Crazy Clients 101 | Episode 52

Today’s episode is all about the crazies that have either found their way into your chair or who are trying to get on your books and into your chair…and what you can do about it. Danielle and Ani share more WTF salon stories and want to hear your “dude, you gotta hear what happened” stories, the crazier the better. Send them to ani@hairextensionsecret.com

For Big Money Stylist, we go over the following formula each month: Week #1: Power Week #2: Production Week #3: Profit Week #4: Protection In This Week’s Episode…..PRODUCTION Point #1: What’s the Lesson?

• No matter what industry you’re in, you’re going to have your share of crazy client stories. Danielle is quick to remind us, “If you have a ton of crazy clients, I want you to consider that you might be the crazy one.”
  
  
• When you do have those crazy clients, step back and ask yourself what you can learn from them or from the situation. Take a look inside your consultation process, ask yourself what you will or won’t tolerate, and look at your policies to see if you need to make an adjustment.

QUESTION

As you think back to some of your crazy encounters, what lessons did you learn? What have you fine-tuned or changed as a result?

Point #2: From Fucked Up to Fabulous…Over Time

• When you have a client with really fucked up hair and yet they want an immediate transformation, you’ve got to have some honest and hard conversations with them and share with them a realistic timeline which includes getting their hair to a healthy place along the way.
  
  
• The better the integrity of the natural hair, the more natural the extensions are going to look. When your client’s hair is fried and not in a good place, it needs time to recover. Over time, the look they’re going for will be achieved…and they will thank you for it.

QUESTION

What has been your experience with this?

Point #3: I’ll Do Anything

• A lot of artists are SO excited when they get an NBR lead – a $2k service – that they are willing to do ANYTHING. And they’ll take on clients they know they shouldn’t because they’re afraid to have a conversation with them. “I will tell you from personal experience that it will bite you in the ass!” warns Danielle.
  
  
• At the beginning of her career, Danielle would be so stressed out because she thought she had to service everyone…including doing toe waxing. “When you’re seeing a lot of red flags and you’re hitting a ton of resistance, that client may not be right for you. It’s ok. Don’t get so hungry and excited for a lead that, in the long term, could end up costing you more time and stress.”

QUESTION

Are you a people pleaser, a conflict avoider, or are you just so damn excited to get an NBR client that you’re willing to ignore all the red flags?

Point #4: Can You Be Bought?

• A salon hopper is someone who hops from salon to salon until they find someone willing to give them what they want, most of the time ending up with fucking shitty-ass hair because, ultimately, they refuse to listen to the recommendations of the artists. In the end, they find an artist willing to give in and compromise their standards.
  
  
• Danielle has learned from personal experience that it’s better to let them go. “We’re in the service industry so people think it’s almost a given that our time can be bought. There are certain people that cannot buy my time. It doesn’t mean I’m a bitch about it or rude, but more matter of fact: I’m a professional, here’s what I’m offering and what I’m willing to do.”

QUESTION

What are you learning from this conversation?

Point #5: Newsflash

• Color is SO important! The biggest no-no with extensions in before and after photos when you have one platinum color extension slapped in and it doesn’t match the hair. “We’re not in the 90s, we’re not in the day of Kelly Clarkson. You can no longer mix a dark brown and a platinum blonde. It just doesn’t work.”
  
  
• Coming up in 2020: Look for big conventions with Danielle and Ani and the training team, as well as smaller classes. For Mastermind only, Shadowing is officially opening up at DKW Styling Salon and the team of trainers’ salons as well. To receive all of the exciting news of upcoming events for 2020, go to bigmoneystylist.com and enter in your email.

QUESTION

What excites you the most about what’s in store for you inside of BMS?

Quote of the Week:

“Are you a people pleaser or a conflict avoider? I want you to consider that you’re not actually that nice, you’re just avoiding conflict and confrontation with your client. And then in the end, when you end up giving them what they want, it fucks you anyway.”

— Danielle K White

“Even if the client is sitting your chair, you can still deny them. Just like when people say they wanted to cancel their wedding but it was too late…you can be walking down the aisle and still cancel your wedding because it’s NEVER too late.”

—Anianne Rivera