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Rising to Special Occasions by Tracey Tolbert (Da'Hair Doc) for IsNow.com Contact Tracey directly or send a question to our editorial staff. Go to the Features Library A well-seasoned, master stylist tends to be have confidence and grows professionally through our experiences of providing skilled, beauty care services. I for one have provided an array of services for all kinds of people, of any hair and skin texture or type. A couple of weeks ago though, I was challenged by a unique assignment for a special pre-bridal occasion. I choose to share this experience with you in the hopes that it will both encourage and edify your growth as a professional in the beauty business. The Call To Task One Friday evening as I was getting ready to leave the salon for home, I received a call from a young woman seeking a last minute beauty appoinment for a soon-to-be engaged relative. I tried to get some preliminary information over the phone even though I usually prefer to meet the client personally before agreeing to perfom services. I do this because sometimes the information you obtain can save you the time and energy of misunderstandings. I was asked if I would offer a beauty package consisting of hair & makeup services for the client on the day of her engagement ceremony. Yes that's what I said, engagement ceremony. At that time it sounded like a piece of wedding cake, nothing really major, so I perked up my ears for the date. As murphy's law would have it, the desired date fell on a Monday, the traditional hairstylist's universal day off worldwide. Since I work out of town on the weekend, I would not have time for a pre-service consultation. I reasoned to myself that this might a timely blessing for the client, so I sympathetically agreed to see the client without my usual pre-event hair service consultation. Not only did I offer the appointment negotiatior every assurance that they had the right person for the job, but a great financial blessing on the cost of the service as well. My pride was confirmed when the caller stated that they trusted me with the work and would welcome any suggestion that I made on that day. I felt even better then, knowing my cabilities in this area, as glamour styling is my specialty. Therefore I could easily accomplish the work in about couple of hours from consultation to finish. The Real Deal What ensued that Monday left a interesting stain on my brain. Just when I thought I could rise to this occasion, my spirit was quickly deflated. It never occured to me that their might be difficulties beyind my control, such as the client's late arrival, an audience of immediate family members offering their own "destructive criticisms", language barriers, religious concerns about the beauty and style applications, maturity level of the client, confusion over the choice of style midway through its creation, ignorance of salon ettiquette, and too much more to detail here. (Feel free to e-mail if me on the more particular horrors of this assignment if you dare...) In case you haven't already got the picture, what should have been a 2 and a half hour service for a simple, elegant hairstyle and makeup service turned out to be a 5 hour service. At one point, the client threw her hands in her hair and changed her style and made utterances her native tongue about her dislike of the look which she herself had pointed out in a style book I kept in the salon. Never mind the fact that the negotiator had assured me that they trusted my style choice that would complement the client and fit the nature of her pre-bridal event. The family perceived the client's disappointment, and proceeded to contact a phone tree of relatives that included the appointment negotiatior (while still on my service clock mind you), broadcasting their dissatisfaction. As things exploded around me, I calmly proceeded to state my position and the original conditions of the agreed to service. I restated my credentials and reminded them that this was a sympathetic appointment and that I was doing them a favor, given the hasty needs of the client. I made it clear that the client's expectations and circumstances were not in accordance with the agreed terms, and politely refused to acknowledge any failure on my part of servicing. I explained that what was necessary was for all parties involved at that point to relax (no point in ruining a positive event with negative attitudes) and allow me to do the job that I was hired to do, which would now come with an additional fee, since I was needed above and beyond my expected time. I encouraged the family members present that they should follow suit as well, and only offer communicative assistance about the work being done as necessary and without hindrance. After the new rules were in place, the process was much better. It would've almost turned out to be a perfect finish, had the family not interfered with the makeup process, telling me how to mix and apply the products and in what order I should do it. But hey, it all worked out in the end...I even got a gracious tip, a hug, and thank you (I think) in the native language (chuckle) out of the deal, and I believe she made it on time...I hope! A Message of Encouragement When unplanned failures occur with clients who hire you to provide what traditionally should be once-in-a-lifetime special events, emotions and expectations tend to run high. Regardless of your experience in this field, it must be your job to rise to the occasion, demonstrate and prove that you are worthy of your assignment. By demonstrating politeness, emotional calm, and focused application of your skills, you'll be well equipped to do your job with confidence, and that can contagiously spread to those in your midst! It also helps to remind yourself and all parties who are "necessarily" involved in your work that even with the best planning and timing, things in life can and do go wrong. My advice to the beauty artist encountering stressful beauty situations, is to accentuate the positive and eliminate the negatives, to do what you've got to do...since it absolutely has to be done! Afterwards you can prayerfully, as I have learned to do, smile about it, plan to exceed and succeed in future kinds of endeavors, and most importantly, add to your growth! Tracey Tolbert (Da'Hair Doc) operates an independent salon in DeKalb, IL and is one of Cosmetologists Chicago's "Rising Stars" and a member of CC's Artistic Team. She has committed her career to healthy hair fashioning, with expertise in braiding, weaving, hairlocking, design cutting, and color services. An active speaker and presenter, she also writes for a number of newsletters. Her own product line, BlesScented EsSurance http://healthyblackhair.com/black_hair_products recently debeuted. More from Da'Hair Doc is available online at: http://www.dahairdoc.com. Got a question for Tracey? Let us know!