The Neighborhood Hairdresser

 

She hurried through the narrow streets of the neighborhood where she had grown up.

On her way to a hairdresser appointment she had to catch, she greeted familiar faces she passed by. She had never left this neighborhood since the day she was born. Over time, a culture had developed here, and Serpil didn’t want to part with it. Even newcomers were fond of this local culture, which had existed for as long as anyone could remember. What people appreciated the most was the neighborhood’s unique sense of craftsmanship. Necla, the hairdresser she had booked an appointment with, was one of those artisans.

As these thoughts filled her mind, she found herself standing in front of Necla’s salon. As usual, there was a line at the door. She could never quite understand it. Despite the presence of far more luxurious salons along the main street, there was often a queue in front of this 15-year-old shop. When her appointment time arrived, she stepped inside. With her usual warmth and energy, Hairdresser Necla welcomed her as if she were the most important client there. But this wasn’t special treatment—every customer was received the same way.

As Serpil was getting her hair done, she quietly observed how Necla worked. She wasn’t just cheerful—she truly cared about her clients and their lives:

“Melahat abla, what did your daughter decide for university?”

“Aslı, how’s your mother doing? Last I heard her blood pressure had gone up.”

“Rukiye teyze, has your son returned from military service? When’s the engagement?”

“Zehra, has your husband’s reassignment been finalized? Were you able to find a place in the new city?”

She gave advice based on what her clients needed, not what would bring in the most money. One client was likely showing her an extravagant hairstyle, perhaps for a party:

“Sweetheart, that style’s a bit too flashy—it’s more suited for someone else’s big event, and it's expensive too. If you’d like, let’s do something simpler that suits you better?”

Another client wanted to dye her blonde hair black:

“Sis, we worked really hard to get it this blonde. If we go black now just because you’re bored, getting back to blonde will be very costly—and it’ll damage your hair a lot. Let’s do a gloss treatment for now, get some shine back, and add a deep conditioning treatment. It’ll still feel like a fresh change. If you want, I can add some layers in the front to liven it up too.”

Necla abla brought quality to people at an affordable price. She was the most in-demand for eyebrow shaping in the area, yet her prices were always reasonable. She never aimed to be the only option around. In fact, it made her happy when her team members became better than her. She didn’t just train her apprentices in hairdressing—she also helped them grow into better people.

Suddenly, the hum of the blow dryer snapped Serpil out of her thoughts. And that’s when she realized: the reason for the line outside Necla’s wasn’t just her talent. It was also her ability to see people’s needs and care about them. What a beautiful style it is—to see needs and meet them with joy.

Experiential Design Teaching says: in order for a business to sustain itself, it must address real needs. Most people go into business to meet their own needs. But a sale based on the customer’s need builds loyalty. Loyal customers begin recommending the service to others. The real gain is when you provide the best service—without ripping people off. That’s the kind of customer who always brings someone new with them.

Serpil finished her appointment and left the salon.

She thought to herself:

“Necla abla is truly the kind of woman worth emulating. There’s so much to learn from her. She sees people’s needs in every sense. Maybe that’s one of the true steps to success: being able to recognize the needs of others.”

And with that, she headed home.

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                      Experiential Design Teachings and Decision-Making Themed Blog

Experiential Design Teachings aim to give purpose to a person's life.

To be happy and successful in life...

"Since the existence of humankind on Earth, the greatest friend and foe have never changed. The person in the mirror..." 

Yahya Hamurcu 

Who’s Who? The Art of Understanding People 
Mastery in Relationships 
The Psychology of Success
Mastery in Avoidance
Designer (Strategy Design)

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