January 21st, 2008

Dilemma

I got a call the other day from a number I didn’t recognize (so, of course, I didn’t answer it), and after the voicemail notification sounded off, I checked the message. It was the lady who has cut my hair for about two years, if I’m counting correctly. She was calling to let me know that she was going to be working at a different haircutting place (“salon” sounds so hoity-toity) once January 29th rolled around. She didn’t actually say “so you should start going to that place,” but it was pretty clear that’s what she meant. She even mentioned that it was going to be $4 cheaper.

My initial response was panic. I’m not such a fan of change, as many of you know, and I’d gone through this changing haircuttists before. So, panic.

But then I thought it was nice that she called me to let me know that she was going elsewhere. I realize her motivation wasn’t necessarily motivated by altruism, but it was still nice for me since my last regular person sorta just up and left with no advance warning.

Then, after that, I started thinking about how I’d been going to the same place for 4+ years – it seemed weird to think about abandoning the place. This put me back in a quandary: do I stick with the place, or stick with the person?

What would you do?

10 Comments on “Dilemma”

  1. The Bon says:

    Stick with the person. A good stylist/haircutter/barber is hard to find. I haven't, therefore I've not had my haircut since last March. Yep. Pretty shaggy.

    Oh, while I'm here. Any thoughts on what kind of handmade thing you'd like to receive?

  2. Daizie Girl says:

    I agree – good hair stylists are hard to find. Every time I try a new one I end up going back to the old one to have her fix it. The disadvantage is that her shop is in my home town 2 hours away. She's been cutting my hair since I was 8.

  3. the obscure says:

    error . . . error . . . I accidently voted for place. I meant person.

  4. Smoothie King says:

    this is a no brainer

  5. Lorelei says:

    Most salons "rent" out a chair to each stylist or the stylist has to pay some commission to the salon. The stylist works for the salon & agrees to the company rules (as in Fantastic Sams or Great Clips), but they are encouraged to bring their own clients with them and expected to build new clientele along the way.

    I would say if you like the person who is doing your hair, stick with them no matter where they go. He/she will appreciate your loyalty. You are helping someone build their business in a very "local" sort of way…rather than simply feeding a giant corporation.

    I have had this happen more than once. For 2 years, I drove from Ames to Iowa City every 4 months for a perm…because you just can't be too careful when someone is putting chemicals on your head! Most recently, the guy who has been doing my hair for 6 years moved to Florida. I had to draw the line and find someone else.

  6. Mel Eik says:

    You know, she is now in the perfect situation to get rid of the clients she doesn't like. She must like you to actually call and tell you she is moving. You should certainly stick with her.

  7. brent-ley says:

    Just go to Wal-Mart and get some scissors and a mirror and cut your own hair. What could possibly go wrong?

  8. Kenthe2 says:

    I say stick with the person. For 22 years my mom cut my hair, and for the past 8 1/2 years my wife has cut my hair. It works for me.

  9. Anonymous says:

    Haircut? I thought you had just trained your hair not to exceed the three micron limit.

  10. Anonymous says:

    This is a no brainer, of course stick with the person. She is probably leaving the place herself because she either had to pay too much to cut there, or the owners were a real pain in the ______ So ditch the place without a second thought and stick with the nice person who does a good job. You can never be too careful when it comes to your hair.

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