Admit I felt the same for a long time, like it was wasted chair time. Changed my mind after realizing these talks make clients way more loyal. That extra chat builds a real connection they can't get at a chain salon. Now I see it as part of the full service that keeps them coming back to me.
Honestly, watching my stylist friend deal with this changed my mind. She had clients booking cuts just to pick her brain on retinols, then rushing the actual haircut. It meant running late for everyone else booked that day. That extra chat might build a bond, but it can also mess up the whole appointment flow. How do you handle it when one client's free advice session cuts into the next person's time?