MOST women love going to the salon or spa for some pampering. It feels nice to have a relaxing shampoo, get a hot oil treatment and make your nails pretty.
However, when it comes to hair cut and color, there are some women who feel cautious or terrified to try something new.
One first-time client actually told us that she’d rather go to a dentist than a hairstylist. The poor woman must have had some awful salon experience!
Do you feel the same way? Here’s how to arrive at your appointment prepared—which is key to getting the best outcome.
Haircut
Before you have it chopped, think about your hair, after all, you’ve lived with it your whole life.
Take a few minutes to determine what you love about your hair, what you hate about it, and what your lifestyle is like. These three points are a great opening for a consultation with your new stylist.
For example, if you’ve got a hectic work and family schedule a high-maintenance style, no matter how great it looks in the salon, will lead to frustration. Also, if that trendy celeb style won’t suit your face shape. Listen to the stylist’s advice. After all, it’s their experience you’re paying for.
Be realistic
Your hair is unique and so are you. If you intend to copy someone else’s style, you’ll probably end up looking less authentic. Be realistic and find what works for you.
Get vocal
Getting a great haircut is easier if you speak freely with your stylist. Your idea of layering may be very different from your stylist’s Also be careful with
buzzwords you pick up online or from magazines. Words like feathered, texturized, choppy or graduated are open to interpretation and therefore prone to misunderstanding. Treat every session as a lesson. Ask lots of questions and you’ll pick up tricks that you can use at home.
Dress the part
If you’re going to see a new stylist for the first time, it’s helpful for them if you dress up showing your personality and wear your hair as naturally as possible. Your overall look will have a strong bearing on the cut that you should go for. However, a good stylist should be able to gauge what image the client wants to project during the conversation.
Hair color
Have a consultation first. A chat with your colorist before you book any treatment allows them to perform a strand test, allergy test and determine what you want and how much time to allow for it.
Be honest
Your stylist should know your hair color history. Do you always visit the salon or have you been using home hair color? What shampoo do you use? Do you use product every day? Do you swim or dive frequently? All these can affect the color result and should be taken into consideration.
Come clean
Come to your appointment with your hair as you would ordinarily style it. Hair should not be dirty, as oily hair looks darker than clean hair. Your colorist needs to see your natural color. On the other hand, don’t shampoo right before your visit (best is 24 to 36 hours before the session) as you
remove natural protection from your scalp. Don’t use oils, waxes or sticky pastes. Gel, mousse and hairspray are fine.
Consider maintenance
This is especially important if you’re changing your color drastically. Think about how much time you can spare to maintain your color. Subtle highlights can be touched up every 3 to 4 months but if you have dark hair and go blonde, your roots will show after two weeks. Here, an experienced colorist will match the right technique to your needs. Spending a little more can save you money in the long run, prevent disappointment and preserve your hair condition.
Color needs a special shampoo and conditioner, what with the hard water, the beaches and frequent shampooing. Your colorist knows best!
