Desperate for help

[Goldielockx25]

Hello everyone,

I'm a newbie hair geek and learning on the fly it seems. I am working as a salon assistant while going to esthetics school, and the game plan is to do an apprenticeship with my boss for hair (just giving the background here for context so ya'll don't think I'm an idiot).

Here's my problem. I shampoo all my boss's clients and today we had two color clients who I could not get the color out of their hair. It literally solidified into this gummy bear feeling mess as soon as I started to wash it out. Tried hot water, then cold water, GOBS of shampoo. It just got worse. I tried signaling to my boss that something was wrong without freaking the clients out but he just walked off.

We typically use goldwell color, but he had me grab some clairol cream when he ran out of a few and the goldwell was out. I found out from clairol that you are not supposed to process it under heat, or it dries on the hair and you get gummy bear hair. But I'm not 100% he used the clairol on both of these clients. Has anyone ever encountered this before? I'm desperate to not look like an idiot here. Shampooing someone should not be this difficult right?

I'm majorly freaking out, because when my boss didn't pick up on what I was trying to communicate, I went to the receptionist and told her what was happening and that she needed to go get him and tell him before it became more of a problem. He walks up to the shampoo bowl and asks me what's wrong. So I told him, in front of the client. And he pitched a fit of epic proportions, called me a simpleton, and sent me home. I know you're not supposed to say anything is wrong in front of a client but since he asked I told him thinking we were being direct. I am so in over my head here I'm spazzing. I've never had a boss that is so vague on what he wants but SUPER critical if I get it wrong. If I can get some info on what the hell might have happened maybe I can talk to him about it when he's feeling reasonable again.

It would just be nice to know what the hell happened to the clients hair so I know I'm not a simpleton who gets shampooing wrong... I mean seriously wash rinse repeat condition really isn't THAT complicated...I get I shouldn't have said anything in front of the client, but hell...What a damn day.:Scared:

 

[Goldielockx25]

He did put both of them under the dryer for what seemed like a longer time than normal (typically we do around 8-11 minutes, they were under for closer to 15)

He used clairol with goldwell developer (not sure if that matters)

When I tried shampooing them, the shampoo wouldn't lather where the hair "gummied" up on me.

Forgot to mention all that, and since I'm not sure what info is relevant wanted as much available just in case.

 

[MTHair78]

He was wrong to mix product lines, first of all. He was also wrong to treat you like he did while you are in a training position. Don't let this one incident turn you off... Go back and do your job, wether he apologizes or not. But! If he does this continuously, then leave that job and find a new one.

 

[Goldielockx25]

Thank you, normally I let things like this roll off my back. Just having a hard time doing that right now. My father passed away last week and I probably shouldn't be at work, but it's a new job so didn't want to take off. Maybe I should break down in front of him next time, teach him to be a little nicer to people. But I was trying to be professional. At least I made it to my car before I had my melt down

 

[Eviestyle]

Um, if he is going to abuse you like that, he will do it again. I would look for something else.

 

[rippersroo]

What a ****. I wouldn't even go back if someone treated me like that you are a HUMAN BEING!! Do not let anyone put you down and humiliate you! You know why the hair went gummy, it was more unprofessional of him to come up to you asking infront of the client, you would of been able to show him without speaking!
Do not EVER be spoken to like a piece of **** again!
Something similar happened to me once and I just text my boss the next day and said "I won't be spoken to like a piece of **** as you did yesterday and be treated in that way. I will not be coming back, thankyou for the opportunity"
You can be polite without being walked over.
Sorry this really annoyed me. And I'm so sorry to hear about your dad, a little compassion from your boss wouldn't go amiss. Even if it is a new job anyone can understand you not wanting to be in work! He sounds like a total jerk.
Xx

 

[Goldielockx25]

He fired me this morning in front of all the clients. I called clairol customer service to ask about what happened and was told that line shouldn't be processed under heat, which he did do...Or it dries on the hair like glue.

I told my coworker what I had found out, but didn't tell him because I knew he would freak out. But she told him, and I overheard him telling her that just because I called a hotline and didn't speak to a stylist that it doesn't mean anything...Guess companies don't know about the proper way to use their products...But sure...

He fired me two minutes later in the shampoo area in front of the two clients. What an unbelievably rotten week.

 

[boolou]

Oh hun, I didn't want to read and run I'm a nail geek. Hope that you're ok, your worth 10 times him, especially if he's going to treat you like that in front of clients.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using SalonGeek mobile app

 

[SapphireBeaux]

Take it further! Surely he can't get away with mistreating staff like that. Tribunal; unfair dismissal?! Post in business geeks or consumer to get more advice. ESP if all you did was shampoo as asked, he made the mistake with products! What an ass. Sorry for your loss Also :-(

 

[Goldielockx25]

Thanks for the support everyone. I suppose I ought to have paid more consideration to his reputation...

I've thought about filing for unemployment, but since I was only there for a month don't know if I qualify. I wasn't actually given a copy of any of my new hire paper work because their printer was low on ink...and now I can't get them to even respond to me about getting a copy of it all so I don't violate any of the disclosures I had to agree to. I know I read something about not working within a certain radius of the salon but not the specifics. Not sure if it would apply since I was only an assistant and not a stylist. It's not as if I could steal clients or anything... Am I obligated to follow a contract that they won't provide me a copy of? I don't recall anything about a probational period, so I have no idea if it's going to be listed as a bad fit for the position or if he is going to be more malicious. If his reputation is deserved i am seriously worried about my getting a new position in the area...

I don't understand how some people can act so unprofessionally. I understand that I did make mistakes, I don't deny that. But none of them were "fire on the spot" mistakes like stealing or misconduct. No training, no warnings, nothing written down... I know life isn't fair and karma catches up to people like that, but dude it sucks when they're drama smacks into you like a MAC truck.

 

[KHS]

Paid more consideration to his reputation???? All you done was pointed out something that was clearly wrong .. HIS mistake, don't make excuses for him sweet, he was bang out of order!! He should of known his job he is (or not) the professional you acted in the correct way by finding out yourself why this happened,
You carry on like that and you'll go far a cracking little hair stylist with more professionalism oozing out of your comb than he has in his whole body!!
So brush yourself down, get yourself back out there, head held high and find yourself another salon worthy of you!!
*points a motherly finger* lol

 

[hazeleyes]

This story shocked me! How awful to be treated like that!

 

[persianista]

Sounds like you're best off out of there. He obviously doesn't like his mistakes pointed out to him.

 

[Lady Murasaki]

Hello everyone,

I'm a newbie hair geek and learning on the fly it seems. I am working as a salon assistant while going to esthetics school, and the game plan is to do an apprenticeship with my boss for hair (just giving the background here for context so ya'll don't think I'm an idiot).

Here's my problem. I shampoo all my boss's clients and today we had two color clients who I could not get the color out of their hair. It literally solidified into this gummy bear feeling mess as soon as I started to wash it out. Tried hot water, then cold water, GOBS of shampoo. It just got worse. I tried signaling to my boss that something was wrong without freaking the clients out but he just walked off.

We typically use goldwell color, but he had me grab some clairol cream when he ran out of a few and the goldwell was out. I found out from clairol that you are not supposed to process it under heat, or it dries on the hair and you get gummy bear hair. But I'm not 100% he used the clairol on both of these clients. Has anyone ever encountered this before? I'm desperate to not look like an idiot here. Shampooing someone should not be this difficult right?

I'm majorly freaking out, because when my boss didn't pick up on what I was trying to communicate, I went to the receptionist and told her what was happening and that she needed to go get him and tell him before it became more of a problem. He walks up to the shampoo bowl and asks me what's wrong. So I told him, in front of the client. And he pitched a fit of epic proportions, called me a simpleton, and sent me home. I know you're not supposed to say anything is wrong in front of a client but since he asked I told him thinking we were being direct. I am so in over my head here I'm spazzing. I've never had a boss that is so vague on what he wants but SUPER critical if I get it wrong. If I can get some info on what the hell might have happened maybe I can talk to him about it when he's feeling reasonable again.

It would just be nice to know what the hell happened to the clients hair so I know I'm not a simpleton who gets shampooing wrong... I mean seriously wash rinse repeat condition really isn't THAT complicated...I get I shouldn't have said anything in front of the client, but hell...What a damn day.:Scared:

While the behaviour of your ex boss is inexcusable and he should of never behaved that and yes he shouldn't of never mixed products etc, however you do have to share some of the blame here.

You should of never told him I'm front of the client what was wrong , instead you should of taken him to one side or written your concerns down on a piece of paper and showed him discreetly while the client was at the backwash

Of course he's lashed out at you as you openly pointed out is mistake in front of his client and he lost face big time! So his natural reaction was to save face and the clients trust in HIM by deflecting the blame on YOU.

Had you gone about this more discreetly I think there may have been a different out come to this.

I think this has been a harsh learning curve for both of you.

 

[ruby6]

In the OP's defense and I am just guessing maybe reasonably young if training. Hindsight is a wonderful thing and confidence and how to deal with a situation only comes with time. Yes it is a learning curve but the boss was well out of order how he dealt with it. She tried to signal to him, she told the receptionist, he then came over and made an issue out of it in front of the client where this girl had been trying to avoid that all along. Then the "experienced and professional" boss fires her in front of clients! Come on give the girl a break!

 

[Lady Murasaki]

In the OP's defense and I am just guessing maybe reasonably young if training. Hindsight is a wonderful thing and confidence and how to deal with a situation only comes with time. Yes it is a learning curve but the boss was well out of order how he dealt with it. She tried to signal to him, she told the receptionist, he then came over and made an issue out of it in front of the client where this girl had been trying to avoid that all along. Then the "experienced and professional" boss fires her in front of clients! Come on give the girl a break!

If you read my post I clearly stated that her ex employer was out of order and that his behaviour was un-expectable.

I wasn't being harsh I was just giving an honest reflection and how the op may wish to deal with same situation in the future.

 

[ellishairbeauty]

Im so sorry. U must feel like a pile of crap right now but i promise u that u have done nothin rong. Just by touching the hair yoy can feel if you put bleach on it its going to turn gummy. By a simple touch. He has took a massive risk and it hasnt paid off. You have to look into this more i dont know the ins and outs but you ate absolitly not in the rong. This should not destroy your confidence xx

Sent from my GT-N7000 using SalonGeek mobile app

 

[cassiewright1]

Hiya I just read all of this all I can say is that I'm shocked how he gone on with you, but make sure you keep your head up and show him your better than he is and his salon, tomorrow a other day xxx

Sent from my GT-I9505 using SalonGeek mobile app

 

[Rachel123]

Sorry to hear that but u know u are better off out of there anyway! U don't want to be working for someone who treats people like that and secondly his work is sloppy , he shouldn't be mixing! Think of it as a lucky escape, take the time to grieve and look after yourself, sorry for your loss- big hugs xx

 

[TishHairScience]

Wow Goldie:

What a week indeed. You did the right thing from the very beginning. As I read, I was like he was so wrong and you don't want to learn from anyone like that any way. He did you a favor.