Hairstyling And The Self Esteem
It is really quite amazing how one can feel so raised in confidence, just by having a new hairstyle or a fresh new haircut.
This has always fascinated me and I have proved this theory many times to myself through various hairstyling procedures and hairstyling experiments.
One of my most favourite exercises is to cut my clients hair without having them in front of the mirror (the experimental results are more fascinating to observe) using only a hand mirror for alignment. As many of us hairdressers do, I still keep up the conversational topics with my clients. I personally like to make amusing jokes, adapt a playful persona and play with foreign accents to generate a warm bubbly atmosphere.
Keeping the unveiling from my client causes them to maintain that last visual image of themselves before they sit down in the chair and it is that same image and feeling that they would maintain in their mind throughout the hair cutting process. When the hairstyle creation has finished and you unveil to them their new visual image, the smiles and joy that they emanate is really beautiful to observe, as their self esteem meter begins to fill right back up to “Yes, I Am Full Again”. I have even had clients begin to hum songs and even show a slight dance move while they celebrate in their new visual feeling of admiring themselves.
Having your client in front of the mirror as you begin to work your magic will only dilute the self esteem process, as your client can see the progression and is updating visual images of them self throughout the hair cutting session. I would not advise this procedure as a way forward for hairdressing salons but more would want to offer hairstylists of all levels a greater understanding of their skill and how their expertise greatly benefits mankind.
When a person is need of a fresh haircut their self esteem drops a level and increases the more they become unhappy with their hair. In actuality, they are unhappy with their visual image of themselves and that has a dramatic effect on the self esteem. An immediate self esteem solution would be to wear a hat, or some kind of head dressing but that is only damage limitation and NOT a permanent solution.
On the opposite side of the coin, when a person has a fresh haircut or hairstyle, their head is high and smiles are in abundance for all those who appreciate the view. We as hairstylists should endeavour to make these psychological understandings a conscious part of our work when we are creating hairstyle solutions for our self esteem seeking clients.
