The Hook Up

“I should let you do my hair one day.”

(Various People Who Want "The Hookup")

Uhm, excuse me? Let me do your hair? How about you make an appointment and pay like everyone else? If you are a receptionist, how would you like it if I said, “I should let you answer the phone for me sometime,” or a surgeon: “I should let you operate on my shoulder one day?” That sounds ridiculous.

The hairdressing profession is not as respected as the medical industry, but women are willing to pay just as much for a hair appointment as they are for a doctor’s appointment, if not more. How ironic!

Mario, one of my instructors at Aveda, said his friends and family try to get him to do their hair for free all of the time. He refuses to perform his services for free, except for his mother and sister. I don’t blame him.

Family and friends can make very difficult customers. They usually want the most services and have the most criticisms, but want to pay the least under “the hook up clause.” I personally don’t mind giving the hookup every once in a while, but then where do you draw the line? If I do Shaquanna’s hair for free one time, does that mean she will be expecting that I do it free all of the time? If I do Shaquanna’s hair for free, does that mean she thinks I will do her daughter’s hair and grandmother’s hair for free too? Where does it end?

I think my policy will be to have everyone pay. It’s fairest option of them all.

- Stacy Davis, sgrahamhunt@gmail.com