Saw a 6 month difference in balayage that flipped my opinion on wait times

I used to think clients who wanted balayage touch-ups every 8 weeks were just being picky. Had this one client, Megan, who kept insisting her color looked muddy after 10 weeks. I pushed back for like 4 appointments telling her she was fine. Then she came in after waiting 6 months because she got busy, and I saw her natural regrowth versus the old faded color side by side. The difference was huge - the faded parts had this orange tone I never noticed before because I was always layering over it. Turns out she was right, the older color was throwing off the whole look. Now I tell my balayage people to come back at 10 weeks max. Has anyone else gone back on something they were stubborn about with clients?

3 comments

3 Comments

lopez.quinn2d ago

The orange tone thing is real once you actually see it side by side with fresh work. Kind of changes how you view your own stubbornness when the evidence is right there.

the_linda1d ago

Totally makes me think about how we all get stuck in our ways with stuff that's way less important than art. I noticed it with how I used to load the dishwasher. My way was "the right way" until my roommate showed me the racks actually fit more stuff her way. Had to sit with that weird feeling of being wrong about something so small. Sometimes seeing the proof right in front of you is the only thing that cracks that stubbornness open.

jamesroberts1d ago

The "weird feeling of being wrong about something so small" really hits. I had the same thing with sharpening kitchen knives. Used a cheap pull through sharpener for years until a friend showed me how much better a whetstone works. Felt like an idiot for not trying it sooner, but you can't argue with results. @lopez.quinn is right that seeing the evidence side by side is what does it, whether it's art or just loading a dishwasher. Those little moments of being wrong are humbling but they make you way less attached to your own habits.