Has anyone written a book yet about salon etiquette? If not, consider this my first chapter. (My next book is on cellphone etiquette, so watch for it!) The salon is the our safe place, our oasis of calm in the sandstorm of our lives. We can go there and be ourselves, put our feet up, and let our hair down. We can talk about our lovers, our mothers, our neighbors, and our bosses. We can discuss our latest diets, our vacations, and our on-going struggles with our cable companies.
But even in this sanctuary, we do have to mind our manners, especially if there are other clients or stylists within earshot. So, unless you're in a sound-proof room with your stylist or you were lucky enough to get the salon to yourself that day, please filter those statements that might offend. If there are skeletons in your PC (politically correct) closet, this isn't the place to drag them out. If you have some latent, or not so latent, hang-ups about someone else's race, religion, or sexual orientation, please don't let that Freudian slip show in the salon.
We all have our prejudices. Mine is country music. I'll say it right here. I'd rather have gum surgery than listen to any form of country music. But I have clients that absolutely love it. Well, a few. So do I trot my fanaticism out when they are in my chair? I do not. I smile and nod while they wax poetic about Clay Aikens and the latest concert they scored tickets to. Do I say I'd rather staple my fingers together than join them? No I don't. I keep that slip firmly under my skirt.
Regrettably, some prejudices are far uglier than that. And you'd be stunned at the people who will lay them out for all to see in the salon. Not only may you offend other clients, but more dangerously, you may offend your stylist. Offending your stylist is about as smart as offending the wait staff serving your food. Word to the wise.
In my grandmother's salon, she had three no-no's-don't talk about money, religion, or politics-which she followed religiously-except when she didn't. But she knew her clients, there wasn't a stranger in the house, so she knew when she could let her Freudian slip fly. And did it ever! My grandmother was to hair what Robin Williams is comedy-uncensored! But it was never in a hurtful way, and never said within earshot of anyone who might be offended. Think dirty limericks. She was a hoot.
But in today's salon, you don't know the person two chairs away who can hear every word you're saying. You don't know who the stylist next to you voted for, or where the client next to you goes to worship, or what country the receptionist's family is from. So please, by all means, let your hair down. But keep that Freudian slip well tucked up - you can text the limerick to me later.
But even in this sanctuary, we do have to mind our manners, especially if there are other clients or stylists within earshot. So, unless you're in a sound-proof room with your stylist or you were lucky enough to get the salon to yourself that day, please filter those statements that might offend. If there are skeletons in your PC (politically correct) closet, this isn't the place to drag them out. If you have some latent, or not so latent, hang-ups about someone else's race, religion, or sexual orientation, please don't let that Freudian slip show in the salon.
We all have our prejudices. Mine is country music. I'll say it right here. I'd rather have gum surgery than listen to any form of country music. But I have clients that absolutely love it. Well, a few. So do I trot my fanaticism out when they are in my chair? I do not. I smile and nod while they wax poetic about Clay Aikens and the latest concert they scored tickets to. Do I say I'd rather staple my fingers together than join them? No I don't. I keep that slip firmly under my skirt.
Regrettably, some prejudices are far uglier than that. And you'd be stunned at the people who will lay them out for all to see in the salon. Not only may you offend other clients, but more dangerously, you may offend your stylist. Offending your stylist is about as smart as offending the wait staff serving your food. Word to the wise.
In my grandmother's salon, she had three no-no's-don't talk about money, religion, or politics-which she followed religiously-except when she didn't. But she knew her clients, there wasn't a stranger in the house, so she knew when she could let her Freudian slip fly. And did it ever! My grandmother was to hair what Robin Williams is comedy-uncensored! But it was never in a hurtful way, and never said within earshot of anyone who might be offended. Think dirty limericks. She was a hoot.
But in today's salon, you don't know the person two chairs away who can hear every word you're saying. You don't know who the stylist next to you voted for, or where the client next to you goes to worship, or what country the receptionist's family is from. So please, by all means, let your hair down. But keep that Freudian slip well tucked up - you can text the limerick to me later.