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A FEW WEEKS ago, we ran a post (reprinted below) setting out one woman’s dilemma over how to part ways with her long-time colorist. It sounds like a silly problem but consider the close nature of the client-hair dresser relationship. We spend a lot of time in our stylist’s chair, often sharing personal details about each other’s lives under an unstated code of secrecy. We may not be friends per se, but … .
We asked readers if they had had similar hard times cutting the cord with their present stylist and how they had managed it. Most of you who commented, though, expressed fierce loyalty to their hairdresser, saying they would never leave him/her:
“Would never leave my hairdresser, Isabelle (Izzy) Goetz. Her haircuts are art!”–Bonnie Kogod
“I would never break up w my stylist!! I’ve been w Murat Franco through 2 salons–he is THE MASTER of the perfect blonde.”– Elizabeth Wydra
“Turguy and his nephew Onder at Georgetown Salon are the BEST!”– Jacqui Michel
“I’ve been seeing the same colorist and stylist for a million years and they both (Sonnia Aranibar and Jean Luc Vivier at Salon L’eau) are the best! However, occasionally I’ve been unfaithful and dabbled with others, but I always come back to them. I think they pretend not to notice.”– Kathy Legg
Still, if you find yourself looking for someone new to color or cut your tresses, here’s how our friend graciously and diplomatically told her former hairdresser bye-bye. She wrote a letter. Here’s my edited version:
Thank you for your phone calls. I do appreciate your concern.
Let me explain my lack of communication: In early January, I went into a winter funk and did not respond to email or phone calls. To make matters worse, my hair began falling out. As I mentioned to you, I started going to a new hair stylist for my cut and he mentioned that he had a formula from Germany that would prevent hair loss. Did I believe it?? Not sure, but I hoped. So far he has colored the roots once (no highlights yet). I would like to try his process a little while longer to see if it can strengthen the hair and roots or at least stabilize things. I am also trying to find out the name of his product.
I understand this was a time when you wanted to bring all your clients with you and I am sorry that I haven’t followed. You are a highly skilled colorist and I have a feeling I will be back to you in the very near future, but meanwhile I wish you great success at this new salon.
A FRIEND OF MINE in New York has a dilemma—with her hairdresser. She has been going to the same salon for color for 10 years and has become friendly with the colorist during that time. She also has had her hair cut at the salon with one of their stylists (with whom she was less friendly and had only seen for a year or so). So, when her cousin raved about a stylist at another salon, she decided it was worth giving someone else a try. Her haircut was superb. He also happens to color hair and mentioned to her that he uses a new, less harmful coloring process. In the past few weeks, her colorist has moved to a different salon, so my friend is deciding whether this leaves her an opening to also go to this new guy for color.
But her “old” colorist from the original salon recently called to remind her that she had moved to a different salon and hoped to see her soon. Now, she’s conflicted about what to do. Does she tell the colorist she has been seeing for 10 years that she has decided to try someone new? She doesn’t want to just ghost her. And then if she doesn’t like the new colorist’s job on her hair, does she go back to the old?