Managing "Shock"... Brief Salon Encounters
- Beth Minardi
- Jun 4
- 2 min read
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
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