Managing "Shock"... Brief Salon Encounters

As you know, we are in the "experience" busines, and might need to manage more

than what we do to the client's hair! Although rare, situations CAN occur: those "one

chance in a million" surprises that leave us breathless, but somehow we are able to

keep our shock hidden... and carry on a though everything is just "dandy"

........ One morning, a new client visited me for color. She was very pretty, probably in her

late 20's. Quiet, polite and pregnant. She was seeing me to maintain her blonde-on-blonde

hair color. Her beauitfu hair was long and in good condition. As I began her service, a very

well-dressed, handsome man, who appeared to be in his mid-to-late 40's, approached her At first I assumed he was her husband or boyfriend, as I noted affection between them, yet

she seemed a bit sad. I offered them a bit of privacy as I prepared her color formulas and

accessories. ... And noted that this man kept glimpsing at me. SUDDENLY, I realized that

I had seen this man before,, and while trying to pretend that I noticed nothing, I continued

with my work. He was embracing my client, and it appeared that she was about to begin

crying......

Soon, he got up to leave, and I began taking care of my client. As I worked, I kept trying

to place this guy. Sometimes it helps me to imagine where I saw a person, or how they were dressed when I met thlem. Was he in a suite? Tennis outfit? Gym clothes? .. and did I see

him in a restaurant? Perhaps in a doctor's waiting room? .......... and then, it CAME TO ME!

I met him on a BEACH! He was wearing a BATHING SUIT! Our kids were playing together!, and it was clear that he was on vacation with his wife and children! We were all on vacation at a beautiful place in the Carribean!!!! WOW! I "acted"as if I knew nothing, and continued

taking care of my client.. "blonding her up". As he color processed I proceeded to my office for a moment

... The gentleman was sitting in our reception area.. obviously shaken a bit. What were the odds that at any other salon in the world, where his girlfriend, who was with child,,would be, was at our salon, seated in MY CHAIR????

I think he had been shocked and feared that I would "out" him, or refer to how and where we met. Certainly doing this would have served no purpose. He got up, took my hand, and said "Thanks so much for not mentioning anything". I nodded my head, we exchanged a few words of polite greeting. He asked to pay for his friend's services, so I directed him

to our reception desk........ and headed to my office to sit down for a moment.. WOW!

The "take away" here: Those "one chance in a million" situations, although RARE.. can

happen. Keeping our surprise a secret is the best thing to do, and we learn that humans are, indeed, an interesting yet very complicaated breed. And so it goes.

As i write this, I'm SURE that almost all of YOU have experienced "Brief Encounters"

at your salon. Comment here if you'd like. Beth