happy, I’d advise them to speak up immediately so the issue can be resolved. Clients should never leave the salon unhappy.
Monzon: A client being unhappy is an unfortunate situation; this is why references and inspiration pictures are important. Also, being upfront about the past history of your hair is very, very important, especially when it comes to chemical services.

If a client has come back to the salon to fix a haircut or color they were unsatisfied with, should they still tip?
Tran: Only if they’re satisfied!
Abrio: No, they shouldn’t be expected to tip. They already paid you for a service that wasn’t to their satisfaction. Please note: Watch out for people who try to get out of paying for anything by saying they aren’t happy with their service. There’s a difference.
Stenson: Again, I’d encourage a client to stay until he/she is happy the first visit. If it’s a return visit, tipping is again a personal preference based on the circumstances. It’s always appreciated but not expected.
Monzon: If a client wants to change their long hair to a more modern length and then decides two days later they don’t like it, I think expecting any sort of compensation or refund would be completely inappropriate. But if they’re returning to fix or modify a haircut and the outcome is positive, I think the tip is at the client’s discretion.

This essential salon etiquette is brought to you from Byrdie

Let’s be honest: Hairstylists know way too much for their own good. Imagine your own hairstylist driving home at the end of the day, tired not only because she’s stood on her feet and exercised more muscles in the arms, hands, and fingers than a non-stylist could ever imagine, but also because she’s spent hours listening to her clients and providing advice about a wide range of emotional problems. Hairstylists are the go-to therapist for countless men and women, providing two services – a haircut and therapy – that everyone needs on a fairly regular basis.

Recently, I talked with a friend who’s a hairstylist, and she shared her experience of listening to clients’ personal problems and subsequently dishing out some much-needed advice. I’d heard from others stylists who’ve cut my (low-maintenance) hair over the years that they often feel like therapists, but I never understood the lengths to which clients at the salon reveal personal details until my own stylist friend gave me some examples. I started thinking about why men and women would feel so comfortable sharing such personal – and often painful details – of their lives with someone who hasn’t received mental health training, and I came up with a few simple reasons.

First, reflect for a moment about the physical positions a stylist and client maintain during a hair-cutting session: they’re not facing each other. The client looks into the mirror and can see the reflection of the stylist standing behind, but it’s far less threatening than the dynamic in psychotherapy in which the therapist sits across from the client and looks directly into the client’s eyes. In other words, the mirror creates the illusion of distance which makes the client feel more comfortable as he or she shares deeply personal details.

The position each maintains also makes questions the stylist asks less intrusive. For example, if a stylist asks into the mirror, “Why would you do that?!” it’s much less off-putting than if a therapist in a serious-looking office were to ask the same thing. Simply put, the physical positions at the salon put some clients at greater ease than the traditional therapist-client positioning in a therapy office provides.

Second, most people need to talk to some degree about conflicts they have in their lives, but they don’t necessarily want to go deep. (Come to think of it, sharing your sins with your stylist isn’t that different from a quick trip to Confession where a congregant drops a bombshell behind a closed door with a priest, and goes back out into the world feeling better - and absolved - ten minutes later.) At the salon, a client can share tawdry details but not have to worry that the stylist will hold them accountable and encourage them to change their negative behavior.

In therapy, of course, the therapist feels the pressure to remove the negative behavior. In traditional therapy, a client spends forty-five minutes exploring the motivations for bad behavior and client and therapist work together on increasing accountability and mapping out a plan for change. For someone who wants to talk a little – but not a lot – about what’s going wrong in life, the hair salon provides a helpful band-aid as opposed to the harder work – the metaphoric surgery – that comes with longer-term psychotherapy.

Finally, men and women get personal and share – or overshare? – with a hairstylist because stylists, quite honestly, are fun. They often have big, extravagant personalities, and they’ve fine-tuned and crafted their sense of humor after spending thousands of hours mastering the art of conversation while clients sit in their chairs. In contrast to a life-of-the-party stylist, therapists can seem a little…boring. And if “boring” is not the right word, “appropriate” certainly is.

While people want their therapists to be professional, stylists have the freedom to be serious and catty, or outrageous and sweet, in turns. If these professions were culinary dishes, the stylist would be spicy and aromatic, while the therapist would be healthful and low-calorie. Hairstylists are like girlfriends you want to have cocktails with, while therapists are like dependable parents you want to sit next to at Thanksgiving dinner.

As a therapist who tries to be open-minded, I believe there is value in sharing your thoughts and feelings with hairstylists – even if they haven’t been trained in mental health issues. The truth is that many of the people we listen to the most haven’t had any mental health training at all (Oprah, anyone?), but their experiences have taught them an awful lot about human behavior. Similarly, hairstylists spend hours listening to clients and often have helpful feedback to share.

The ultimate point is to talk openly about what’s bothering you so that your anxieties don’t negatively impact your life. My only hope is that you seek out a trained mental health professional if the emotional problem you’re dealing becomes a pattern and requires more time than a monthly haircut allows you.
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This is from Psychology Today

​It’s the cold and flu season! AGAIN!

Sick people either stay home or go to the doctor. They do not come to the salon.

If you are not feeling well, please stay home and take care of yourself.

I know your time is valuable and you are thinking if I miss this appointment I don’t know when I’ll be able to get back in. Just know I will do my best to accommodate you ASAP.

More times than not, when you come to your appointment sick, even if you think you are feeling betting, within 2 or 3 days I come down with whatever you had myself and I can’t come into work and finish out the workweek, which is very inconvenient for me and the rest of my clients. Remember, too, that I do not have paid sick leave like most of you.

If I am feeling under the weather I will let you know as soon as possible that I need to cancel and reschedule your appointment. It is not fare to you that I come to work sick and get you sick.

It doesn’t matter if it’s a sniffle or the flu — STAY HOME! If you are too sick to go to work you are too sick to come in for your appointment. So PLEASE let me know as soon as possible if you are not feeling well so we can reschedule your appointment.

I will say this again, STAY HOME AND TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF. I will do my best to accommodate you ASAP.
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Take Care,
Hair by Brian

That’s the conclusion of three experts with diverse experiences in the CBD space participating in last week’s Well + Good Talks panel discussion at Made by We in New York City. They emphasized that the challenge for brands in the skyrocketing CBD trade is demystifying exactly what they’re selling amid a flood of hemp-related products.

The global legal cannabis industry is expected to triple by 2022 to $32 billion, according to research from Arcview and BDS Analytics, with beauty and personal care expected to nab a fair share of sales. The Brightfield Group projects revenue in the CBD sector will hit $22 billion by 2022. Despite the large figures, CBD beauty remains a nascent segment subject to misunderstanding, fear and hype.

A Well + Good study of 1,000 readers, who are leaders in embracing wellness trends, revealed one in four have tried CBD, suggesting the ingredient isn’t quite as ubiquitous as the buzz around it implies. Senior editor Jessie Van Amburg said they want to grasp the science behind CBD-based products. That’s been a tall order, especially because there are a myriad of products on the market with questionable claims.

A lack of federal regulation has made CBD marketing a free for all. When Anthony Saniger, founder and CEO of Standard Dose, was prepping the launch of his online resource—and soon to be physical store—centered on CBD products, he discovered brands with misleading packaging. “They didn’t say truthful things,” he said. “They listed a certain milligram of CBD, but they didn’t have anything [in the product]. They were saying, ‘We cure everything,’ which is kind of snake oil.”

To cut through the clutter, Saniger said Standard Dose features a glossary of terms on its website. Brands available on the site not only provide their lab testing, but Standard Dose conducts its own to verify the testing results supplied by brands. Saniger asserted, “I tell people to double check that the product is a really good product and does not have THC because, if it does, you may get high.”

There’s a need for more transparency and greater testing in the industry, stressed Chelsea Leyland, a medical cannabis and epilepsy activist. “In terms of purchasing, you have to see first if there are even cannabinoids in the product,” she said. “I feel fed up and disappointed when I see companies calling themselves a CBD product when, in fact, it is mascara with a hemp oil in it. You are essentially lying to the consumer.”

Leyland pointed out hemp was legalized in the U.S. last year upon the passage of the Farm Bill, which played an enormous role in setting off the current CBD rush. “So, when you see products in a gas station or Whole Foods, they are derived from hemp,” she explained. Although CBD is derived from hemp, hemp oil without it has infiltrated the consumer goods universe.

Beyond not getting what consumers pay for, Leyland underscores the dearth of regulation and testing can be dangerous. She said, “You need testing to ensure quality and testing for metal since cannabis sucks up toxins from the ground.”

Compounding the problem, the experts agreed that, without the proper product vetting, users could potentially apply or ingest THC and, as a result, have an undesired high. Van Amburg said, “CBD is not supposed to get you high, but there is a study talking about how, when some CBD products were sampled, some of them had 53% THC.”

As CBD products spread, Mary Pryor, co-founder and CEO of Cannaclusive, recommended caution in selecting an outlet for purchasing them. “Here are some red flags…bodega CBD, normally not the way to go,” she said. “The reason is because that CBD is being sourced from places where there is not a regulated market, and there are a lot of additives or concerning growing procedures.”

As the industry gets sorted out, one myth being debunked is that sales will be driven only by millennials and gen Z. Saniger admitted his initial playbook was hyper-focused on young consumers. But after an 80-year old woman asked him about CBD for arthritis, he shifted gears to be age inclusive. “It is not the trendy thing to just add to your coffee to have fun,” he said. “It can help with serious issues people are dealing with and, hopefully, [there will be] trials to help figure out how to cure these things.”

Peering ahead, Pryor said the industry will be delving into the wide array of cannabis components such as THCA, THCB, CBC and CBG in addition to CBD. She said, “This is what everyone is working on now. Most pharma companies are paying to get greater extractions to get hybrid versions. That’s the next wave. People are looking outside just the CBD category.”

Saniger is dialed into finding out how terpenes, which give cannabis its odor, can be mixed with cannabinoids for custom blends. “Everybody’s combination is very different, and I am excited to see what those differences are and how we incorporate them into products,” he said. “I’m looking for how we can have better absorption rates, especially in beauty products. Also, how we can get smarter using technology that will help develop those things, especially in the beauty space.”
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This is from Beauty Independent