Keeping clients at arms length

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nailzoo

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Do you embrace your clients?

Do you have fun with them?

Do you socialize with them ?

Over many many years I have built relationships with my clients, hell I know more about them than their husbands (or wives) boyfriends or partners.

I enjoy their company and often take the relationship further meeting their partners, having dinner with them, sharing a glass of wine with them and their partner (last client of the day only).

This has never affected my professional relationship with them, they still pay full price and they still respect me, my professionalism and my professional advice.

I have made many new friends and acquaintances in my long long years in the industry (and keep many secrets) :)

Do you have fun with clients .... or do you put up a brick wall and shut them out of your personal life?

If so, what the hell do you talk about?

I know all my clients problems, both professional and personal, I know when they feel happy (and what makes them happy) and I know when they are sad (and what makes them sad) ..... hell I even know most of their menstrual cycles .......

I let them know about my life too, my ups, my downs, my round and rounds.
Many of them are my Facebook friends too.

Do you have friends that started off as clients? Or do you remain the consummate professional robot?
 
i think in my opinion you have to remanin the professional client relationship i dont think its appropriate to go out and party with clients lol i would never ever go on a date with a client neither but everyone is different i like to keep my work and private life seperate that doesnt mean i cant talk to clients about my life or anything etc though xx
 
I think this thread will make an interesting read :)

I find it really difficult to try and keep strictly professional with some of them but am still fairly new in business so I only have a handful of regulars.

I begin very professional and do not like to talk about myself, I try and keep the focus on the client- people are generally happy to talk about themselves.

With some of my regulars now however I get on really well and enjoy seeing them, we have lots in common which makes it more difficult.
My favourites know lots about me now as like you say, eventually what do you talk about. But these clients are my best tippers and regular as clockwork still.
Clients often ask lots of questions about me (I look about 15 years old and pregnant so many are intrigued to find my real age, marital status, life story etc!) and I wouldnt say to them 'I'm sorry but I cant answer that' or anything similar as it may make them uncomfortable. So I answer. If I dont want to talk about that subject I will give a vague or brief answer and move onto another subject.

I dont add them on facebook as I have a 'page' and if I have a bad day and would like to moan about work I would not like them to see. Though over time this may well change, who knows!
 
My salons quite a young laid back salon, i treat everyone like my friends and i love hearing the good the bad and the ugly of their lives. Make me personable and lovable at the same time! To be fair if any of us bump into our clients outside of work, we just have a laugh about it. Its a nice side to the client when you do socialize with them, got quite a bit of buisness from being bit pissed in the pub!

All my clients know about my doomed love life and when im seeing a bloke/s or where my date place is!

I think buisness wise you have to embrace ppl, its very personable service that we offer, and they have to be comfortable with us, and come back to us!

Hell a couple of my clients got dumped before xmas i gave them all big cuddle and said plenty more fish in the sea, look fabulous, get waasted!! hehe! xoxo
 
This is a great topic and one I have a few questions on myself.
My history in the industry is in very professional salons and spas. I have always kept a therapist-client relationship. Just taken my cues from the client really.
A couple of years ago I took on a new therapist. She was straight from college and needed a bit of fine tuning in her treatments skills but overall very good.
However I soon noticed her attitude was very very casual and relaxed with clients. Talking about social lives, love life etc.
Some of the things she would say would make me cringe. Eg. Just going for a wee luv!!
Of course I thought I knew better and told her I needed to talk to her. Well if I wasn't taught a lesson. My clients love her. She is busier than all of us. I have even lost a few clients too her. Lol She makes everyone feel like they are her best friend. She has been out socialising with some of them too.
Her clients are fiercly loyal to her. I swear if I could bottle what she has got I would be rich.
Turns out I learnt a lot from her too.
We have so much competition out there that clients want more than just a great treatment they want that X factor. And she definately has it. I just need another 2 therapists just like her now.
 
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this is interesting , because i reckon it will be a split of 50 / 50 ,
me personally try a gauge the client before i know where i can go conversation wise , i sus em out for a bit and then i tend to sort of get a feel for the sort of topics we can engage in ..
i have had the usual "going anywhere nice for a holiday " clinets , lol and have had the clients that tell me stuff that would make your hair curl ... its funny tho the ones that tell you the most tend to be your regulars ! as i do think they see you as a confidant and a bit of friend too :green:
i once had a hilarious little old lady that came to me for yonks and she was a riot , she at the time was my happiest , funniest client , she made everyone laugh with her stories :lol:
 
Hello! What a great thread, I have sometimes been reading things on here and that I was wierd and unprofessional for being friendly with my clients. Turns out others are like me too, its strange, I wouldnt call my clients friends as such, but they tell me EVERYTHING and I mean everything, like you would tell a doctor or psychiatrist lol. This is just part of the job for me, and I feel happy that I have the kind of personality that would make them feel comfortable to do this, I am also going into their homes and seeing where they live etc. And invading personal space too. I also live in a very tight nit cornish community where you cant avoid people, at all. I see my clients in tescos and in the pub, alot are friend referals so are my age and similar lifestyle etc. Dont get me wrong I would never contact them or try and befriend them, eg ask advice on problems etc. I dont do my job to make friends but I dont do it just to make money ether..I enjoy working with people and as im a pretty open and non judgmental person I find my relationships with clients is good. Its strange I have never analysed my relationships with my clients before. I am happy with the way my business is, there are clints who I would never see or speak to outside of work and others you would sit and have a drink with. But on another note, I run my business not them, so I am not going to start doing nails on my day off etc as a favour just because I get on with them. Its almost like when you have work mates, they are friends through work and you get on but they arent close personal friends. I think in the back of theirs and my mind there is alway the simple fact, I wouldnt be there unless I was being paid, and they wouldnt have me there if I didnt have something I want, eg nails. x
 
i think it also depends on your clientel if you have a young funky clientel then you will no doubt add them on facebook etc plus if they send you a friend request you cant reject can you lol i get on great with my young clientel who are my age but i dont kn ow about going out partying with them maybe im too uptight maybe i need to let my hair down lol ;)
 
Do you embrace your clients?
I get hugs and smoochies all the time.

Do you have fun with them?
99% of the time, yes

Do you socialize with them ?
Outside of nails? a cherished few. While working? sort of, I guess. We enjoy each other's company.

Over many many years I have built relationships with my clients, hell I know more about them than their husbands (or wives) boyfriends or partners.
DITTO

I enjoy their company and often take the relationship further meeting their partners, having dinner with them, sharing a glass of wine with them and their partner (last client of the day only).
DITTO

This has never affected my professional relationship with them, they still pay full price and they still respect me, my professionalism and my professional advice.
DITTO

I have made many new friends and acquaintances in my long long years in the industry (and keep many secrets) :)
DITTO

Do you have fun with clients .... or do you put up a brick wall and shut them out of your personal life?
Yes, I do BUT there are a few I shut out for very good reason

If so, what the hell do you talk about?
It would be easier to list what we don't talk about. OY! if there husbands/friends/bosses only knew what they tell me LOL

I know all my clients problems, both professional and personal, I know when they feel happy (and what makes them happy) and I know when they are sad (and what makes them sad) ..... hell I even know most of their menstrual cycles .......
DITTO

I let them know about my life too, my ups, my downs, my round and rounds.
Many of them are my Facebook friends too.
DITTO

Do you have friends that started off as clients? Or do you remain the consummate professional robot?
I have friends that started as clients. Oh, the stories that I could tell....

What I LOVE about my job is this:
- My clients are NOT numbers, they are people
- I love to make them laugh
- I love that they look forward to 'me' as much as they look forward to their nails
- I love that when they are down, I can give them a supportive ear and ease their burden, and help them smile. I touch their 'inside', while pampering the outside
- I love that they want to include me in the important events in their lives (sometimes I hear the good news before their family does)
- I love that they see ME as a person and are interested in my family, and whatnot
- I love that they say they 'need' to see me, not for just nails but for their 'special time'.

My best friend cross-stitched a sign for my desk.
It reads
"Manicurists make good therapists. They hold your hands while listening to your problems"
My 'clients' concur.

This isn't just a job for me. It's a way of life. I'm so much happier now than I've ever been, and I think my clients are a large part of that. I'm smiling at the end of the day. Making people smile makes me smile. It's good feeling. it's also great when they look at me and see I'm not tip-top and they're concerned, they CARE. I've had clients call and my voice is off due to a migraine or whatever.. and instead of confirming their appointment, without a word from me, they are concerned and offering to cancel.
How many 'jobs' are like this one? Not many!

I'm their confidante, their shrink, their comedian, their friend, their sister/daughter.... I 'count'. I'm not just a tech and they're not just a number.
I wouldn't have it any other way.
 
A lot of my clients, particularly my long-standing regulars, are friends as well. They pay me full rate but they are definitely friends. I've been to 2 weddings of clients and have a 60th birthday party for another next Saturday. I've been on hen nights as well as some general socialising. Also many are facebook friends.

Being mobile I do become part of my clients lives - I often meet their OH/kids/pets/friends and I am in their house every 2 or 3 weeks...... I've never had a problem with over-familiarity, I'm by nature a fairly open book - I couldn't be that 'professional robot' if my life depended on it. My mum had flu over Christmas and I've been touched by how many of my clients have asked after her since I've been back at work.....

I do have some client relationships that are very much business only, but it tends to be driven by the client. Lots of my clients recognise the signs when I'm working too hard and nag me to take a break!!

I think the relationship aspect of this job is so important and is part of what makes it the best job in the world...... Most of the time I wouldn't have it any other way!!!
 
A lot of my clients see me as their friend, they give me hugs when they see me and we do have personal chats including moaning about other halves (well they moan I listen!). I don't think it oversteps the mark if the client is receptive to you being like that.

Some of the things my clients have come out with have been quite jaw dropping but I'm not easily shocked so that was not a problem. It's nice to have cosy chats rather than just the usual "where you going on holiday?" questions.
 
Do you embrace your clients?

Do you have fun with them?

Do you socialize with them ?

Over many many years I have built relationships with my clients, hell I know more about them than their husbands (or wives) boyfriends or partners.

I enjoy their company and often take the relationship further meeting their partners, having dinner with them, sharing a glass of wine with them and their partner (last client of the day only).

This has never affected my professional relationship with them, they still pay full price and they still respect me, my professionalism and my professional advice.

I have made many new friends and acquaintances in my long long years in the industry (and keep many secrets) :)

Do you have fun with clients .... or do you put up a brick wall and shut them out of your personal life?

If so, what the hell do you talk about?

I know all my clients problems, both professional and personal, I know when they feel happy (and what makes them happy) and I know when they are sad (and what makes them sad) ..... hell I even know most of their menstrual cycles .......

I let them know about my life too, my ups, my downs, my round and rounds.
Many of them are my Facebook friends too.

Do you have friends that started off as clients? Or do you remain the consummate professional robot?

Great Thread:)

Me being fairly new to the industry I am now begining to tell just by first meeting a client what type they will be lol. I love going to certain clients houses as we have a good giggle and yes some I dread these ones I tend to listen to and dont give and recipication as such, they like talking ablout themselves and their family lives etc, which is great as I get my job done quicker and it makes them feel better

I have seen 2 babys born, deaths, marriges, engagements, betrayal, divorce lol its lovely as I remember when clients were pregneant and every visit I see babys growing.

I have made a couple of really nice friends whom have become personal friends and I have socialised with them and as Carl said they always turn up and pay full whack never ever would expect a freebie not that id give it lol maybe a mini oil :lol: (my own sister pays full price) she said that way I will treat her like any other cutomer and put her in my diary every 3 weeks.

I love my job and I am a good judge of charachter so this does help. I do know not to ever cross the line though and talk about clients to clients as I would never ever betray their trust like that.

I get lovely bottles of wine and pressies of clients which is nice, I have one lady come to me and we are so alike I have to book her in as my last client as we always always laugh and chat so much and we now end up opening a bottle of red towards end of her service and have a glass or two each :lol:
 
I met some really amazing people through my job.
With some clients I can tell when I need to be professional.
But I have some who I really get on with and do consider them as good friends I even have two clients mother and daughter who we see each other as family.
I have such a laugh with my clients and some of them make me love my job even more.

Ps what a great thread we always read about problems and products it's time we step back and thought about what great clients we have and we wouldn't be where we are with out them.


Sent from my iPhone using SalonGeek
 
My clients are my clients, not my friends. They pay me for my time and skill.
I have clients that I have done for twenty odd years, I know everything about them. I am still just their hairdresser.
I do occaisionally go to events/parties etc but it is rare. Usually charity stuff that they are organising.
Out of my entire clientelle, only 3 clients have ever been to my house, and all of those were to see various kittens/puppy.

I had it drilled into me during my formative years as a young hairdresser to be warm, friendly, to read clients well, but they are never your friends.
 
My clients are my clients, not my friends. They pay me for my time and skill.
I have clients that I have done for twenty odd years, I know everything about them. I am still just their hairdresser.
I do occaisionally go to events/parties etc but it is rare. Usually charity stuff that they are organising.
Out of my entire clientelle, only 3 clients have ever been to my house, and all of those were to see various kittens/puppy.

I had it drilled into me during my formative years as a young hairdresser to be warm, friendly, to read clients well, but they are never your friends.

Yes I think this too....would they still see you if you didn't do their nails or hair?
 
As I said in my thread, would they be there if I wasnt doing their hair/nails. Or would I still be there if I wasnt being paid, the answer is no of cource not!! But if you live in a tiny small community like me, I would not be talking to half the pub on a sat night if I didnt have clients who if had also become friendly with. Im not being big headed when I say it but the local girls all come to me for there nails, what am I meant to do just ignore my clients when im out lol. I know the local chiropractor, the local butcher, etc, and loads of other hairdressers who would usualy be my competition but you just cant keep stuff sepreate where I live. Its impossibe, when I go into to town I take bookings in the street lol. Ive also never advertised, due to the gossipy nature of where I live, ive never needed to. I think it all depends on where you live and what type of business you run, and if you are self employed you can do what you like, its not like I can get sacked for being over familiar with my clints ha ha :hug:x Oh and before anyone thinks otherwise, I know this wouldnt be the ideal choice for many people, and if I was working in a big salon then I wouldnt be making friends with all the clients, I have worked in salons before and I havent ever made any friends with clients through it, I have my circle of friends who I have known for years. Just saying I think it depends on where you live and what you do, eg family run green grocers are not the same as the fruit and vedge section in tescos we all are different. Didnt want anyone to think I was being dritical of anyone thats all xx
 
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I agree to an extent. I am warm welcoming not too personal with most clients. I know when to change subject or not to ask. However atleast 2-3 of my clients I can say would be my friend regardless of me being their nail tech.

It's a two way street, yes I'm their nail tech but there my bread an butter I need them more than they need me. I love having giggle and laugh with my clients omg I sometimes can't wait to get out and be ME, not mum or wife just Kate.

Gosh I love my job so so much lol .
 
What I LOVE about my job is this:
- My clients are NOT numbers, they are people
- I love to make them laugh
- I love that they look forward to 'me' as much as they look forward to their nails
- I love that when they are down, I can give them a supportive ear and ease their burden, and help them smile. I touch their 'inside', while pampering the outside
- I love that they want to include me in the important events in their lives (sometimes I hear the good news before their family does)
- I love that they see ME as a person and are interested in my family, and whatnot
- I love that they say they 'need' to see me, not for just nails but for their 'special time'.

My best friend cross-stitched a sign for my desk.
It reads
"Manicurists make good therapists. They hold your hands while listening to your problems"
My 'clients' concur.

This isn't just a job for me. It's a way of life. I'm so much happier now than I've ever been, and I think my clients are a large part of that. I'm smiling at the end of the day. Making people smile makes me smile. It's good feeling. it's also great when they look at me and see I'm not tip-top and they're concerned, they CARE. I've had clients call and my voice is off due to a migraine or whatever.. and instead of confirming their appointment, without a word from me, they are concerned and offering to cancel.
How many 'jobs' are like this one? Not many!

I'm their confidante, their shrink, their comedian, their friend, their sister/daughter.... I 'count'. I'm not just a tech and they're not just a number.
I wouldn't have it any other way.

You sound like a very lovely, caring person : )
 
My clients are my clients, not my friends. They pay me for my time and skill.
I have clients that I have done for twenty odd years, I know everything about them. I am still just their hairdresser.
I do occaisionally go to events/parties etc but it is rare. Usually charity stuff that they are organising.
Out of my entire clientelle, only 3 clients have ever been to my house, and all of those were to see various kittens/puppy.

I had it drilled into me during my formative years as a young hairdresser to be warm, friendly, to read clients well, but they are never your friends.

I am like this too.

I'm very friendly in the salon and I for sure knew many things about my clients lives when I was full time in the job but socialising? No I really didn't. I was certainly invited to go out but, I wasn't single or a free agent ... I had a family of seven to feed every night when I got home! Plus I was too knackered after work! :lol: I didn't have your energy, Carl! :lol: or if I did it was gone by the end of the day.

I was social enough all day long with clients in the salon not to want to be social outside of work. Probably why I'm not madly social even now. I like my own company and that of my family .. I have very few really close friends that I love to be with. You're one of them love. Love my once a year visits with you which are very special :hug:
 
Hi ladies : )

I dont think i could "let" myself socialise with a client,sure ive been asked, to allsorts of new years partys, christenings, weddings, even the rocky horror show,lol!! id just feel that i couldnt let myself go!
I know EVERYTHING about my clients, but they only know a handful of things about myself,I was always taught that people like to talk about themselfs,were to be interested in them, and not talk about any taboo subjects, and i adhere to this, if they want to to me, thats fine, but wouldnt dare talk with a client about sex,religion, or anything like that.

This may sound sad to some,but my work is my social life, im too busy, with work,and my family, especially my baby for going out and stuff, so enjoy my girly time with my clients.dont get me wrong, we have fun, i love to see some of them,and them me in return,but would die if they saw me in a drunken state,they see me as a glamourous, professional,prim and proper confidante, persona, and i want to keep it that way : )
 

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