I conducted an interview with a stylist who is interested in joining the metro FOR MEN team the other day.  In this interview I instructed the stylist on our cutting technique on a model he brought to the interview.  The model stressed to me several times in the consultation what he did NOT want.  It was very apparent that this model was uncomfortable with a new stylists and a new hair cutting technique.  It was my goal from that moment to establish trust with this model in order for him to trust my talent and my ability to listen to what he did not want in his haircut.  I began the class focusing on the model and telling him about me, my background as a stylist, and explained to him what I was doing while I was doing it.  This put the model at ease while also easing the anxiety of the stylist who was being interviewed.  As we moved through the haircut, I continued to reassure the model and explained what we were doing as we were doing it.  By half way through the haircut, it was obvious the model began to relax and started to trust me because he saw that I was doing exactly what I said.  Three quarters way through the haircut, the model was more interested in what was on the television than what the stylist and I were doing.  I established trust with this model and it felt good.  By the end of the haircut, the stylist was so impressed by the technique we used and the model could not stop raving it was the “best haircut I have ever had” and basically said yes to everything I suggested we do to his hair.  The stylist also thanked me for showing him how I build trust with a guest.

Tust is so important in being a hairstylist and I was reminded that trust needs to be established with guests before and during a service.  As a stylist, I can feel when a guest begins to trust me and that is my opportunity no to lose it.  I keep building trust during our professional relationship.  When a guest trusts a stylist, they are a customer for life and will do anything a stylist suggests.  That is the ultimate TIP a stylist could get–a lifetime customer that trusts him/her.