Tag: Customer Service

“She Listens”

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What My Clients Say About Me

Choosing a new stylist can be scary.

Everyone says they are wonderful. But what are they really like?

You’ll have to decide for yourself, but here is what my clients are saying about me.

You can visit my testimonial page to see photos and screen shots of hair and comments from real clients.

You can also check out my Facebook page, April Troupe Hair & Lifestyle to see my reviews.

Here is what THEY say:

“April made me feel really comfortable and took into consideration everything I wanted in my haircut(I cut a lot off!) She asked good questions and made sure I was happy with everything before I left”- Grecia Enns

“April is great and truly spends time doing what YOU want done with your hair. She listens and keeps listening on subsequent visits. I brought my daughter to her and now my son as well and we all love her work and commitment to excellence. Thank you, April!”- Robyn Reilly

“April is amazing. She listens to what you ask for and her execution is flawless! I would highly recommend her to anybody looking for an excellent hair experience.” –Janine Fitzgerald

This makes me really happy! My clients love that I take time to listen to them. This is one of the most important things to me! What matters is that you get the look YOU WANT, NOT the look that I WANT.  So I spend a lot of time asking questions and listening.   I do this at the beginning, and I do this throughout the process of cutting and styling your hair. My goal is for you to leave feeling great about your hair. My greatest fear is that you will leave the salon feeling disappointed.  What matters most to me is that you are happy with your look.

I thought of this recently when I saw this commercial for Progressive Insurance. It is very funny, but reflects something that is rather telling about this industry. I’m always reluctant to believe criticism about another stylist. No one is perfect. But too many times clients have come to me after they were unhappy with their previous stylist. And the truth is they didn’t even know why. When we talk and begin the styling process, something clicks. They say, “my last stylist didn’t listen to me. They didn’t even ask what I wanted.” Let’s change that!

Click here to book an appointment in the month of February 2016 for $10 off for new clients.

The Privilege of Caring For Your Hair

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The Privilege of taking care of your Hair

The magazines on our salon’s retro coffee table blaze with colorful airbrushed images of the latest, lushest hair trends. Fall Color, Bridal Updos, the latest Pixie style worn by Hollywood starlets…and I love it. The thoughtfully selected, hip-yet-relaxing tunes hum in my ears as I introduce myself to my new client. We stroll toward my chair, and I’m mentally running through the current condition, texture, chemical processes…the possibilities for her long hair, chattering as always: “So how did you hear about us, Meredith (not her real name)? Are you from Fresno? What are you wanting for your hair today? Are you doing something special after this…?” STOP.

Meredith’s reply was a reality check: “Yeah…I’m going to a funeral. A double funeral.”

One of my favorite guest speakers when I was a cosmetology student was a middle-aged stylist. He didn’t dance onto the stage with trendy shades and record the action for his afternoon Instagram post. No banners and not a lot of branding. But I will never forget the words he spoke:

“Being a hairdresser is a privilege; never take this for granted. People trust you. Complete strangers let you TOUCH THEM. Their hair, even their faces. This is as close as you can get to someone without being a physician. And these people will lean on you to make them look and feel beautiful through every important life stage. Weddings. Children. Birthdays. Anniversaries. Graduations. Illnesses…Deaths.”

Today, the weight of these words settled a little deeper than the first time I heard them. I found myself quieting down, relaxing my smile, speaking less and with a tone I hoped would convey that this was her time to unwind and go numb if she needed to. I asked a few questions but mostly I silently studied this woman in shock and grief. I FELT this privilege. Touching her hair. Massaging, rinsing, brushing, elevating, snipping, drying and curling…nothing I could do in an hour would lessen her grief. Nothing could ease the huge decisions looming over her. Nothing could make a difference. Nothing could make her ‘feel beautiful’ today and I knew it.

She smiled a bit wearily but with appreciation and a thank-you; we shook hands and parted ways. Her family had preparations to attend to. Funeral clothes and meals and the viewing. And I had thoughts to think. I fell naturally into my re-organizing routine.

The music played on. Colors flashed; in fact I didn’t even hear the words of our receptionist at first: “New Guest”: Meredith’s daughter. Maybe I did make a difference…