How To Learn From Your Mistakes as a Hairstylist
A hairstylist I know called me recently about a situation that had been weighing on her. She'd had a client the week before who wasn't happy with her hair color service, and she wasn't sure how to handle it.
Here's what happened: the client came in with a very specific vision for her color and a firm budget to match. The stylist agreed to both, even though something in her gut told her the approach wasn't right. She let the client lead anyway. When she followed up after the service, the client confirmed what the stylist had already suspected. She wasn't happy.
We talked through how she could approach the conversation with her client and work toward a resolution. But the question I kept coming back to was this: "What did you learn from this?"
The situation could be fixed. It would pass. The value is in the lesson.
Why mistakes feel so devastating
Making a mistake feels terrible. It doesn't matter how many times you got it right before, that one time you get it wrong wipes out every success from your memory. I don't know the psychology behind why that happens. I just know that it does, and I think most of us can relate to it.
But mistakes are inevitable. They are part of the process, the low to the high, and they are essential to growth. There is no version of a long, successful career that doesn't include them.
The faster you find the lesson, the better
When I make a mistake, and it happens often, I try to move toward the lesson as quickly as I can. Continuing to beat myself up over it doesn't serve me. It holds me back from moving forward and from giving myself the chance to do better next time.
It sounds simple, and it really is that simple. The quicker you can move from the shame or frustration of a mistake to the learning inside it, the better off you'll be.
The lesson for the stylist I mentioned? She had allowed the client to control the service. She knew she should have said no, been firmer in her approach, and been okay with the possibility that the client might leave. She didn't do that this time, but her lesson was clear: trust your instincts, and have the courage to decline a service if that's what feels right. I have no doubt she'll do exactly that next time.
What this has to do with your consultations
One of the places mistakes like this show up most often is in the consultation, or the lack of one. When we skip the hard questions, or we don't know what red flags to listen for, we can end up agreeing to something we shouldn't have before the service even begins.
If you want a starting point for better consultations, I put together a free resource called The Consultation Conversation. It's a list of questions to ask before every service so you can understand what your client actually wants. It includes red flags to watch for that might tell you this isn't the right fit before you ever begin.
Give yourself grace
Whatever the mistake, if you learn from it and choose a different path next time, you've done everything right. You're growing. Give yourself grace, and remember that you are human, and humans make mistakes. That’s the process.
About Anny VanDriel
Anny is a salon owner and hairdresser educator who has been teaching pricing strategy and business confidence since 2021. She developed a strategic pricing framework that allowed her to steadily increase her income over 10 years while maintaining client loyalty and reducing her working hours. Through her Pricing Isn't Personal course, she helps hairdressers create sustainable, profitable businesses rooted in self-trust.
Connect with Anny on Instagram @annyvandriel