Salon Etiquette: 5 Things Your Hairdresser Wants You To Stop Doing

Welcome to Viva’s Salon Etiquette series, where we glean the inside scoop for every must-do and please-don’t while you’re sitting in the salon chair/clinic/treatment room.

From hairstylists and nail technicians to facialists and makeup artists, we’ll be speaking to Aotearoa’s top beauty experts and calling for their brutal honesty — the juicier, the better. It’s time to brush up on your makeup manners, or home in on your salon social graces.

This week, I spoke to hairstylist and hair extensions trainer Tessa Burlison (@Hair.bytess_), who brings with her a wealth of knowledge when it comes to all things tresses. Not only is she my personal hairstylist (hi, Tess!) but she’s flexed her creative hair prowess both in Aotearoa and abroad, more recently taking up residence at Hookd Hair in Mt Eden alongside her long-time friend, flatmate and fellow hairstylist, Katie Hook.

ASHLEIGH COMETTI: This series is all about maintaining good salon etiquette. What are five things people do in your salon chair that you love?

TESSA BURLISON:

A post shared by Tessa Burlison (@hair.bytess_)

AC: What are five things people do that you’d rather they didn’t?

TB: Okay, disclaimer: I’m so sorry if you’re my client and you do any of these things, I promise I don’t hate you.

AC: How can Viva readers go about requesting a silent appointment without making things awkward?

TB: I personally don’t have the option online currently (but this might be the reminder I needed). If asking in person is too uncomfortable for you, try messaging prior or writing it in your booking notes.

Another option is bringing your own entertainment. Like I said earlier, having a book or wearing AirPods lets me know (subtly) that you’re happy just doing your thing. I also love the surge of clients WFS (working from salon). I will never be offended by a client wanting to focus on their work/texts/emails/book/Instagram doom-scrolling, etc.

Please remember, we speak to humans all day, so it’s usually a welcome relief for us too.

A post shared by Tessa Burlison (@hair.bytess_)

AC: If a client isn’t happy with the result of their appointment, how should they go about letting you know?

TB: As a stylist, it’s my number one goal to give you the hair you want — if you’re not happy with it neither am I.

The easiest time to mention something is before blow drying/styling in case there is something we can easily do to rectify it before you leave. I understand how hard this is and I try to provide an environment that feels open and comfortable, but that some people find it easier doing this from behind a screen.

Please be polite when providing this feedback and asking for a redo — any good stylist is going to be happy to offer a fix, they can happen anytime, but we still like to be treated as humans.

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