IN an ideal world you would be excited to visit your salon in anticipation of a new fun color or a cut that makes you pretty. You should feel so good about the result, your reflection in the mirror that you deem your hard-earned money well spent.
Sadly, not all salons deliver on their promises and clients may be left feeling disappointed or even angry. As a consequence, many women contend themselves with the famous half-inch trim (not much can go wrong) and a mahogany shade of color.
So, how come there are still some people you see with great styles and beautiful colors? They don’t all go to Manila or abroad for services. How can you find the salon that brings out the best of your beauty?
Research
Walking into a random mall salon is never a good idea. It may be convenient because you’re there and happen to have some time but you don’t know how qualified the people are.
Before scheduling an appointment do some research. Look for the best salon in your area, read online reviews. A good place to start is their Facebook page or website. Are the pictures you find there in line with the color and style you wish for?
Do they feature their own work with “before” and “after” photos?
Small salons aren’t necessarily bad but remember you only change your hair and color a few times a year and investing in a premium brand and service may be worth it.
Consultation
Go for a consultation first. This is a great way to get an impression of the salon. Is it clean? Do the clients have nice cuts and colors? Do the staff take time to chat with you? Does the stylist really listen or is he trying to talk you into something? Show some pictures of what you have in mind. Ask: What do you think my face shape is and my skin tone?” If they answer well, they know what they are doing. If they ask you to choose from a color chart, a book of little swatches of differently colored hair, you’re signing up for disappointment. The stylist can later say that you were
the one who chose the color.
Maintenance
Before you start with the transformation, be sure you know what it takes to maintain the hairstyle, the color or the keratin treatment. To be sure, a good color deserves a special shampoo and conditioner that maintains and extends the shade. A keratin treatment requires a shampoo that is free of sodium chloride and/or sulfides and some hairstyles look just so much better with the right paste or wax. The point we’re trying to make is that as a client you have a right to be informed beforehand and the decision whether to buy or not is up to you.
Mishaps
To be sure, in a salon people work with and on people; since nobody is perfect and hair differs from person to person in characteristics, every once in a (hopefully long) while something can go wrong and the result does not match expectations.
It may be a miscommunication which is the responsibility of the stylist or a mistake in mixing the color, making the result darker, brighter or with an unwanted tone. If you trust the stylist, you may want to let them rectify (at their expense), but if you lot confidence in their ability it may be better just to go to another salon to fix it. As a rule, if the hair is too dark, it is better to fix it as soon as possible, before the pigments have settled in fully and are harder to remove. But if the color is lightened, it may be better to wait for the hair fiber to recover before attempting to lighten more.
Olaplex
As a rule, choose a salon that uses Olaplex, a new treatment to ensure hair quality when working with chemicals. Google it, celebrities swear by it, celebrity stylists rave about it.
Now, not every salon that uses Olaplex is good but every good salon uses Olaplex.