The owner of a popular Sydney beauty salon has poked the parenting bear with a text sent to all clients asking them to please leave their children at home when coming in for their appointments.
Kristin Fisher, is the entrepreneur behind the eponymous salons in Double Bay and Rosebery famed for their celebrity clientele. And she’s had enough of her salons being treated like a creche.
A visit to a Kristin Fisher salon is a luxury experience. Clients can expect to pay between $75 and $95 to have their eyebrows shaped and tinted, or about $1000 for eyebrow microblade tattooing.
So good is her service, that celebrities such as Jesinta Franklin, Today host Sylvia Jeffreys and model Jessica Gomes entrust her with their famous faces.
Following several incidents in the salons where parents left their children unattended while they underwent their treatments, Ms Fisher decided to enforce the strict no children and no babies policy for the benefit of all clients and staff.
The client database was texted the new policy.
“This is a very hard post for me because I hate upsetting people and I feel this may do just that, but we have no other option,” wrote Ms Fisher.
“We are imposing a new rule that clients must not bring children or babies to their appointments. Recently we have had times where there have been ten children in the salon at one time, all unattended, whilst their mothers get treatments done.
“It simply isn’t fair to the other clients who have come solo, who for them this is their monthly treat/splurge and want some peace and quiet whilst they have their brows or lashes done, nor is it fair to my staff who are constantly chasing after kids and nursing babies (even though we secretly love this – they also have to answer the phones and rebook clients!).”
The salons are a favourite of celebrities like Jesinta Franklin. Image Instagram/@kristin.fisher.eyebrows
Fair enough. When a business prides itself on the quality of their service, children running wild could only be an impediment to the quality they can deliver. Ms Fisher went on to explain just how much of a hazard unattended children were in a busy salon.
“We have had kids run onto the street, we’ve had clients leave midway through their appointments as they’re too annoyed about the noise being made by children and we’ve had mums call and complain saying their brows are crooked after they’ve been nursing a squirming baby the whole appointment,” she writes.
Ms Fisher took the time to acknowledge that finding a sitter is not always easy. As a mother of two she understands the challenges of parenting well, however, this is her business and she feels strongly enough to implement this controversial policy.
“I of all people know how hard it is to get away for an appointment as I have two young children myself without any grandparents here in Sydney to help out and mind them when I need to pop out.
“That being said I make sure all of my ‘me time’ appointments are just that – for me. I know how hard it is to book a babysitter for such a short time, but given these appointments are monthly (at the earliest) I do hope our beloved mummy clients can find alternative childcare prior to their appointments in the salon. Thank you for your ongoing support and loyalty and we are looking forward to seeing you all in the salon (relaxed!) and child free.”
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Support flooded in for the business owner. Hundreds took to Instagram to offer mostly positive support of her decision.
“As a midwife and mum, I totally agree. I love babies! Just not when I’m trying to have some “me time”. Self care is not selfish, this helps to give us a reboot to tackle the demands of parenting. We’ve got your back,” writes one loyal customer.
Another noted that with a month long wait for appointments, clients had long enough to find a sitter as well, writing, “If you have to book 4 weeks in advance for your brows you can book 4 weeks in advance for a sitter and knock a number of things off your list to justify it, simple.”
“I love this idea!! I would never bring my toddler as he would burn the place down!” wrote another.
Others noted the safety issues involved.
“Well said, this is an unspoken problem in all salons. Kids, hot wax pots and heavy duty electric beauty beds that can crush a child just don’t go together.”
One diplomatic commenter suggested Ms Fisher host a “family friendly” day, where the salon was only open for mothers and their children.
“One day a week where mums can bring their babies and other clients know? There are many mums who can’t leave their babies, have no help or options but still want to have killer brows!” she writes.
The salon’s child-free customers praised the salon for the new policy.
“I’m not a Mum and frankly if I was I couldn’t think of anything worse than having them attend a brow appointment or any other self care appointment for that matter with me,” enthuses one happy customer.
Kristin Fisher is overwhelmed by the support her decision has received. Image Instagram/@kristin.fisher.eyebrows
As for the feedback, Ms Fisher is grateful for the positive support. In a recent Instagram post she thanks her clientele and made a little joke at her own expense, writing, “I have been overwhelmed with the support from my loyal clientele and the general public on my decision to have a child free salon. As a mum and a business owner this decision has not been made lightly so I am grateful at how positive the feedback has been!
“Please note the children in this photo were removed from the salon at 8.59am.”
