Fat lips, Ugly Women, Hair Salons

We all know how the simplest 'happenings' turn into the biggest lessons. Please sit back and grab your coffee, this one could get a little long winded.

In between appointments, I snuck into my 'hair spa' (yeah, it's a salon, but spa sounds more exotic) for a touch up of colour. I've been going to this same place for 4 years now. I keep going because I have a stylist and colourist to die for, the rest of the staff is outstanding, the owner friendly and they can usually fit me and my erratic schedule in. ('Reflections', Bank and 3rd, The Glebe, Ottawa)

So, in I go. The girls at the front, after a friendly chat send me to the back to meet up with my colourist, 'who is expecting me'. Off I toddle. On route I am greeted by another stylist, who shows me to 'my chair'. This is where is all starts to go bad.

I do the perfunctory glance around at the other ladies, in doing so, I catch the stare of death coming from a women getting her sopping mop wrapped in a towel at a wash station. About this time, I notice a large purse taking up space at the station; it's then that it comes to me.... why I was the recipient of the glare.

My colourist quickly appears and before I can settle into the chair apologizes and asks me to sit in 'this other chair'. Apparently, the huge purse was an indication that someone was occupying the chair and I should have realized this prior to lowering my butt. How stupid of me! How disrespectful..... how, could I have known!

Hold on, it gets better. I also should have realized I'd pulled a no no when all of the other women in the colour area gave me a broad smile and knowing node.... ahhh, they too must have felt the chill from the chick in the chair.

So, chicky makes her way to my ex chair, plops herself down, lets out an audible huff ( I hear this even over the pleasantries I am exchanging with my colourist). Out of no where comes an arm and a brush of a body.... why it's my new neighbor and here's what she's doing. Apparently, the stack of 20 or so magazines in front of her at 'her' station where not sufficient to keep her engaged. She took two of mine (typically not my kind of reading anyway... something to do with DYI home decorating... as if), set them down in front of her. Now, I try when ever possible to conceal my reactions to things like this, however, I wasn't able to do so this time. It was such a bazaar jester on her part, that and all of the other women (5 in total) watching the display from 'chicky', seemed to be looking at me. Smiles and knowing nods all around, we all went back to our conversation.

It was about this time that I realized that I had a book with me when I stopped for coffee next door and now I didn't. Quickly, I needed to run back over and get it. On my way back in I couldn't help but notice 'chicky' using the house phone at the front of the salon. So much for getting right down to reading those mags she plucked away from me earlier.

Now about 20 minutes has passed, I'm looking very stunning in my plastic bag over my head of hair get up when I notice that 'chicky' is actually looking through one of the mags. Then I hear it.... rippppppp. What the heck, I think and look over at her..... she is ripping pages out of the salon's magazines. I guess she wanted to take home the DYI tips..... rippppppp again... more pages make their way into her personalized pile.

Just when I thought I was going to say something to her, she stepped up to the plate...... the owner of the salon was on his was by.....'Robert, Robert, Robbbertttt - I'm in your chair next!' 'Robert, Rob-ber-t...... I can't be late, I must be on time for Clinton, they lock the doors!' 'Seriously Robert, I can't be late!'..... Yeah. As it turns out, 'chicky' was apparently heading to the sold out 'Clinton' speaking event.

Well that is where my exchange with 'chicky' pretty much ends. I do have some additions though.

Turns out, 'chicky' is Randi Shinder, the beauty and brain behind notables CLEAN™ Fragrance and Dessert Beauty™ and most recently LipFusion. ("... the first needle-free micro-injected, collagen lip enhancer) Few people know that Randi is a resident of Ottawa most think of her as being from NYC.

Judging by her actions today in the salon, perhaps Ms Shinder has spent far too much time, pushing her way around the city of stars, celebrities and importance and she simply couldn't help herself.

I'm going to give her the benefit of the doubt, knowing that all hip chicks have off days and write this one down to just that. I am not impressed though- I am rather disappointed. I would have expected a woman with such successes in business would have learned and applied a key lesson long ago.

Perception is everything. It doesn't matter to most of us who you are if you are out of line, over bearing, a down right bitch - it is simply not acceptable. Now Ms Randi could and likely is a wonderful woman, who embraces business and who had no intention of offending anyone in that salon today - maybe, however she could also be just so full of herself that she doesn't give a rat's ass who anyone is and believes that she is the only one that matters.

My point...... you never know who is watching, you never know who's company you are in. If you represent a product, service or even if you an intern at your company, the reputation of what you do, rides with you.

This little fact has escaped corporate North America and still does. I could never figure out why the first point of contact, usually a receptionist on the phone or at the front desk is one of the lowest paid employees. He or She will set the entire 'mood' of the company. They have the first point of contact and have the ability to leave the best or worse impressions. For example a rude receptionist will leave a person feeling that the rest of the company will be 'rude' as well. Perhaps not true, but, it is what is perceived.

So, in closing, Randi Shinder - I was thinking about including your product (and still might) in our 'lip enhancer lip off' - though we might have to re think that. Besides, I would assume Randi would be using her own product and truthfully her lips didn't look any better than mine...... hummmm.

Do you have a story, thought or suggestion to share with the rest of us. How do you handle a 'chicky'?

Have a Hot Cherry Day!