Many years ago I was given the opportunity of being a junior to a (Lets call him VS) “V.S”. And it was interesting that when he finished the haircut he asked me to take the client down stairs to have a permanent wave, the next client was told that she needed a colour and I was ordered to take the person up stairs for the colour technician. Never a word spoken. I remember that I wished to be just like this “VS” person and after my three year apprentice-ship, I remember the day arrived ,I would get my scissors out and dance around the chair like Cassius Clay the boxer and pull funny faces to show I was into my haircut. Then came the magic moment and I asked my client if she wanted a perm. I was shocked to hear her answer. And how much will that cost? I was shattered. What’s that all about? How much dos it cost? I was sure that looks played a part in the decision to be interested in the price. Maybe if it was a Brad Pitt look-a-like who was the hairdresser I wonder if that answer would have been forthcoming. I was flabbergasted. Life hit me in the face. I started to dress “better” after that. I think that it’s very important to have a pleasant appearance otherwise people will ask…How much dos it cost……
Theres a very old saying "If you have to ask,you can't afford it" As you say if you keep your self neat,clean , well mannered and tidy you wont go far wrong.
The best hairdressers are those who are able to interpret their clients needs, not necessarily those that can cut a dash with the latest styles.
Tel
Being good looking?...... Never done me any harm.....
There’s a very old saying "If you have to ask, you can't afford it" From TEL.
That’s not really something that applies to hairdressing today. But in the early 60s in the centre of London something was changing. Before this time hairdressing was really something for the “Rich”. Many clients came to the salon every day to get a comb-out. This was the time of the Debutant who was really looking for a husband. The family would present their daughter to the Queen and I suppose she had a year of partying and getting to know the most eligible bachelors of the planet. Every week she would Travel to Party’s all over Europe. Pimms number 1 to drink. Tea on the lawn, balls, Etc etc. and the hairdresser was a must every day. But with the advent of the haircut, things changed and if a secretary saved over the month she could get a haircut that lasted a whole month without fussing-about with a comb-out every other day. The Bob and one point Graduated Bob and the five point cuts were great as you could just cut it one day and have nothing more to do for the next thirty days . It’s difficult today to understand that before everything was more difficult. More Proper (conforming to established standards of behaviour or manners; correct or decorous)
So the client that I had was one of the new breed of clients. The Saturday morning customer. Well… at least she had a Saturday morning as I worked Monday to Friday 8:30 in the morning until finished usually after 6:30 Saturday 8:30 untill late afternoon, and model evenings three times a week Monday tuesday and wednesday and then you maybe got out at 10pm. Late nights on Friday. Lunch was going down stairs to pick up a towel to sampoo with, and stuffing a sandwich in my mouth in between sampoos. I calculate that at about 70 hours a week.as a senior junior and on 4 pound a week wages. and G+d forbid you should show your wage packet to someone who worked next to you doing the same job. One day I took two hours for lunch as the stylist I was directly working for was away that day and I was threatened with the sack when I came back from a walk in Green Park Mayfair.
(We, where the new breed of Clients.)
And for them was the new breed of hairdresser the good looking hairdresser.
Talking about good looking, a friend told me that Stephen Messias used to be called "The Eyes" can anyone conferm that?
Hi John,
The adage may not be true of London ladies salons....but it still counts in the Gents salons in the sticks. And with the financial situation as it is, could be making a comeback.
With out turning us into a couple of "grumpy old men" . I too started in the good old (hard) days 42 hour week ,1 day and 1 evening college release, late evenings, all day Saturday's, all for £1.8s 6d (£1.42 , for you young 'un's) which, even in those days, was way behind other apprenticeships,a friend of mine was an apprentice carpenter on £3.80.
But I loved the job and the class full of "birds" 20 of them with just 3 blokes(one of them was a bit iffy too) made it a lot more worth while. Oh! halcyon days
Wish you well,
Call me cynical, but I think being good looking helps in any industry. Surely it's all about the things we aspire to and, let's be honest, we all want to be good looking!
Exactly Kate. I didn't get where I am today by.. Oh, hang on, where am I?
I used to work with a girl who was pretty and was punk before punk was known, Pat Ahern and I remember she had a client who said that she did not want her hair cut or even the colour like Pat's. Can you immagin if we went to a doctor and judged his ability by what he looks like. Or maybe we do!
shorinjiidude:Being good looking?...... Never done me any harm.....
Shorinjiidude... you been looking in that mirror again.......LOL
If you was to see my doctor in the street you'd have him down has a Pekinese, 5ft4, bald as a badger(where did that saying come from), but boy does he know his job,keep fit fanatic as well.
"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder"
"Narcisisum is in the eye of its owner"