Honestly, I had the exact same problem in my chair for years. Clients would walk out with a wet cut looking great, but then their curls would do a full bounce-back once dry. Tbh, switching to a dry cut first changed everything. I remember one client with tight coils where the shrinkage was almost two inches, so her wet cut was way too long. Now I shape it dry, check the bounce, and only then tidy it up damp. The consistency is night and day.

What about long-term goals though?

Wild. So were you actively networking between songs, or did someone just start talking shop after you murdered some 80s power ballad?

Nah, that extra time is totally worth it. A clean blend lasts way longer and looks way better, so clients end up happier in the long run anyway.

Oh man, my buddy had this exact thing happen. His fridge was humming but not starting, even with a good relay and cap. Turns out it was the overload protector on the compressor itself (that little black box with wires on the side). It had a tiny burnt spot you could barely see. Swapping that out got it running again, no problem.