I’m Not Blondie……..

My name is not Blondie and you may NOT call me anytime.  You may call me during normal business hours.  I am still a little cranky, due to lack of sleep, due to an inconsiderate client calling my cell phone at 4:30 am on SUNDAY morning!

Imagine being awakened by a ringing cell phone at that hour on a Sunday morning, your first thought is “Who died?”  I run to my cell phone in the kitchen and see it is Patty PainInTheAss, a newer client.  SERIOUSLY??!??

Okay, Patty is one of “those” clients, a new one who is someone else’s Pain In The Ass aka PITA, who is now MY PITA.  I acquired her in July.  Sometime between now and then, I must have called her from my cell phone and she must have saved it.

We are closed Sunday and Monday.  What would make you think that it is appropriate to call someone on their personal cell phone on their day off?  What would make you think it’s appropriate to call at 4:30 in the morning on a Sunday?  Really?

Well, when Patty got my voicemail, I am sure she got the message loud and clear because it clearly states that you should only leave personal messages, if you leave salon messages, they WILL NOT be returned until they are left on the salon phone line.  Period.  I haven’t checked the salon messages yet, because IT’S STILL MY DAY OFF!

Now, Patty may have butt dialed me, I don’t know, but knowing Patty and the PITA that she is, she probably WAS calling.  See, Patty is a true PITA.  She breaks nails constantly.  She comes in with half of her cuticle area missing most of the time.  Patty tries to go 3-4 weeks between fills because she is cheap.  She doesn’t realize that she ends up paying more by going that long, because she ends up paying for multiple repairs.

Saturday, I was booked from 9 until 7, yes I am a glutton for punishment.  I had no breathing room in my schedule, as usual.  Patty came bounding in the door at noon and expected me to fix four nails that are approximately five days old.  Now these aren’t just a pink nail with polish, these nails have colored acrylic, glitter and extensive designs on them.  I explained to her that I don’t have time to do them that day and that the earliest I could do them is next Friday and since it is FOUR nails, it will be a fill, not a repair appointment.  She exclaimed “But this one is about to fall off!”  After repeating myself again and her repeating herself again I finally exclaimed “Well, then either rip it off or put a band-aid on it, because Friday is the best I can do unless I get a cancellation.”

Why do clients think they can come into the salon and demand to be repaired right this very second?  My schedule does not allow for repairs and for the most part, I don’t need to schedule repairs.  My clients usually don’t need them.  Yes a few break the occasional nail, but Patty, is a whole other ball game.  She is a train wreck, plain and simple.  Sorry, Patty, I will NOT extend my already long day to accommodate you, just because you don’t know how to take care of your nails.

So, either Patty butt dialed me on Sunday morning, or she called that early just so that she could leave me a message to cancel on Friday because she is going to become someone else’s PITA and didn’t want to tell me directly.  Personally, I hope it is the second option, since I would do the “Happy Dance of Joy” if she became someone else’s problem.  I am sick and tired of creating beautiful nails, with original artwork on them and having her trash them in sometimes four or less days, then expecting me to drop everything and repair them.

One thing’s for certain, if she calls my cell phone at that time again, on my day off, she is getting fired.  You don’t own me.  I am not your “Staff”.  I can and will refuse service to anyone at anytime.  I will put someone in my chair, in her spot, who respects my work and takes care of it.  See, my name is NANCY, not BLONDIE and NO, you CAN’T call me anytime, call me during normal business hours!

--Nancy

Reader Submissions 5

What makes you think that being 17 minutes late is acceptable?  Yes you are my last client of the evening, but you are delaying my trip home by 17 minutes and I have a 40 minute drive home.  You are new to our salon.  This is NOT acceptable.

Dear Obsessive Boyfriend:  If you wanted your girl to have a style/color of nails that you saw at another salon, why didn't you book her an appointment with that salon?  Also, why are you telling this grown woman how to have her nails done?

Dear Submissive Girlfriend:  Don't you have a brain to think for yourself?  Can't you make your own decisions?  Why are you letting a bully tell you what to do on your nails.  If he is this obsessive with your nails I can't imagine how he is with the more important things in life.  Are you sure you want to marry this guy?

Seriously, if you call a salon and expect to get an appointment, the same day and at the exact time you want (usually 5:00), don't you just wonder WHY that appointment is available?  Any good nail tech will be booked that time and if they did get a cancellation, it is usually scooped up immediately.  Is your procrastination really worth going to someone who isn't busy for obvious reasons?  I pity your nails.

So, you have been planning this wedding for how long?  You've had your dress for how long?  The hall?  The cake?  The flowers?  Your hair appointment?  You just figured you would call two days before your wedding and get an appointment for you and your seven bridesmaids????!?  You, my dear, are on crack.

I love this blog.  I actually keep a little notepad now and write down all the things I really wanted to say in the salon, all day long.  This is so helpful and it is nice to see that others experience the same things!  Thanks Nancy!!!  You rock!

If your kids put paper towels in the toilet again, you are plunging it.

Seriously????  It takes you ten nails, two coats to finally realize you don't like the color?  Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

It's just nail polish.  There's no crying over nails, people!

You've been sitting there for 15 minutes, I've asked you three times if you have looked to see what color you want.  Why is it now 10 minutes into your appointment, 25 minutes since you've walked in the door and you still can't decide what you want????

It's one nail appointment.  Is it necessary for mom, grandma, three brothers and a BFF to come with you?  We don't have room for all of these people!

For the love of God!!!  Put your cell phone down!  Also, I love the fact that there is pocket lint all over your gel nails from you digging into your pocket to get that damn phone.

I am sorry you had to go three weeks between fills due to your schedule.  I don't appreciate you trying to "Help" my by filing the regrowth area.  You now have rings of fire that I DID NOT DO!  OMG!!!  I just want  to slap you right now!

About to Throw in the Towel - Reader Submission

Dear Nancy,

Thank you for writing your last post about why some of us become salon owners.  I wanted to write this, because I don’t have the courage to say it outloud or to anyone who knows me.  Today, for the first time, I considered closing my salon.

I am tired of the constant complaining from the people who work for me.  I think I provide them with a nice place to work.  I don’t ask for much, just that they show up on time, do a good job and clean their area.  I do everything else.  It is so unappreciated.

All they do is complain amongst themselves about stupid likes, some, what you mentioned.

One says she doesn’t want any new clients put in her book but then complains if she has gaps in her schedule.  On complains about the temperature and the music.  Another complains about the smell.  I tell you, I totally could have written your last blog post.  It really hit close to home.

What they don’t realize is that this constant complaining is really bringing me down.  I am tired of hearing it.  I just really don’t know what more these women want from me.

I am actually considering closing my very busy salon.  Truthfully, I would make more working for someone else and I could come, do my job and leave.  I wouldn’t have to keep up with inventory, order supplies, pay all the bills, fix all the things that they break, search for new products/techniques, market the business.  I could just do my job and go home.

I’ve obviously been successful with my duties.  The salon is booming, yet, these girls complain.  They are making good money, yet they complain.  Complain, complain, complain.

I hate to say it, but they have sucked the ever, living life out of me.  I seriously could walk away tomorrow with no regrets and most importantly, no debt.  I wonder what they would do if I did.  They have no idea how good they have it.

Thanks for letting me vent without a name/face.  I love this blog.  Keep up the great work.

Signed – About to Throw in the Towel

Why Some Become Salon Owners

Why do some techs become Salon Owners?  Quite simply, control.  We have control over every aspect of our business.  Most of us have worked in other situations, most of them not good.  We wanted to do things better or the right way and this was the only way to do it.  On our own.

We’ve had to deal with bounced paychecks, old, expired product, no supplies, filthy salons, no sanitation or disinfection, cheap supplies bought at Sally’s and on and on.  We got tired of it, were embarrassed by it and we decided to move out on our own for a better life.

Now we have other techs working for us.  Those of us who like control, go with employees as opposed to booth renting.  With booth renting, you lose all control again, yes it is your salon, but they can do whatever they want in your salon.  So employees it is.  These employees bitch about things that really are trivial when you compare them to what we have experienced in our careers, experiences which pushed us into salon ownership.  Here are just a few of those trivial things….

The temperature.  You complain that it is cold.  Well, if you didn’t show up to work wearing only your lingerie there wouldn’t be a problem.  Sixty-Eight degrees is not cold, it is actually a great temperature for the products that we use to work optimally.  Put some clothes on if you are cold!

The music.  I don’t want to listen to gangsta rap and neither do most clients.  We have to have music that appeals to ALL, now just a few.  We have all ages, all types of people patronize our salon.  This is why we listen to a satellite station that plays a VARIETY of music.  Have you ever noticed how many people ask what station it is because they enjoy it?

The smell.  It’s a nail salon.  It will smell.  However, if you would follow the procedures set in place, the smells could be lessened.  Dumping monomer into your trash can isn’t helping.  There is no need to waste all that monomer.  Unless it is dirty there is no need to dump it out.  Only put out what you need to begin with!  Keep your acetone pumpers closed!  Empty your trash to the outside.  Seriously, it isn’t hard to keep the smells down.  Instead of complaining, figure out a solution.

The schedule.  You are in charge of your own schedule.  If it is not full enough, who’s fault is that?  Are you working or are you adding hours at the last minute.  People book one to two weeks ahead, if your hours aren’t available then, you don’t get booked.  Is it too full?  Who’s fault is that?  You booked the appointments.  Why can’t you be happy?

Seriously?  That’s what you have to bitch about?  Try going to the bank and your paycheck isn’t good.  Try coming into work and your station is all slopped up and products are missing from it and you have to go on a grand search looking for your acrylic brush. YOUR BRUSH.  Try doing a pedicure and the room is filthy with toenails and foot skin all over the floor for the client to see. 

You really don’t have it too bad.  Actually, I would have loved to have had it as good as you BEFORE I was a salon owner.

--Nancy

Reader Submissions 4

I would like to tell my roommate that her station is a pig's stye.  You are too lazy to move the things on your station to clean it and you just wipe the open areas.  People can see the filth on the sides.  People can see the sticky, dirty fingerprints on the sides of your UV light.  I can't understand how they aren't skeeved to put their hands in that light, I mean how hard is it to wipe the bottom each day, if not after every client.  How do you keep clients?

If you use the last of something, please let someone know so that it can be replaced.  It isn't going to appear like magic!

When taking a phone message, if the person gives you important information like what type of appointment they want or what day or time of day they need, WRITE IT DOWN, don't just give me a paper with the name and number on it.  I seem like an idiot when I call them back unprepared!

Everyone needs to quit bitching about Facebook!  How dare they change anything for the better on your when you are paying a whopping $0 for the service they provide!

I don't understand how some people complain about getting a cancellation and then when you fill that spot for them, then they complain that you did.  Are you working or aren't you????  Make up your mind!

You know, if you do a half assed job this week, you will have a hard week in two weeks.  Just suck it up and do a good job all of the time.

I am sorry, I don't have time to do repairs on your clients.  You need to step it up and do a better job and actually come to work so that if your client needs repairs, you can fix them.  If I am fixing them, I am charging them.

Talking on your cell phone or texting while you service a client is RUDE.  You don't like it when client's do it, so don't do it to them.  Nothing is so important than it can't wait until between clients.  These are not emergency texts or calls.

I don't want to hear about your sex life, your bodily functions, your political views or your religious views.  Please keep all of the above to yourself.

Thieves

In this industry we deal with all kinds of thieves.  It depends on the level that you are in your career, which determines what level of thieves you experience.

If you are a salon owner, you probably experience the most common thief.  Every salon has good employees and every salon has a thief.  Every. Single. Salon.  Sometimes the thieves are found out and fired, other times, the thievery isn’t found out until the thief leaves.

Techs steal product all of the time.  A busy salon owner will pull their hair out when they go to the really large jug of monomer that they just got a week ago and there are a few drops left in the jug.  “But we have been really busy”, the staff will explain.  Not THAT busy!  That’s a lot of monomer to use in a week.

Brushes that are supplied to staff members will be missing when the tech isn’t at work, along with other products.  They are obviously doing nails on their off days, most likely their own, more than likely others, being paid on the sly.  Most salons allow you to do your own nails in the salon for no charge and family members for a small supply fee.  There is no reason to take salon supplies home with you unless you are stealing them.  It is never a good idea to travel back and forth with supplies, if you live in a warm climate, you can really mess up the quality of the product if you allow them in a hot car for a period of time.  So, even if the thief didn’t steal these products, most likely they will be ruined and will cost the salon money in the end anyways. 

Techs within the salon will try to steal other techs clients.  You see it all of the time, another tech goes on vacation or is sick and the shady tech will try to make the other tech look bad and try to get the client to rebook with her instead.

All of these examples above, are written from a Salon Owner’s point of view.  There are a number of instances that a Salon Owner has stolen from their staff.  If this has happened to you, I would love for you to write to me and share your experiences, anonymously, of course.

Moving on, you have techs that use photos of other technician’s work that they have found on the Internet and use them as examples of their work.  They use those photos in ads for their business.  How flipping lazy or untalented are you that you can’t use a photo of your own work?  I can understand using a company photo with the brand of the product that you use, that’s what they are provided for, and everyone knows you did not do the nails.   I can’t tell you how many shady people I have seen over the years use OBVIOUS photos of work that they didn’t do.  What happens when someone sees one of those photos and asks them to recreate the nails.  I would LOVE to see a photo of THOSE nails!

My favorite kind of thief is the one that steals all of your ideas.  One that has a salon and tries so hard to be exactly like your salon.  Right now I know of at least six Salon Owners going through this.  Yes, the idea thief may have worked in your salon at one time and learned a lot from you and your salon.  Instead of coming up with their own style or signature, so to say, they just copy what you do.  The joke is on them, though, because people see this and realize this.  How sad to be so unimaginative that you have to use Other People’s Ideas to better yourself or your business.  (How many people just got that?  Gold star if you do!)

It’s time for the thievery to stop.  Stop stealing from your Salon Owner.  Stop stealing from your Staff.  Stop stealing from each other.  Theft is still a crime and it is just plain wrong and it makes you nothing more than a See You Next Tuesday (Platinum star if you get that one!)

--Nancy

Reader Submissions 3

I would like my co-worker to know that it is incredibly rude to not pitch in while the owner is out of town.  Why should the rest of us do all the cleaning and you get to waltz out the door after doing nothing?

Dear salon down the street, you need a new nail design because all 10 of your clients are walking around with the same crap on their nails.

If you are going to be 10 minutes late, please don't spend the next 10 minutes standing outside yakking on your cell phone.  You are now 20 minutes late!

Hey salon owner, a little appreciation or a Thank You once in awile would be nice! 

I would like to let the neighboring salon know that they need some instruction because when THEIR clients walk in OUR door, their nails are a quarter inch thick and colored acrylic and glitter is on the nail bed.  It is impossible to remove since you have to file clear to the nail.  A light layer of clear will make things so much easier.  We would be willing to give you a class but I am sure you would never consider that offer.  What a shame.

To the people who hop from salon to salon:  Why do you think your nails are always trash?  You are mixing product, with product, MMA with legal.  How about you pick a salon and stick with them?

I am sorry that we don't have an opening.  We asked you to schedule when you were in two weeks ago and you declined.  What do you expect us to do, kick someone out of their spot so you can have it?  I don't think so......

Dear Client, please do not test all the ring tones in your phone while you are getting a pedicure.  It is very annoying to eveyone else in the salon and it's RUDE!

When you leave us a voicemail, please give us your name, and number.  We aren't psychic and know who you are or how to call you!

Your nails will never be better than what God gave you.