hair stylist

salon manager

barber

barber/stylist

cosmetologist

Great Clips

While I enjoyed my time with my coworkers at Great Clips, I don't really miss working for this company.

Part of the problem is how inconsistent each salon's quality is based on how it's run by each individual franchisee. The franchisee I worked for took months just to fix a simple problem, even when we constantly reached out about said problem. Management was nice sometimes, but it was near impossible to get time off unless you asked a month in advance, which is ridiculous when the schedules were only released 2 weeks in advance.

The expectations for the speed of the haircuts was difficult at times, but the most unrealistic expectations was how fast you were expected to clean your station between haircuts. The guidelines were to spend no more than 3 minutes cleaning your station, but the contact time for Clippercide on tools is 10 minutes. I would end up paying for my own Clini-Clip spray because the contact time is shorter, so I could ensure my tools would be properly disinfected between clients.

The only way to make more money was either by meeting a certain percentage of sales, having shorter haircuts, having shorter wait times, or doing more haircuts in a shorter period of time. While on paper, this makes sense, the actual execution was very difficult. A majority of the haircuts were straightforward and took less than 20 mins, but everyone's hair is different, so there were many times where I would have a bunch of short, quick haircuts, but then have one person who wanted a completely new style that would take a while, and it would mess up my numbers for the whole day just from the one long haircut. There were also plenty of times where almost everyone in the lobby would be waiting for one specific stylist, so the computer would think the rest of us weren't doing anything even though everyone on the waitlist would be waiting for a particular stylist.

The opportunities for growth were nonexistent. The best you could hope for was to be a manager, but the pay wasn't much better and there weren't extra benefits to being manager. The only reason I know this is because how often the managers complained about this.

The benefits are different everywhere since it's up to the franchisee, but the salon I worked at had poor health benefits and no 401k. There was PTO, but there was no overtime. It was always a nightmare calling in sick. There were numerous times where I would call in because I was sick and had a moderate fever, and my manager told me I still needed to come in.

Trying to get in contact with tech support was a nightmare whenever we were having issues with our point of sale, which caused a lot of problems since that was how we clocked in and out and checked customers in and out. If the point of sale wasn't working, we could only take cash, which caused even more problems since very few customers ever brought enough cash to pay for the haircut and tip. We would be on hold for tech support for hours at a time.

The worst part, however, was the work environment and professionalism. There were countless times that there would be very offensive and inappropriate conversations and remarks being made, and very open and loud conversations about religion and politics. It was very intimidating to hear people talk about something that makes you uncomfortable. Whenever I would try to bring this to the attention of the franchisee (because often the manager was the one making these remarks), I would be told they would rectify the situation, but nothing ever changed.

The assistant manager wasn't much better, either. She would often make very inappropriate comments about someone's life choices and tell them their life choices were wrong. She was very old-fashioned in her way of thinking, which made a lot of people very uncomfortable.

A majority of the clientele were upper-middle class white men, and whenever someone came in who was a person of color with textured hair, the manager would complain how tangly their hair was and that they didn't like cutting their hair. It got to the point where I would do most of those cuts because I was uncomfortable with how she treated them and how unprofessional and rude she was about the situation.

All-in-all, it was NOT a good work environment and full of very close-minded employees. There were a small number of employees who I felt were actually good people who wanted to do a good job for EVERYONE, but it was really hard to care about your job when you felt unappreciated and like you were the only one trying to care about everyone.

I feel as if I wasted almost 3 years of my life with this organization. The franchisee and general manager always said that they treated the staff fairly, with dignity, respect, and like family. Instead, it led to broken promises, guilt trips, and making the staff feel like a disposable can of fruit cocktail. The staff had to give up vacation days, were guilted into staying passed their scheduled time off, and declined days off to be with family. Stylists had to leave so they could start their families, take care of their families, or partake in medical treatment as the management would not allow the needed time off. A stylist had to tell her children that they could not play sports or have jobs due to an erratic schedule! If a stylist left to try an independent salon, they were given the silent treatment. Bets would be placed on how long it would take a stylist to return. A receptionist earned her license and she wanted to try another salon. The franchisee stated that she would be back in 3 months. The general manager stated that it was a bet and she would give her 6 weeks. It's been almost a year and the receptionist hasn't returned. It was a toxic environment. I was let go at the beginning of May. At the time of this review, they have lost 7 stylists from the team I lead since then.
There were good times though. We were a tight nit team that would hang out together, we would stand by each other in good times and in bad. As manager, I always took my staffs best interest to heart, but I hated having to tell them that they had to stay late, give up family time, or that they would lose hours/money. I fought for them, I stood up for them and myself. My medical treatment was ultimately my downfall. I worked all day, I had a vacation scheduled for a week and was planning on stepping down from the management position so I could focus on my treatment. The general manager came in, closed the salon for me, told me that the salon wasn't preforming well enough, I wasn't good enough, and that it was time for me to go. I felt so betrayed. There was a meeting the next day and the staff was told that I abandoned them and that I was a terrible person. They were scared to contact me!
We were forced to work open to close every weekend and weren't allowed time off due to massive black out dates. Hours would get cut as soon as someone wanted to go full time. Our credit card tips were taken away from us. We had to wait until our checks to get them because the franchisee didn't want us to blow our money. I feel that what I do with my money is my business and I wasn't alone in that. Great Clips is the "puppy mill of salons". They herd customers in like cattle with no consideration to the stylists well being. During a blizzard, we were forced to come into work and shut down 2 hours later. The roads were shut down and we were stranded. We had to open because the other salons in the organization (Hays, Salina, Dodge City) didn't have much snow. There was favoritism, back stabbing, guilt, lies. I believe everyone thrives in a positive, healthy environment. This was not one of them. Work here at your own risk.

Ten-hour workdays and six days a week to get a $10 bonus for working six days. They do whatever it takes to not pay you what you're worth, no matter what your numbers. They want to say that you'll be making $30 plus an hour, but they only pay you $14, and the rest comes from tips. For someone to do over $100k in sales per year to only make $22k is unacceptable. They're raking in money and treating their employees like they don't matter. Upper management is all about the numbers and then want to say you're part of the family. It's not family, it's a job. Trying to get a raise is like getting dental surgery without pain medicine. Hope you know how to negotiate and stand up for yourself because if don't, you'll be stomped into the dirt.

Even though it's a corporation, the salons are all run by different franchisees, so there is never any clear process regardless of what corporate has to say. Corporate comes around every nine months to do a PGP (numbers and facility audit) and then talk about the numbers. The franchise puts pressure on the manager to get stuff done two days beforehand because don't want to to listen the manager when things are brought to their attention as they happen. They don't listen when customers complain about the condition of the store (not the cleaning, the physical condition of the store like walls and ceiling). No one takes care of it until PGP comes around, and suddenly the store is fixed.

The customer base is generally nice, but when they are bad, the franchise does whatever they can to retain that customer. I have no problem with firing a customer because they are consistently rude. Don't try to save those people because you're going to lose staff over it. I've had to call cops on customers for being awful and refusing to leave after they've verbally attacked me .

Franchises are usually okay with someone working alone as long as the store stays open. Not much in the way of security or witnesses if something were to happen. I've had to work long shifts by myself. 

There are so many counterfeit coupons online that people will bring, and we can't take them because they aren't from corporate. then get yelled at because it says great clips on it. When its just a picture of an ad. then they don't tip you, because they didn't get a deal on a 20$ haircut. id like to see someone get a cheaper haircut that isn't at a school. because it doesn't happen
customers get irritated when they asked if we are barbers and tell them that we are cosmetologist. Then we get treated like idiots because of our license and then not get a tip.
sure, there is a really great online continuing education program, but most franchises in the area don't incentivize us using it, so a lot of people don't. i go against that and get in trouble for adding training time because it raises payroll. but if i have someone that needs training then they are going to get paid for that training. 

I must say that if I had not just moved 1900 miles away from home and hadn't lost all my clients due to that, I would of NEVER worked for this company. I came from a full service salon doing booth rental, so having to adjust to the strict corporate policies had me wanting to quit after every shift but I hung in there for a little over a year till I was financially stable enough to escape. I felt like it was a discrace to our industry as a whole. I never felt like I was important but my numbers had to be. I was never acknowledged for my accomplished efforts but I was written up for not meeting product sales quota. Building a client base is NOT allowed however the manager had a plethera of clients that waited for her. Everything that you were not allowed to do, the manager was allowed. It was hard to listen to a manager that talked behind all the employees backs, didn't cut good hair, and acted as if she was higher than the king himself. Everyone was forced to set up their staion before clocking in, which you had to be there at least 10 minutes prior for. We were forced to clock out at scheduled time off and then clean up. I recieved 100% on a secret shopper report. It was never on display for the other sylists to review but all other previous negative ones were. I was written up on several occasions and the last one I refused to sign because I didnt agree. Managment was HORRIBLE!!. If you spoke your mind then your hours were cut and then the write ups came. They never informed me that if you put in for a transfer that you would be replaced and not get a transfer.I absolutley hated it there and was glad things didnt work out. I'm working with an AMAZING company now.

If you like the assembly line business and like feeling depressed, over worked and underpaid and treated unfairly by management, then this is the place for you.

However, if you like to have a relaxing environment where u can actually get to know your clients, create a beautiful haircut without interuptions of the phone ringing, stopping to check in clients. Enjoy the people you work with, then you will be miserable with this company.
I must say that corporate America has really changed the beauty industry and it has simply lost all values of what us beauticians go into the industry for: Independence, creativity, friendly gossip and creating a following of people that beleive in your work.

Ending Note: I'm not saying that all Great Clips are like this. The Franchise actually gives the Franchisees guidelines to follow to build their buisness and the franchisee has the option to follow or not. If you get one with a great owner that cares about its employees, then good for you. Unfortunately I just have not stumbled across anyone that has.

If you want to be under paid and over worked then this is the place for you. I worked every weekend. Did the job of management but wasn't paid for it until I told them I wasn't going do it any more until I got a raise. Moved me around from store to store driving hours and not getting gas money. Then when I told them I was not driving to a store over 4 hours away unless they paid for my gas they told me I'd be fired unless I went. I turned them into to corporate and gave my 2 weeks. 
Some girls were great to work with. Others where trash that had baby daddy drama and hang overs from the night before. If you like doing color this is not the job for you. If cutting is your thing then you will do a lot of them here. I do mean a lot of hair cutting. You will hate back to school time. You do an average of 20 to 30 hair cuts a day. If you can't keep up you will get written up. They want you to cut in under 15 mins. They also have stupid rules about showing the client 5 times in the mirror. And you have to get the clients address and number or their computer won't let you check them in.I had many a client yell at me because they don't like to give out that information. They set almost impossible goals. Sometimes they have contests in order for you to sell more product and sometimes you don't get you the prize they promise. One contest was a free TV. All the girls worked hard to meet the goal in order to win the TV and 3 won. On the day they were suppose to get the TV they were told too many girls reached the goal and they weren't getting a TV. They got money instead then they raised the goal for the next contest. So the girls knew they were being set up to fail. Most stopped trying and it brought morale down. 
Management was bad. She was a bully and tried to intimidate you. She told me she was no ones friend and if needs be she can cut hair by herself. She once fired a co worker right after her mom died. I had to claim the poor thing down over the phone. When the co worker called corporate when this happened they told her they can fire who ever they want for what ever reason. That has always left a bad taste in my mouth. So just hope no one in your family dies. 
So if you want to work crazy hours for little pay and be treated like dirt then this is the job for you.

Starting with pay depends on franchisee. Some locations your either paid hourly and tips only, some your pay hourly, mandatory sales requirement which leads to possible commission sales depends if your percentage is high at the end of that week pay period and that busier you are you get a small incentive. Raises again depends on franchisee etc. some of the locations are a complete joke! For a quarterly or 3 month review the highest I've heard of a raise was 18cents! Being promoted from stylist to assistant manager is only max $1 per hour and the most of the managers pretty much have you do their work and watch you, have you do a lot of paperwork and some managers will have you do paperwork even when there's patients (they will take the clients). Management is generally pretty bad the way I see it is you may get 1 good manager out of every 5-10. Some of the managers will be super friendly to you then will turn around and want to write you up for petty stuff, they will act friendly then work you like a dog for little pay, sometimes they say they will work with your schedule of home life, job, family life etc., but then when it comes down to it they don't always follow through or will end up holding it against you and if you do not show up for the shift automatic write up. Some managers even on your off day if you dont answer your phone or ignore they will call you several times. Workplace is VERY HIGH stress between the attitude that may peak out of the managers randomly, constant telling you what your doing wrong or how you need to dress, what's not in dress code then randomly they will change how they fill about your dress code. When they decide to have meetings sometimes its randomly the coming up weekend and they will make them mandatory no matter what you have going on and if you do not show they will write you up.
Honestly I can't say anything good about working for them besides the actually hair stylist coworkers and clients are the only thing that makes you enjoy your job!!! I've worked for several locations seems they never change! If you truly want to know pull a staff member aside away from their cameras that they CONSTANTLY watch their employees on and the stylists will tell you.

A typical day at Great Clips is comparable to a regular corporate workplace.  There is a schedule made out for all employees; if opening the salon the stylists must be there 15-30 minutes early, clock in, count the starting drawer, set up your station, and do salon duties to begin the work day.  
My years at Great Clips have helped me excel as a stylist in the haircutting field, build up good customer service knowing how to cater to the client's styling needs, and eventually know my own expectations in shop morale..  My co-workers there were always helpful in my learning, especially since I had not done clipper cuts until I started working there.  Eventually I was someone others sought to for help which definitely was a confidence boost.  
Over the five years of my employment with Great Clips we went through 4 or 5 different managers, with 1 I can say was the best manager I have ever experienced.  She set an example of how to be a professional, fair but firm, and she was constantly pleasant spreading good vibes to all the stylists.  Her year being manager will always be memorable.

The hardest part of working for Great Clips is dealing with the customers. With me in particular being the only African American female there I came across a number of males that were discriminatory towards me and some even made comments regarding me being a black woman.  To deal with that and having to go with Great Clips regulations on how to deal with customers was quite frustrating at times because then I felt like the money and customers were more important than the well being of the employee.

The most enjoyable part of my job with Great Clips was the people that I met and made friends over the years.  My regular customers that were coming to me and only me for 1+ years I appreciated them very much.  Built small relationships with them and their children and sometimes other people in their family.  I am forever grateful for my experience working for Great Clips, but I did realize for a stylist that may have talents beyond just cutting hair and believe more money can be made outside of the hourly wage given, is meant to use the company as a stepping stone.

A typical day at work involves haircuts, cleaning, sanitation.
I feel like over the years I've been with great clips, I've learned how I don't want to run a business. I would never want to run my business the way I see great clips run. It's truly just a cooperate monster. Our general manager is pretty awesome, however the franchisee is the problem. Management would be a lot more successful, if the franchisee was not involved. The franchisee I work for likes to tell management how to run things, when management attempts to run things the way they've been told to do it, the franchisee turns around and changes her mind, we do not follow Great Clips protocol. The franchisee picks and chooses what she wants to follow and what she doesn't. I would say that my workplace has quite a bit of drama. When new employees come in the older employees seem to Haze the new ones coming in . I have personally seen several people quit because of how the other girls have treated them. It's very difficult to hire girls on because of the way they're treated when they walk through the door . The hardest part of this job is definitely the work environment. I truly feel like if things were done the way they were supposed to be done I think things would run a lot smoother but unfortunately the salon that I've worked in has been able to do whatever they want for so long that they don't want to comply and make things very difficult. Throughout the few years that I've been with this company, the women that have worked for this company have been able to do pretty much whatever they want, they have been allowed to speak to management however they want with no repercussion whatsoever. They speak to each other with complete disrespect and disregard for other people's feelings with no repercussions whatsoever. I would have to say the most enjoyable part of my job however is my clientele. I would be lying if I said that I completely loved my job. If I were able to find employment elsewhere, where I could make the kind of money I do at Great Clips I would leave Great Clips and never look back.

I was hired as an assistant manager. when i approached the person who hired me about my timing i was  told I didnt need to worry about my timing just get used to the five steps.  I  was not given coaching as the to the great clips way of cutting hair but yet  Was in the end told I was considered for being fired, (instead was demoted due to my timing)  despite  earlier I had asked to go to the academy to learn the tricks to cut the hair in 12 minutes.  I was asked for my opinion or concerns  two separate times and after I shared them they were used against me.  My experience in the industry was used against me.  it was repeatedly said with my experience I should be faster then I was.  someones misunderstanding of what I had said  was taken over my word.  I was told I could straighten out the miscommunication  but  they didnt want to bring in the other person but still   what the other person said was still used as a major factor in their decision if i was committed to the great clips brand.  when I  asked why didnt I know before they were ready to fire me that  my timing would get me fired or demoted? they said I should of known  despite  being told not to worry about my time twice.  earlier in the process of just starting at 
 great clips  I was selected at another job for possible hire. I let them know I was up for this other job and would give them notice if I got it.  it felt like the responsible thing to do so they would have time to find a replacement.  in the end an insider told me that the job would go to an ex employee so i knew i would not get it.  I started to settle in at great clips but was penalized for telling them about the other job.  I thought I was being responsible they called it not being committed .  it didnt matter that I had settled in and bought new equipment and was asking to go to the academy and become the best I could be at great clips  what mattered was I had let them know earlier about that job that had fell through.   its confusing, disheartening, disappointing, hurtful, and plane just took the air out of me.  I didnt know how different great clips was compared to a full service salon.  painful lesson to learn.

Do you want to work 13 weekends in a row (Friday, Saturday and Sunday)???.? If so this job is perfect for you! When you hire in they tell you a certain amount and weeks later say you are getting a raise, but its the same they said you would be hired in at..... Hit almost every goal and made the managers money but was never giving a deserved raise in a year.. even after getting MVP awards and going above and beyond. If you work here, plan to pick up the slack from the worlds laziest "team". Its great at first the will give u little gift for doing so well... but the soon fades and you're just expected to be a shining star with no incentive. Actually they have games you can play, but only expect the winnings half the time. And don't be fooled when they say "team" money... it just happens to never be spent on time and then the manager keeps the winnings. I seriously had to go down to part time because i needed a weekend day at home, expressing that I was falling into depression and as a single mother NEEDED a day at home with my kid. Better pray for some snow days if you are full time! The assisant manager talks about her sugar daddy life daily and it's the hot topic and even though it bothers most the girls, seems to not stop her. this is the most unprofessional place I have ever worked. there are two amazing stylist that hold the fort down.... but the place is just a joke, and if your looking to catch covid 19...... This is the place! Not sanitary, doesn't follow their own guide lines. I have worked for over ten years as a stylist and I have never not got anything less than 2 raises a year, if that says anything about this place. Oh, and whatever the G.M says to you, the manager and assisant manager will give you a hard time about and hassle you over it, every one blames each other and says how they are working on communication.... what a joke. please do yourself a favor and keep driving! there other great clips, that are five million times better!

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