Listening

[wendybeth]

Originally Posted by LSPoorEeyorick

The "medium" is one thing. I was more concerned about her listening to me when I was screaming, crying, and telling her that I was in an extreme amount of pain and did not like it. In retrospect, I should have stood up and left the room.

I know that not all hairdressers have listening problems. Just some of them. I am curious to know our resident hairdresser's take on it. Wendy?

I don't think there is a career field on this earth that doesn't have it's non-listeners. (Doctors, anyone?) I think when it comes to hairstylists, they act as Strangler describes because many of them have either an inflated sense of ability or self, or they truly did not understand what the person wanted. I don't know many people who get up in the morning and say "I want to really **** up someones hair! Those that do don't stay in business long. The stylist should have rephrased LS's request and visually held up her hair, indicating where the layers would occur according to her understanding. I always trust that people know their own hair and try never to just do what I think would look best, although I will offer suggestions. ("Uhm, a mullett would just make you look a bit Eighties...")

I must say in our defense that there are LOTS of people who do not or will not communicate what they would like, or who refuse to take our advice when we suggest that the haircut/color, etc they are requesting would not work for them. Just this week I had two such people, both who were adament in their choices and who called back later saying they wanted to change the style. This really pisses me off because I was very clear about the fact that I knew they would not be happy and tried very hard to steer them away from their decisions, and I also cautioned them that this is the busiest time of year for us and it would be nearly impossible to get them back in should they change their minds. Of course, being a total pushover I skipped lunch two times to fit them in, but I was not a happy girl.

LS, did they make you pay? They should not have, and they should also have offered you prods to help with the styling of your new do at no charge.

[MickeyD]

Ugh.... I'm reminded of the time I went to get my hair cut, and there was a bit of a language barrier between the hair stylist and myself. Somehow she interpreted my saying "I want long layers around my face" (as I gestured from my chin on down, my hair was much longer then) as "I want bangs." After the first cut, I was like, NOOO, but of course, it was too late. I spent quite a bit on barrettes that year.

Now, the person who cuts my hair is the same person who has cut it for the past 5 or so years. She knows what I like. She knows how my hair is. She knows what looks good on me. She knows what I will and won't do to style my hair. I swear she knows me and my hair better than I know myself. Of course, I pay her more for one haircut than I used to pay for a year of haircuts...but it's sooo worth it. She'll never ever think I'm asking her to give me bangs...



The other night I had a waitress that definitely wasn't listening....I asked for a filet cooked "medium," but it came "well done." Ick.

[Alex]

You all make me glad I don't really give a dang what my hair looks like and thus have never had my hair cut by the same person twice nor been particularly upset by any haircut I've had (worst case, three weeks later it is pretty much back to where it always is).

The first haircut I got after moving to Hawaii I just walked into a place with barber chairs. I was gestured to a chair and the woman never asked what I wanted. She just cut my hair. I handed her money at the end she gave me change and I left.

Never spoke a word and I have no idea if she even spoke English.

My entire job is explaining things to people and listening to them explain what they want. So I have many examples of people not listening.

But I find that it is rarely just a matter of not listening but most often a combination of not thinking well. And the poor thinking is usually bilateral.