I’m definitely not a proponent of violence, especially not in a business setting. But the recent news about a hairstylist assaulting a client who allegedly ran out without paying brings up some real challenges that stylists face in the industry.
Here’s the situation: The client received a $150 weave or lace front wig and supposedly left the salon without paying. Surveillance footage shows the stylist dragging the client back into the salon by her hair. Later, the client claimed she sent the payment to the wrong Cash App. But here’s the twist—the stylist later finds out the client is actually 15 years old, while the stylist herself is just 18. That discovery leads to an assault charge.
Now, let’s be clear—both sides hold some responsibility. The client shouldn’t have left without ensuring payment was made, but under no circumstances should a stylist ever put hands on a client. That’s where things crossed the line.
This situation highlights a bigger issue in the beauty industry: handling payment disputes professionally. A lot of stylists, especially young ones, don’t have the training to navigate these kinds of conflicts. And let’s be real—some clients take advantage of stylists, while others get taken advantage of.
I’ve personally experienced payment issues early in my career. I remember a client bouncing four checks on me over the holiday season. When I asked her to cover the returned check fees, she flat-out refused, saying she’d only pay for her hair. I was young, new to the business, and had no clue how to handle that kind of pushback. What was my recourse? What was my legal protection? I ended up collecting the payment and denying her future services, but it was a hard lesson.
Another time, I finished a client’s hair on a Friday, only for her to tell me I had to hold her check until the following Friday. My first thought? “Then you should have scheduled your appointment next week.” These are real situations that happen in salons, and stylists aren’t always trained on how to handle them.
In this case, I have questions. If the client really sent the money to the wrong Cash App, why didn’t she mention that before things escalated? And where was her mother in this process? Did she know her daughter was getting a weave? Was she involved in booking the appointment?
This situation has sparked a lot of conversation in my salon, with people asking how I would handle it if it were my daughter. My answer? It depends on the child. If she’s typically honest, responsible, and respectful, I’d believe her. But if she’s constantly involved in trouble and always playing the victim, my reaction would be different. Parents know their children and what they’re capable of—just like how the mother of a certain political figure once said, “Never let this guy be president.” She knew. Just like the parents of those two young girls who carjacked and killed an Uber driver—they were out of the country, but they knew their children.
This incident is unfortunate for both parties. The stylist, still a teenager herself, made a critical mistake that could impact her future. And the client, whether she made an honest mistake or not, ended up in a dangerous situation.
So my question to you is—how would you have handled this? If you’re a stylist, what’s your policy for ensuring payment? And if you’re a client, how do you think situations like this should be resolved? Let’s talk about it.
Reach out to me on my TikTok @thehairkytchen!