Using non professional colours in a salon

[Beautysecrets23]

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone can help me, I work in a little salon with about 5 stylist, the owner is a hairdresser and this is her only salon.

I think ATM funds are quite tight, and so the owner is cutting back and not going to the wholesalers as often.

So my problem is that when the salon has run out of a colour say for example 4/0 she goes out and buys a supermarket home dye like casting creme from l'oreal and then wants us to use it on clients who think they are getting a professional colour and being charged the same !!!!!!
I have started to bring my own professional colour tubes in for my clients as I do not believe this should be happening!

I have tried talking to my boss but she's not very approachable and jut says "they won't know"

Has anyone got any advice for me to stop this ?? So for the long post

Thank you

Emma

 

[wonderwoman]

wow that's pretty bad, its a deflamation on supply and goods act. The hairdresser is expected to carry out a professional service, with softer hair dye rather than a box hair dye! Its really bad practice to assume that they wont know, when in a couple weeks of fading they find out! box hair dyes are not recommended to exceed in the peroxide or altering it.

I suggest that you air your concerns to the salon owner and ask her to keep a fully stocked colour store....you can get them on account if shes really hard up and has a month or so to pay off the account.

I have my rep come to me, and keep my store up to date! I get all my hds to put the colour part used or used in a little shaker and just hand this to my rep who glady helps me out. I have roughtly 5weeks to pay each months balance off and its great if i know ive spent far to much in that month! hths xoxo

 

[dee]

oh yikes !! i would go buy my own stock at the wholesalers and if you really need to take it home with you if you think they will rip you off , x

 

[Beautysecrets23]

Hi,

Thank you for the replies.

When I spoke to her and said how much I think it is wrong to do this, she told me they won't know as i said.
And in regards to fading she did cover this and said and I quote " lease they will come back more often"
I will suggest about the wholesalers, and I hope she go for it.

Thanks again x

 

[gemsie1983]

Awful Practice. I would have to say something.

 

[jotommo]

it is actually more cost effective to buy the tubes from the wholesalers... what is it like £5-7 for a box dye? that makes no sense?

wow, i'd be seriously pissed if i knew a box dye was going on my hair and then getting charged that!!

what about the metalic salts in the dyes and stuff ... :irked: i am cringing!!

the client will definitly realise or someone will comment because they are just a load of crap really, they never cover well, look unrealistic, and are just horrid..

sorry if this sounds rude but what is the salon like?? high end or your little old ladies?? are they paying alot for these colours?? xx

 

[6886]

Hi


Well myself find this shocking but also as a salon owner too not suprised in todays current climate.
There are a few questions i would like to ask first before i make comment, What kind of Salon are you City centre, Sweaty betty salon etc ????

What is the pricing structure for a Color at your Salon ?

How has trade been in the last 12 months ?

Has there been a drop in Clientele in the last 12 months ?

Is your Salon in need of refurbishment ?

Well my answer is a 50 / 50 basis, i am trulu shocked by the answers of the owner of the salon, saying customers wont know etc, but what about skin testing ?
Customers are going to a professional salon for a professional service.
Color tones will not be the Same, ie to much warmth and to brassy !!!!
I have a Fab Rep myself and use Matrix and my local wholesaler i get 45 days credit to pay which endeavour to do to as well.
My Rep who is Great and so passionate about his role, really does help me as a business, this month for every 2 colors i ordered i got a free bottle of wine and a free Matrix developer, along side this was a peroxide deal of buy 6 and get 6 free so i took advantage and purchased 18 peroxides and got 18 free and got 154 colors too and i got 18 bottles of Bubbly, a free color trolley, so a good deal for me, Reps can be good and can be BAD, i had a awful rep before this one who was pushy and just such a womaniser, my new rep is ACE.

Now my other head, this salon owner could be in Finanacial trouble, possibly poor trade in the last 12 months, declining clientel, heavy competition from other local salons in the area .....
Have you spoke to her ? are you employed or Self emp, if the salon has potential and is ok for trade and she is suffering badly why not suggest to go Self employed to help ease the pressure of a wage bill, this may be just the help that could save her or him.

Remember there are 2 sides to a story, in this one i would not think she is the only salon doing this, i am sure in the current climate we are in there are many many more, she will be found out in the end, and this could have an affect on your name as a pro stylists.

Source a good wholesaler and a good Rep, dont always go for the cheap colors go for a great brand where u get something back like education in the salon for free, i hope all sides get through this

 

[Beautysecrets23]

Hello again, thanks for the replies and I hope I answer all the questions,

I do have to say that we still do have professional colour there but if the Salon runs out instead of going to the wholesalers she will go to the supermarket for example- we had a lady who wanted a medium brown violet (so 4/6 in koleston) didn't have the colour tube so got casting creme similar. Another lady wanted a ash blonde, so she got a light ash blonde from the supermRket. She asks the clients whT they want over the phone so she can get the colour. Hope this mAkes sense so far. Also I think with money wise she is thinking of petrol and she is using the peroxide in the box aswell as gloves in the box. It hasn't been going on for too long only over the last month not that makes it any better.

I am employed by her as a stylist for About 3 years.

I would say no drop in clients just more clients extending their appoints. So instead of 4 weeks of a regrowth they wait 8 weeks And so on.

In regards to the salon, it's not high end but it's not a low end salon lol, we have a mixture of clients from pensioners to teenagers to wealthy clients.

There hasn't been any refurb but has some personal troubles etc.

And we charge £32 for a regrowth tint, £38.00 for full head tint.

I hope that's all the questions answered lol.
I hav decided that I will go in to the salon and tell my owner that it has to stop as it is unprofessional


Thank you for all the advice

Emma x

 

[Beautysecrets23]

Sorry it's suppose to say no noticeable drop in clients.
X

 

[6886]

ok beautysecrets Good luck, also ask her about your future employment like the next 12 months ahead and what her plans are, Good luck

 

[Beautysecrets23]

Hello everyone,
Just a update to say that I have spoken to the salon owner!!!

I think it was the last straw when I went in and saw home shampoo/conditioners being used!!

I just respectfully asked to speak to her, and just told her my views on the using these products and still charging. I also told her about the situation with paying installments from the wholesalers.

And it seems that this is what she is going to do !!
I am so relieved as I have spent many nights and days worrying myself over this!

Thank you very much for all the advice and replies

Emma x

 

[Tess Warwick]

Emma, There is something VERY wrong here. Is sounds as if she has serious finacial difficulties. Wholesalers usually deal in cash, and if she has to take out an installmant plan with her local wholesaler things seem like they might be very bleak indeed.

You need to be using professional products in your work environment - and it seems like you're being provide with anything but ...

It's unfair to expect you to use non-professional boxes of colour/shampoo etc.
Ask her to be up front with you. You need to know what your position is within her business, although have to say it really doesn't look too good at the moment ... sigh ...

 

[Simba44]

Her public liability insurance does state in the small print about Professional chemicals and electrical equipment only.