You’ve heard it. A woman’s stylist is her therapist, friend, and advisor all-in-one. Once you hit that chair, you’re in a different world. The you on the other side of that door is someone else and you’re now in excellent hands to be the woman that you’ve masked. Just know that you will leave the salon looking better and feeling lighter.
But there’s a new trend I’m seeing and honestly, it’s got me concerned for our already fragile beauty ecosystem. Clients bashing stylists online and vice versa. I mean I’m seeing posts complaining about everything from booking rules to balayage results. Sometimes I’m on the stylist’s or technician’s side and other times I’m on the client’s side, but these days it’s hard to know if you’re on the RIGHT side.
Although it’s “opinions-based” (LOL), I’ve managed to narrow it down to the top complaints on both sides and I don’t think any 90s professional would have guessed this is what they’d go through in Beyoncé’s year of 2026.
- Clients’ #1 complaint online is they don’t like their results.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. Not liking your hair or nails or brows is SOOO common and nothing new. But what is new is clients coming online to vent about it publicly instead of going to their professional. Some users say they’re nervous of confrontation. My opinion? Social media has a looottt of us so socially awkward that we can’t even speak up about a service we paid for, and it’s changed the way humans fundamentally interact.
- Booking an appointment is too complicated.
Okay. As someone who’s had to book online with a new nail technician I might agree with this one. With the introduction of booking software like Vagaro, StyleSeat, and Gloss Genius, I see professionals trying to cover every situation that might affect their business: 50% deposits, late fees, no-call no-show fees, come with your hair washed, come with no gel, extra fee for lash lengths. It’s like a never-ending nickel and dime situation.
- The prices.
I may be on the professionals’ side on this one. One thing I’ve always pushed for is the advancement of beauty service professionals. It has been an undervalued profession for a while and that’s due in part to misogyny, unfair labor laws, and poor formal training during cosmetology school. Is getting your hair and nails done a luxury? I don’t think so, but professionals should also be paid what they’re worth. Standing up for 12 hours a day, breathing in nail chemicals, and dealing with difficult customers are all things that professionals go through. It’s not an easy profession, but it is just that: a profession.
The balance between fair pricing and service expectations is now one of the biggest tensions in beauty.
What’s a time you had a difficult experience with your professional or client? Let us know at hi@thejoviapp.com or tag us on TikTok @thejoviapp.