Great Clips

It was a year and a half ago that I was miserable at my nanny job.

Then I interviewed at Great Clips, and got hired on the spot.

I was finally doing what I wanted to do for a living!

The hours were perfect, the other stylists were so friendly and helpful.

I caught on to everything quickly, and I was loving every minute of work. 

It was exactly where I needed to be at that point in my life. 

Through the next year and a half, things stayed good for the most part. I mean, it is work.

There are some very difficult things you deal with as a hairstylist on a daily basis.

And working with all girls? Drama is inevitable. 

All in all, it was a really great run and I'm really grateful for the experience.

April 26th, my last day of work, was a very bittersweet day.

I will really miss Shae, Quincey, and Kimber. They are such great friends and I'm so grateful I got to know them.

I'll really miss the money [let's be honest, that's why I was there],

the free haircuts, the opportunity to exercise my skills every single day,
flexible hours, and meeting lots of really interesting people.

I certainly won't miss having to work on Saturdays, working occasional night shifts, management,
staff meetings, salon drama, rude clients, clients that never wash their hair,
being physically exhausted from being on my feet all day, and

being itchy from the stranger's hair that clings to my clothes. 

I haven't been jobless in over 4 years. It's all a little surreal and will take a while to get used to.

But I'm excited to get used to it and to start enjoying lots of "me time" in Tennessee this summer.

Just two more weeks and we'll be on our way!

[last day of work]

Here are a few common questions, remarks, jokes, pet peeves, etc. from clients.

*I promise I love what I do, these are just funny little things worth recording.

...

-From the beginning of cosmetology training you are taught to never discuss certain things 

while doing someone's hair like religion or politics. 

Those are the only things people love to talk about.

-Being in Utah Valley, most people assume you're LDS and believe it is appropriate to jump right into spiritual discussions while I'm cutting their hair.

For example, I once had a man basically ask me how diligent I was in my scripture reading. [Can you say, inappropriate?]

 

-An old man would sit down in my chair and say "Just cut all the gray off!" 

[That joke got terribly old, terribly fast.]  

If it was a man going bald, he would say "Cut a little off the sides then sprinkle it on the top!"  

-A conversation I had with a VERY grouchy old man;

Man:You married?  

Me:Yep.

Man: Any kids yet!?

Me: Nope.

Man: Well whats with that, you don't know how to make 'em!?

Me:*silence*

-Client: Can I ask you a question? It's kind of personal, 

but if you don't mind me asking... How old are you?

Me: I'm 22...

Client: Oh ok. I would have guessed 19 or so. But yeah I can see the maturity in your hands!

[hahaha what the?]

-"I DO NOT want a lot of length taken off just cut like a centimeter- that's all!!!"  

 [I'm not sure that I even know what a centimeter is!]

-Me: "How would you like me to cut your hair?"

Client: "Shorter!"

[No kidding.]
 

-Me: Hi welcome to Great Clips. Do you just need a haircut today?

Client: No... I need all of my hairs cut today! 

-"I want a totally different look, but I don't want a lot cut off."

  

 -"I want it short on the sides and long in the back, but I DON'T want a mullet!"

-"My hair was getting too long and driving me crazy so I whacked at it myself.

Then I realized I should really just come in for a haircut."

[Thank you so much for bringing me this mess to clean up. I was so surprised

by how many people actually attempted to cut their own hair.]

  

-"I really love the way my hair is right now, so don't cut a lot off.  

You can clean it up a little, but I really love the way it is right now." 

[Wow, so what are you doing here?] 

-"Here's a picture of Carrie Underwood. I want her hair."

[Then they're ticked when they don't look like Carrie!

 One of my instructors at school always said, "We are hair doctors, not magicians."

If only other people understood that.]

-"How much is it for just a tiny trim?"

[A trim is a haircut. Doesn't matter how much is coming off, you're paying for a haircut.] 

On a more positive note...

-"You were so smart to have chosen this profession."

-"Well this is just about the best haircut I've ever had!"

 -"Thank you so much for your help today, Rachel."

[Always a plus when someone would call me by my name. 

Made me feel like they saw me as a person, not just the chick doing their hair.]

     -"How often are you here? I'm going to come back!"

-"You are so fast, efficient, and you're really good!" 

-"You're the professional, I totally trust you!"