We all have those clients. The ones who know exactly what they want, exactly how to get it, and exactly how they expect you to do it. Having a client who knows what they want can be a good thing when they are confident in what they want and let you do your job. However, having the nit-picky client who wants to direct you how to get there can be the breaking point in an otherwise beautiful day.

As beauty professionals, we all love the clients who come in and say “work your magic as you will.” That gives us the freedom to flex our skills and create something beautiful. However, we all know those people are few and far between. Most people at least have a semi-idea of what they want. But, you know the client who knows everything. The one who watches everything you do, chronicling it and comparing their notes to how it was done the last time. These clients can be frustrating for more than a few reasons, one of which is you know you know how to do your job. You know your skills and are confident you can give them exactly what they want, if they’d just stop critiquing your every move.

At My Absolute Beauty, we are the leading online beauty supply shop and trainer to the stars. You bet we’ve had experience with more than a few of these clients. We are here to arm beauty professionals with the skills they need to be successful in the industry, and that includes helping you deal with the ones who make you want to pull your own hair out. Join us in today’s post as we discuss some of the ways you can better manage these clients without striking them from your book.

Put yourself in their stilettos.

Some people are naturally just picky and bossy, yes. While some have been burned badly and want nothing more than to prevent it from happening again. If you are one of the extremely lucky 4% of people who’ve never suffered through a bad hair cut or disastrous eyebrow mishap, whisper a thank you to the big guy upstairs.

Many people have endured the travesty of over-processed tints or coloring, scissor-happy hairstylists, or the “oops” from their sister or best friend. These incidents can have devastating effects on the victim’s self-esteem and make them hypersensitive to any future beauty procedures. So, try to be patient and assure them that you do, indeed, know what you’re doing. Ask them their horror beauty stories that have left them with a case of PTSD that has been directed at you. When they monitor your every move, remind them that there are many ways to achieve the same end goal and assure them that you have been certified on the latest techniques and you are performing your skills with best practice. Many clients who come at you wanting to control everything are coming from a place of fear. Communication and empathy are often the keys to reducing these reactions and help you build report with your clients to build a faithful following.

Show them your portfolio.

For a client who wants to watch your every move critiquing and comparing to what others have done before, show them your portfolio. Ask them if they like what they see and ask them if they see what they are looking for. If they find what they are looking for, assure them that you are doing exactly what you did to achieve that look and if they allow you to do your thing, their results will turn out the same. If they, however, continue to demand it done differently, it won’t look anything like the image of what they have requested.

What not to do.

If you do have picky clients who insist on telling you how to do your job and guides you step-by-step, some things will make matters worse. Here is a quick list of things to avoid at all costs.

• Do not give in and cater to their demands. Never sacrifice your work.
• Never talk poorly about the previous beauty professionals they want you to emulate.
• Never cop an attitude. Take the high ground and be the better person.
• Don’t take their critiques personally.
• Never outright ignore their requests/ demands. Acknowledge them and have an honest conversation about them.

Winning over a tough client can be difficult, but it can also be very rewarding. Tough clients should be viewed as a challenge, a game you need to win. When you win over a challenging client, you can bet you’ve got a loyal client for life, and one that will request every future beauty professional to emulate your steps.

At My Absolute Beauty, we have the industry’s experts on retainer to help you with difficult beauty situations, including how to handle the picky client. Our  training will arm you with the skills and certification you need to put your clients at ease and help them trust you. If you are ready to take your career to the next level and service a wider range of clients, visit us online to find a training near you and register today!

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