I’m a hairdresser and this is the one thing clients say that is a red flag for stylists

A hairdresser has revealed she sometimes takes a customer’s comment as a ‘warning sign’.

UK-based hairdresser Sarah Louise Tyne, known as the The mobile hairdressing guru, took to TikTok to reveal what clients find annoying about professional hairstylists.

Sarah explains in the video that the phrase “my old hairdresser always did my hair like this” gets on stylists’ nerves.

According to the content creator, these types of comments can backfire, as your current stylist may not know exactly what you mean or may offer different skills.

She began the segment with: ‘Your new client sits down in the chair and says to you: “My old hairdresser used to do it that way.”‘

When a client sits in the chair and says this, the first thought is often frustration, says Sarah.

She added: ‘The first thing you think is, ‘I’m not your old hairdresser.’

‘But let’s be honest: maybe their old hairdresser has moved, maybe they’re retired, maybe they’re looking for some common ground with you, a way to communicate with you in the way they normally get their hair cut.

“It can be helpful to have some reference points, but when does it cross the line? When you feel like you’re competing with a hairdresser you’ve never met.”

Sarah gave some tips on how to convey the look you really want, but one that won’t offend or anger your stylist.

She explained the importance of visual cues, saying, “Instead of showing me how your old hairdresser did your hair, can you show me some images of what you’re hoping to achieve? Then I can see if they work for your hair type and texture.”

In the video caption, Sarah also gave advice to hairdressers themselves: they should not be annoyed by the comment.

She wrote: ‘How do you respond/react? You could get really angry and say, ‘Go back to them then.’

Sarah revealed in the video that the phrase ‘my old hairdresser always did my hair like this’ gets on stylists’ nerves

Other hairdressers responded to the comments to share their own thoughts on the topic, with some saying they didn’t mind the response

‘Or instead of getting irritated by the comment, you can say, ‘I understand that you may be nervous about getting your hair done by another stylist, but you are in really good hands.’ Reassure the other person and help them calm their nerves.

‘If it seems like no matter what you do/say, nothing is reassuring/relaxing and your client keeps saying “he/she/they didn’t do that before, then it doesn’t look like XX did my hair.”

“You two may just not be a good fit, it happens. Do your best to provide the best possible outcome and politely explain that you may not be a good fit.”

Other hairdressers responded to the comments and left their own opinions on the subject. Some said they don’t mind if a client talks about their old hairdresser.

Someone said, “It crosses the line when they say, ‘My old barber ONLY charged me XYZ.’”

Another adds: ‘I usually ask what they liked about the way they did it, or I explain why I do it differently.’

Someone else added: ‘I don’t see this comment as a problem. If they liked it, I would try to do it her way.’

To which Sarah replied, ‘Absolutely, but it’s also about building a new relationship. And what if the client sticks with that style because they’ve never been offered anything else?’