Laura Manning
5/5
I cannot say enough good things about SMK Show Studios. Mandi has done the hair of all six members of our family - dad, mom, two teenage girls, a preteen girl, and a young boy. Everyone of us has had a wonderful experience.
The dad has very full hair - high density. I gave Mandi the basic rundown of his hair needs (he gets his full, long, thick hair cut twice a year) before his appointment, then she consulted with him during the appointment. She listened, she asked questions, she checked in regularly (but not in an obnoxious way) while working on his hair. It took an hour (that’s FAST for his hair) and there was so much hair on the floor that you could have mistaken it for a medium sized dog! It looked great! He’s never really happy after a haircut with the results, but he was with Mandi. She listened and got it right the first time.
The boy is similar to his dad when it comes to how often he gets his hair cut and the amount of hair he often rocks. The boy has a BIG fear of haircuts. He’s afraid his ear will be cut off, the clippers and scissors make him nervous, he’s been cut before. I gave Mandi this warning and she was up for the challenge. She booked extra time for his appointment to make sure nobody was feeling rushed and everyone was comfortable. She consulted with him. Asked him about his hair. Showed him her scissors and clippers - letting him touch them. This appointment felt very about him, his comfort, and what he wanted (not what mom wanted - although it was the same). He was the client and she treated him as such, which I found super awesome and respectful of him. This boy, who is terrified of hair cuts, was so zen, he closed his eyes and asked me to stop talking to him so he could “sleep.” Big win! And he liked his hair. And said Mandi is his hairstylist from now on. BIG BIG BIG WINS!!!
Mandi was the same with the three girls. They were her clients. Yes, I gave a basic run down. But after that, it was her and them. She checked in. She asked questions. She explained. Every one of them was so happy with the results. I think they all appreciated that Mandi listened to their stories about school and life and whatever randomness they wanted to tell her in that moment. Mandi is so chill and lovely! Warm. Engaging. Fun. The kids loved her vibe.
And the mom (me). Well. I’m not as lucky as the rest when it comes to high or medium density hair. Mom has thin hair and not a lot of it. Hair that feels prone to breakage and damage and doomed. (Thanks medications). My hair is also my security blanket and hair cuts make me anxious and sad. Mandi let me get emotional without feeling shame. She listened to my fears, no matter how vain and superficial they felt, she validated those feelings. And she gave me a cut that makes me feel good. I was so worried I was going to end up with the shortest haircut to remove the damage. She gave me the greatest cut. I’ve never left a hair appointment feeling better about myself. I felt so good. She showed me what it would look like if I didn’t style it first. Which no other stylist had done. They normally blow dry and add curls and I don’t really know what my cut looks like. Mandi showed me. She listened to my lifestyle and how I don’t really spend a lot of time on my hair or use a lot of products. She gave me something that was manageable with my life and let me have a good look. Then she curled it for me after I’d gotten to know it. She even explained the direction to curl and what product to use. It was a good experience and I felt my body relax during the process.
10/10 would recommend. We’ll be back. 100%
