Client care

Karibu! Making Every Client a Happy Star!

Hello future salon superstar! Have you ever gone to a salon with your mother, father, or auntie? Remember how it feels when someone greets you with a big, warm smile? That special feeling is what Client Care is all about! It's our secret recipe for making everyone who walks into our salon feel like a king or a queen.

In today's lesson, we will learn how to treat every client with respect and kindness, making them happy to visit us again and again!

Image Suggestion: A brightly lit and colorful Kenyan salon entrance. A friendly female salonist with a modern hairstyle and a branded apron is holding the door open, smiling warmly and welcoming a mother and her young daughter. The sign above the door reads "Pendo's Beauty Palace".

The Golden Rules of Great Client Care

Treating a client well is easy if you follow these five golden rules. Think of them as your salon superpowers!

• 1. A Big, Welcoming Smile: A smile is a greeting that everyone in the world understands! It says, "I am happy to see you!" without speaking a word.

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  A Happy, Welcoming Face!

• 2. Greet with Respect: Always use polite words. In Kenya, we show respect to our elders and are friendly to everyone. You can say:
  • "Karibu Sana!" (You are very welcome!)
  • "Habari yako?" (How are you?)
  • "Shikamoo" for an older client, who will reply "Marahaba".

Real-Life Scenario: Mama Benta walks into your salon. She looks a little tired from her day at the market. What is the first thing you should do? You give her your biggest smile, greet her with "Shikamoo, Mama Benta!", and show her to a comfortable chair. This small act of kindness will make her day better!

• 3. Listen Carefully: Your client is the boss! You must listen carefully to what they want. Do they want their hair plaited like the famous singer on TV or a simple haircut like a football player? Pay attention so you can give them the exact style that will make them happy.
• 4. Keep Everything Clean and Tidy: Nobody likes a messy place. A clean salon shows your client that you are a professional and that you care about their health. Always use clean towels, sweep the floor after a haircut, and make sure your tools are sanitized.
• 5. Be Gentle: Remember the saying, "Pole pole ndio mwendo" (Slowly is the way to go). When you wash, comb, or braid a client's hair, be gentle! Hair care should be relaxing, not painful. Always ask, "Is this comfortable for you?"

A Little Salon Math!

Good client care also means being prepared. Let's do some quick math to see if you are ready for your clients!

Problem: For each client getting their hair washed, you need 1 clean towel for washing and 1 clean towel for drying. If 4 clients are booked for a hair wash today, how many clean towels do you need in total?

Step 1: Find out how many towels one client needs.
   1 (for washing) + 1 (for drying) = 2 towels per client

Step 2: Multiply the towels per client by the number of clients.
   2 towels × 4 clients = ?

Step 3: Calculate the final answer.
   2 × 4 = 8

Answer: You will need 8 clean towels.

See? Being prepared with enough clean towels is a part of excellent client care!

Why Good Client Care is So Important

Why should we work so hard to be nice and caring? Here's why:

• Happy Clients Always Come Back: If someone has a good time at your salon, they will return.
• They Tell Their Friends: A happy client will tell their friends, neighbours, and family about your wonderful salon. It's like when you taste a sweet mandazi and tell all your friends where to buy it!
• It Makes the Salon a Happy Place: When everyone is happy, the salon becomes a cheerful place to be for both the workers and the clients.
• It Shows You Are a Professional: Great client care proves that you are serious and skilled at your job.

Image Suggestion: A happy young boy with a fresh, stylish haircut looking at himself in a handheld mirror given to him by a smiling male barber in a clean, modern Kenyan barbershop (kinyozi). The boy is giving a thumbs-up, and his mother is standing behind him, also smiling.

Congratulations! You now know the secrets to amazing client care. Remember, making a person feel good is the most important part of your job. Go on and be a Client Care Superstar!