Referrals are tricky business. On one hand, we want to let others know about great things. On the other hand, what is great for one person may not be so great for another.
I used to jump at the chance to refer people that I thought did a great job. Problem is, a referral’s work becomes a reflection on you because you made the referral.
One of my only two negative Yelp reviews came from a bride who asked me online via Yelp for a last-minute hair stylist recommendation.
I never met the person who asked for the referral. Most of my regular hair peeps were booked so I made a first time referral with a hair stylist I had seen work once. I wanted to help.
Turns out this referral did not live up to the last-minute bride’s expectations. For this bride (who I never spoke to in person) there was no one to blame but me, obviously, since I was the one that made the referral.
Lesson learned.
Now when asked for a referral, I tell people I know someone whom I have hired in the past and would hire again, however please, use your own judgement on whether you want to hire them or not.
I preface all this because I have had a friend for many years who I first met one bridal hair & makeup morning. I was doing bridal makeup and she was doing hair.
The first time we were booked by the same bride, we only noticed each other.
The second time we were booked separately by another bride we said ‘hey I remember you from another wedding’ and we spoke favorably of each other’s work.
By the third time we were both booked coincidentally for another bridal hair and makeup morning, we took it as an omen and have been working together whenever possible ever since.
What I love about her work are so many things.
Here are the highlights:
- She’s on time.
- She works efficiently but not hurriedly, and every style she does is stunning.
- She communicates before styling someone’s hair to make sure that the results are what they want.
- When the result isn’t exactly what the client wants, she quickly and easily does something else. It is amazing to me how effortlessly she’s able to go from one look to another on the same head of hair in a matter of moments
- We work extremely well together, especially with larger bridal parties (10 or more), getting everyone feeling and looking their very best in a timely fashion.
- Another plus is that her pricing is similar to mine so we come across as equals in the client’s eyes as far as our value is concerned.
She is, without a doubt, the one person that I will refer unconditionally.
In your career life, think about the number of people who you may refer unconditionally, knowing that your referral puts your professional reputation on the line.
Freedom of Information on the internet rules. No one owns their own brand anymore. You are as good as what people say about you.
The best a brand owner can do is to put their best foot forward with everything they share.
This is my best foot forward. If you are looking for a bridal hair stylist, or any other event hair stylist, please look no further than Catherine Hackworth of Tulip Salon. My peer, my friend, my bridal hair and makeup morning buddy.
Cat working a 60’s theme private party City Hall SF
Catherine ‘Cat’ Hackworth
Tulip Salon
455 Polk St
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 346-5685
Contact
I know this post sounds like a paid advertisement. Nothing can be farther from the truth.
I was thinking about aspects of the bridal hair and makeup experience that gets the most positive feedback.
Hands down, the ease with which Cat and I work together to make the bridal morning go as smoothly as possible is always mentioned as a great memory of the wedding day (plus everyone looks ‘amazing’).
Thank you for reading.
Warmly,
Chris Scott
25th of January, 2018
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CHRIS SCOTT, M.A. is the creator of San Francisco-based Makeup Gourmet®. Over his nearly 30-year career, in addition to doing makeup for top models from every corner of the planet, he also had the honor of working for legends like Paul McCartney, US Vice President Al Gore, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Shirley Temple Black, Maya Angelou and Olympic Gold medalists Oksana Baiul and Kristi Yamaguchi. He was the creator and host of the TV show ‘Makeup Gourmet’ from 2008 – 2010. He was a leading Chanel Beauté national artist for over two decades, and is also the creator and guest teacher of Fashion Makeup at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. He created his unique Makeup Gourmet line to ensure his clients and the public could have access to high-quality, ethically produced, ‘green’ makeup and skincare with a low-carbon footprint. Chris is also the author of Cosmetic Counter Survival Guide: How to Buy the Right Skin Care and Makeup and the international #1 bestseller Face with a Heart: Mastering Authentic Beauty Makeup.
‘The grass is always greener where you water it.’
CS
