Ready to cry and throw in the towel

[lorna shaw]

Well long story will try and cut it short, I did a bridal trial 2 weeks ago for a late booking her wedding was yesterday she was perfectly happy and made up with the trial make up.
I got there yesterday to her asking for a completely different look more brighter and pulled out a picture of a 20 year old perfect eyed model wearing white shadow inner eyes all across lid shaded into blue cat eye.
bare in mind my bride is in her 50's sunbed to the max smokes a lot so her skin is not as youthful as the model in the pic she showed me,
I explained as nicely as possible so she said do it the same but use brown on the outer and white on the lid I still advised this may not be suitable,
The bride insisted she wanted this she wanted white bright eyes that stood out a mile off she had already had false lashes applied,
so I did the make up picture perfect nearly to the pic.
Asked her to check it she then went having her hair done in the other room then shouted over to me I don't like m eyes I want them dark as always have them dark I hate what you have done, I offered to correct the eyes for her once she had finished with the hairdresser,
she came barging over to my table said just give me a dark brown shadow now give me a brush I asked what brush she wanted she then threw my stuff she had in her hand on the table and went upstairs and didn't return down just sent her sister down to say for me to go,
I cried in the car on the way home never had this before now I am doubting my skills and worried she will bad mouth me just wish she had let me correct her eyes for her. don't know if I should go and give her the money back bare in mind I ended up a b/maid for free as wasn't booked in and also a set of lashes for free.
what should I do???

 

[geek425]

What a rude client, i wouldn't worry about it. You did all you could don't doubt yourself xxx


www.hairtechnique.co.uk

 

[nicolaluise]

You need to move on and forget about her hun, some people just won't listen to expert advice!
By the sounds of it you did everything absolutely correct and she just sounds like an older woman having a panic about not looking as youthful as she would like on her wedding day, that's her personal insecurities and there's not a thing you could do about it if she's not willing to keep calm and listen to you. Throwing your stuff is childish and disrespectful.

I would bill her for the extra bridesmaid makeup that you did too! Chances are she will have gone on to get married and everyone will have told her how lovely she looks, she'll look back on her pics and might even like her make up!

I had a bride last year who was a nightmare, she had 4/5 trials, wanted a Kim K look (tbh she wasn't the prettiest of girls and quite over weight), she expected her makeup to actually transform her into Kim K! On the last trial I asked her to let me do what I think is best ... And that's what she went with in the day. Every trial she said she loved yet would ring 2 weeks later to book another. Pain in the arse and was horrible to me after the wedding! Just a crank lol.

Chin up and move on sweetie xxx

 

[Lady Murasaki]

This why I no longer do weddings.

You should of charged the bridesmaid for the makeup application, however getting the money now will be difficult if not near impossible.do not refund the bride as you then in her eyes be admitting you did a sh&t job.

The problem lies with her the bride NOT you, I had a similar problem with a client a month or so ago and I left as her behaviour breach her contract with me and you can't reason with someone in full melt down mode or is behaving in an unstable manor.

Do you have a bridal contract in place and do you give brides set booking times? When I didi weddings I had set booking times and any me spent over that allocated time the Bride had to pay me extra.

At the trial I used to tell clients that I had a contract stating that no major changes to makeup could take place on the wedding day, unless a surcharge was paid (as major changes took time etc) even then I had clause saying that I can refuse to do any major changes as I may not have time due to other booking. If they didn't pay the surcharge they had the agreed makeup or nothing.

I always took contracts with me and made a point of getting them out in front of the bride on the day, along with printed off photos of each look for each guest that was booked in and was start with saying ( after pleasantries hello/how are you etc etc) "as agreed at the trial and in the contract I will be doing x agreed look on you and x agreed look on her etc etc if someone want changes I would say that " if time allows I will TRY and accommodate them, however I can not promise this UNTIL everyone else is finished and that they are willing to pay £x amount to cover the additional time.


Trust me once you start charging for extra time or there's the treat of it, you find that clients feel that those all important changes are suddenly not a big deal lol

 

[Lady Murasaki]

You need to move on and forget about her hun, some people just won't listen to expert advice!
By the sounds of it you did everything absolutely correct and she just sounds like an older woman having a panic about not looking as youthful as she would like on her wedding day, that's her personal insecurities and there's not a thing you could do about it if she's not willing to keep calm and listen to you. Throwing your stuff is childish and disrespectful.

I would bill her for the extra bridesmaid makeup that you did too! Chances are she will have gone on to get married and everyone will have told her how lovely she looks, she'll look back on her pics and might even like her make up!

I had a bride last year who was a nightmare, she had 4/5 trials, wanted a Kim K look (tbh she wasn't the prettiest of girls and quite over weight), she expected her makeup to actually transform her into Kim K! On the last trial I asked her to let me do what I think is best ... And that's what she went with in the day. Every trial she said she loved yet would ring 2 weeks later to book another. Pain in the arse and was horrible to me after the wedding! Just a crank lol.

Chin up and move on sweetie xxx

I would of refused to keep having her in for more trials and after the second I would of sacked her as client when she phoned up for a 3rd!

The trial is a two way thing, one to see if the client like our work etc, and the other is for us to see if we can work with that client on what could be the most stress day of their life. Any negative behaviours exhibited at the trial is a sure red flag on the way they will be behave and treat you on the wedding day, so it's best to get rid.

For some strange reason some makeup and hairstylist seem to conditioned in to thinking that even if this negative behaviour is exhibited at the trial that must accept the clients wedding booking no matter what and put up being treated like emotional punch bag and being belittled.

I never hardly ever took wedding day deposits until I was happy with how the trial went, if it didn't go how I wanted I got rid. No amount of money is worth being stuck with nasty or unstable bride.

 

[WaxGirl]

Well long story will try and cut it short, I did a bridal trial 2 weeks ago for a late booking her wedding was yesterday she was perfectly happy and made up with the trial make up.
I got there yesterday to her asking for a completely different look more brighter and pulled out a picture of a 20 year old perfect eyed model wearing white shadow inner eyes all across lid shaded into blue cat eye.
bare in mind my bride is in her 50's sunbed to the max smokes a lot so her skin is not as youthful as the model in the pic she showed me,
I explained as nicely as possible so she said do it the same but use brown on the outer and white on the lid I still advised this may not be suitable,
The bride insisted she wanted this she wanted white bright eyes that stood out a mile off she had already had false lashes applied,
so I did the make up picture perfect nearly to the pic.
Asked her to check it she then went having her hair done in the other room then shouted over to me I don't like m eyes I want them dark as always have them dark I hate what you have done, I offered to correct the eyes for her once she had finished with the hairdresser,
she came barging over to my table said just give me a dark brown shadow now give me a brush I asked what brush she wanted she then threw my stuff she had in her hand on the table and went upstairs and didn't return down just sent her sister down to say for me to go,
I cried in the car on the way home never had this before now I am doubting my skills and worried she will bad mouth me just wish she had let me correct her eyes for her. don't know if I should go and give her the money back bare in mind I ended up a b/maid for free as wasn't booked in and also a set of lashes for free.
what should I do???

Send her the bill for the extra bridesmaid make-up.

That's all you have to do.

Then let it go.

You acted professionally and these challenging experiences are great for strengthening our resilience.

Not all brides are like this

90% of the ones I work with are demanding (which I like and encourage) in the run up to the event and on the day are really happy excited friendly warm calm ish and welcoming

Don't let this put you off

 

[KrisKross]

No advice from me as I don't do make up or weddings, and after reading about some peoples experiences of bridezillas on here, I'm glad I don't!

Your bride sounds rude, deluded and totally unreasonable and it sounds to me like you did the best you could under extremely difficult circumstances.

I wouldn't bother billing for the extra work, I doubt you'd get the money from them anyway, but I certainly wouldn't offer any kind of refund.

 

[nicolaluise]

I would of refused to keep having her in for more trials and after the second I would of sacked her as client when she phoned up for a 3rd!

The trial is a two way thing, one to see if the client like our work etc, and the other is for us to see if we can work with that client on what could be the most stress day of their life. Any negative behaviours exhibited at the trial is a sure red flag on the way they will be behave and treat you on the wedding day, so it's best to get rid.

For some strange reason some makeup and hairstylist seem to conditioned in to thinking that even if this negative behaviour is exhibited at the trial that must accept the clients wedding booking no matter what and put up being treated like emotional punch bag and being belittled.

I never hardly ever took wedding day deposits until I was happy with how the trial went, if it didn't go how I wanted I got rid. No amount of money is worth being stuck with nasty or unstable bride.

She wouldn't book the appointments as trials, it was always a hai and makeup app for a night out. I'd get there and she would say something along the lines of "I thought I'd have another go at the make up and see how it feels for tonight" etc. I got on with her really well until the wedding week! She kept texting to see if I would be on time (was never late for her!) then when i got to the hotel she was still in bed, not showered, same with the bridesmaids ... Put me half an hour behind. I was so rushed! Then I was going back in the evening to change her makeup ... She was half an hour late again! Oh and the week leading up to the wedding she told me I had quoted her too much, even though her wedding took up 9 hours of a 16hr working day for me! She was just a little spoilt princess lol xx

 

[Lady Murasaki]

I would of insisted that she booked them as trials. When I did weddings I stated in my contract that everyone has to be up and ready for when I arrived and if the weed not I would either take that time out of their apt or charge them for the extra time.

I also had full and half day rates for those who wanted me to come back and do their makeup for the evening etc

 

[Josie34]

Well long story will try and cut it short, I did a bridal trial 2 weeks ago for a late booking her wedding was yesterday she was perfectly happy and made up with the trial make up.
I got there yesterday to her asking for a completely different look more brighter and pulled out a picture of a 20 year old perfect eyed model wearing white shadow inner eyes all across lid shaded into blue cat eye.
bare in mind my bride is in her 50's sunbed to the max smokes a lot so her skin is not as youthful as the model in the pic she showed me,
I explained as nicely as possible so she said do it the same but use brown on the outer and white on the lid I still advised this may not be suitable,
The bride insisted she wanted this she wanted white bright eyes that stood out a mile off she had already had false lashes applied,
so I did the make up picture perfect nearly to the pic.
Asked her to check it she then went having her hair done in the other room then shouted over to me I don't like m eyes I want them dark as always have them dark I hate what you have done, I offered to correct the eyes for her once she had finished with the hairdresser,
she came barging over to my table said just give me a dark brown shadow now give me a brush I asked what brush she wanted she then threw my stuff she had in her hand on the table and went upstairs and didn't return down just sent her sister down to say for me to go,
I cried in the car on the way home never had this before now I am doubting my skills and worried she will bad mouth me just wish she had let me correct her eyes for her. don't know if I should go and give her the money back bare in mind I ended up a b/maid for free as wasn't booked in and also a set of lashes for free.
what should I do???

I'm wondering if the lesson here is that you, as the professional, know best, and that what someone wants is not always best for them. Perhaps you should have stuck to your guns and told her that perhaps you are not the make up specialist for her. Stayed true to your experience and professional acumen? As a massage therapist, I often get people wanting massage that goes against contraindications. I merely refuse to do it, whether they like it or not. I'm the professional, not them. I know best.

 

[RB1]

It's not your fault she didn't take your advice. She blatantly was embarrassed that she had chosen not to listen to your advice against the look! What a vile lady. Keep your chin up... You did nothing wrong x

 

[RED STAR]

As professionals we really need to stand our ground.
I personally believe that due to ultra quick training methods today, operators are coming out of training, able to deal with 'nice' clients, but ill equiped to deal with the more 'challanging' ones!.:evil:
Fast track training gives little time on 'client managment'
Sadly, todays customer WANTS MORE.......
The more you give, the more they take...the more they expect.....
Sorry if this sounds harsh, but back in the day, we, the trained professonal, called the shots!
It really is important that we CONTROL the client who has UNREALISTIC EXPECTATION!

 

[Josie34]

As professionals we really need to stand our ground.
I personally believe that due to ultra quick training methods today, operators are coming out of training, able to deal with 'nice' clients, but ill equiped to deal with the more 'challanging' ones!.:evil:
Fast track training gives little time on 'client managment'
Sadly, todays customer WANTS MORE.......
The more you give, the more they take...the more they expect.....
Sorry if this sounds harsh, but back in the day, we, the trained professonal, called the shots!
It really is important that we CONTROL the client who has UNREALISTIC EXPECTATION!

Life experience is needed. If you're very young, you may not be so assertive or allow others to ride roughshod. I know I would have done in say, my 20's. Life teaches you how to deal with people like this. It's all a learning curve.

 

[nicolaluise]

I would of insisted that she booked them as trials. When I did weddings I stated in my contract that everyone has to be up and ready for when I arrived and if the weed not I would either take that time out of their apt or charge them for the extra time.

I also had full and half day rates for those who wanted me to come back and do their makeup for the evening etc

Lesson learnt ... Believe me haha x

 

[aussiehair]

Bridezilla grrr!! Lol.
Honestly, she should never have touched your equipment. Relinquish control of your tools/make up and unfortunately you relinquish control of the situation. Next time, I'd just be polite but firm firm firm, if she's not happy that's fine but its for you to fix and only you. She can't be taking your brushes/makeup and doing it herself. I'm a Hairdresser and that's the equivalent of her picking up my hairdryer and starting to blowdry her own hair....big no no!! You did nnothing wrong by the sounds of it, she was just being a bratt. Lol.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using SalonGeek mobile app

 

[lorna shaw]

Thank you everyone decided just to leave it alone now and forget it but learn from it I need to trust my own judgement more and stick with my guns next time decided to put in my make up agreement that once make has been decided on the trials then this is what will be done on the day if the bride changes her mind and wants something completely different then another trial will be needed,xx thank you everyone.x