I was chatting with my friend earlier about when I used to get enhancements and I remembered about how my nail tech used to tell me really personal stuff.When I say personal,I mean stuff you would only tell your best friend.

Anyway,I was wondering,have you ever told a client something that you later wished you hadn't?Sometimes it's hard when you're chatting away and the client is down in the dumps,I know I have sometimes said something personal about my own situation just to make them feel better,then later on thought,'wish I hadn't told them that',
Do you find it difficult to seperate yourself or do you think,'what the hell,I will chat about my life,it's up to me?'
Do you think it's unprofessional to chat about personal things in your own life,or do you feel it's quite normal?
Really interested in what peoples views are on this.

I know we are taught the safe subjects to discuss and those that we should steer clear of and hopefully I haven't commited any faux pas so far. I should think it would be difficult in a situation where your client is regular though and you have built up a kind of friendship. It could be easy to slip into the sort of chitchat that you discuss with friends when your guard is down and maybe having a bad day.
I know a lot of people on here are 'therapists' but must try not to be in the alternative sense!

The only thing i can remember saying to client which i really wish i hadn't was commenting on how id got a booking with a new client & i was really nervous as she sounded like she was quite difficult when i took the call, soon as i said it i could have kicked myself as the client i was with probably thought what the hell did she think of me when i first called !

I try not to get into discussions about myself as if i say something i shouldn't ,i start rabbiting on & make it sound ten times worse !

I know what you mean,exactly the same,soon as you make the one little comment you wish you could turn back and start again.I do try to remain as guarded about my personal life as I can.It can be hard though at times when the client reveals really personal stuff,it's difficult remaining quiet and letting her do all the talking,especially when they ask you questions about your own experiences,which they often do.

i will talk about stuff to clients within reason they ask about the boys, how they get on at school and stuff like that but i would never burden them with personal stuff, it isnt professional and its isnt fair, they would go home after a treatment feeling the weight of the world on their shoulders, if we told them all our problems, and thats not on, we are here to make them feel good.
you do build a rapore and a friendly gossip gets the laughing going but not personal things especially if its personal problems.
i like listening to my clients and yes they do talk about personal stuff, i think its like they are relaxed and unloading then they go away feeling great

i dont share anything too personal with clients..even if i wanted to,there's nothing really much to share,lol.
i dont talk about myself or family unless my client asks..and then i keep it a minimum.
to me, its my clients time to relax and enjoy pleasant, not too personal chat..its usually the same topics for each client..consult first..how's work etc..current affairs and any gossip they come across in my magazines.
i know first hand how someones lack of conversational skills can affect a client..my ex beautician would always be venting about her mother in law,as well as everything else in her life..that combined with the pain of waxing was too much for me!

I don't speak about my personal really, only generally.. like how my baby is doing and only things that are relevant to the conversation - a client doesn't want to be burdened with someone else's problems and I know myself, when someone sings like a canary about their dirty laundry... it can be uncomfortable listening!

My sister was warned here because she was telling the clients her whole life story and mine and was quite free about what she wanted to discuss - this annoyed me no end and I was so angry with her I sent her home! She is only 16 but seems to not understand the lines you can't cross with the clients.

I try to keep my personal business to myself and listen to things about them......keep the conversation light ..... HOWEVER ....depending on who the client is and what the problem is sometimes revealing a personal experience helps......ie: I had a client who thought her granddaughter had a blood disease....and she asked me if I have ever had an experience with this.....so I told her about my son who has Leukiemia......turns out her granddaughter was fine .....

Believe me I live in a nasty clicky little town amongst nasty clicky little people, I might have a big mouth but I've learnt to keep it shut.