What makes a good stylist? While experience greatly matters, good stylists possess common qualities that make clients keep coming back. If you’re an aspiring makeup artist, hairstylist, or esthetician, the following are the seven traits that you must have to be successful in your job.
Communication Skills
To make sure that you achieve the look that your client wants, constant communication is the key. Whether you’re doing hairstyling for a wedding, photoshoot, or a special occasion, every client is different. Therefore, you have to continually adjust the way you work to suit their needs.
At the same time, you want your clients to feel comfortable throughout the session. Some people tend to be more nervous than others. Many are unable to explain the look they want. Some people respond well to playful jokes. Others prefer a more formal way of communicating. You have to ask the right questions, adjust your tone of voice, and choose your words carefully.
Follow these tips to strengthen your communication skills:
- Listen more. It’s the only way to understand your client’s needs.
- Gain your client’s trust. Always project a sense of professionalism and confidence. At the same time, build rapport to make them feel comfortable.
- Be honest. Make useful style suggestions that will help them choose a style that suits them. Additionally, be clear and upfront with your prices. Nothing kills a good relationship between a stylist and his/her customer than the unexpected cost on the bill.
Patience
There are many situations in your job that will test your patience, such as when your client doesn’t seem to understand what they want or when they had a sudden change of mind after you’re done styling their hair. Most salon treatments are also very time-consuming, from hair coloring to keratin treatments, makeup, and facials. Be willing to spend several hours in a single makeover.
Beautifying people is art. It requires a lot of creativity. It isn’t something you rush. Good stylists take their time to make their clients look and feel good.
Flexibility
The beauty field is ever-challenging and dynamic. One minute you’re doing bridal makeup, the next moment you are coloring another client’s hair. One minute you’re in the salon doing your thing, the next moment you’re in another location to offer on-site services.
To succeed in your job, you have to be flexible. You have to willingly take challenges and be prepared for the unexpected.
Adaptability
The world of beauty and fashion is ever-changing. Trends come and go. Each year, there are new styling techniques, technologies, products, and treatments. If you don’t keep yourself updated with the latest trends, your clients will leave you.
Great stylists are highly adaptable. They understand the continues learning is the key to succeed in the industry. By upgrading your education and training, you will be more confident in providing quality services to your clients.
How do you develop your adaptability skills?
- Learn from others. Look at the best practices of your boss, co-workers, or favorite instructor or ask them directly for tips and guidance, go on to a re-trainging program
- Be positive. Things don’t always go as planned. Accept this fact and you are likely to survive challenging situations.
- Be confident with your skills. You never know what your day will bring you. Trust in your gut and know that your vision and creativity are enough to do best in your craft.
Organization
The salon environment can be hectic. You might find yourself juggling between two or three clients, doing makeup, hairstyling, or facials at the same time! Great stylists are very organized, from the way they prepare and store their tools to the way they handle jobs.
You have to be conscious of the time, and ensure that no minute is wasted. Don’t forget to schedule breaks despite your busy schedule. Stylists need to have lunch too!
Check out these tips for staying organized:
- If you’re working at a salon, keep your station easy to work in.
- If you are a freelance artist, make a note of your schedules or plot them in your calendar.
- Prepare your styling kit in advance or at least a night before your scheduled on-site service.
Technical Skills
One of the major reasons why clients will choose you is your skills. All the honesty, organization skills, communication skills, and other traits will not make up for a bad haircut. Great stylists work hard to master their craft. They take time to know the ins and outs of several techniques. They keep themselves updated with the latest trends and innovations in the beauty industry. They look for mentors. They are always hungry for learning.
How do you develop and enhance your skills?
- Commit time for education and training. Attend a good cosmetology school that will prepare you for a great career in the beauty industry.
- Take the state licensing examination for cosmetologists.
- Obtain experience. Your technical skills are your biggest strength.
Mental and Physical Stamina
Whether you’re working in a salon or as a freelance stylist, you have to be prepared for long hours on your feet. Stress is real. And it restricts your ability to get creative and work effectively. Practicing work-life balance is essential to staying physically and mentally fit amidst the stresses of your job.
Here are some tips to increase your stamina:
- Manage your emotions. You will surely come across with difficult clients. Learn to approach bad situations with humor and keep the big picture in front of you.
- Establish good habits. Get enough sleep, eat well, and exercise. You’re not just a stylist. You’re human too.
- Take time off. Doing so helps keep your creativity soaring.
Conclusion
Great stylists are not only talented and experienced. They also possess certain traits that lead to customer satisfaction. These are communication skills, patience, flexibility, adaptability, organization, technical skills, and mental and physical stamina.
Don’t feel bad if you feel like you’re missing one or a few of these traits. The good news is that these traits can be developed. By making conscious efforts to incorporate these amazing qualities of a good stylist, you too can become one.
