Sometimes it can be down to a bad stylist, but a lot of the time, it can be down to poor communication. Remember, Stylists aren't mind readers, so you might not be on the same wavelength as to what you imagine your hair to look like.
I am going to give you some fool-proof tips to getting the best from your stylist, and making sure you get
exactly what you want with your hair. After-all, you're the one who has to live with it everyday.
exactly what you want with your hair. After-all, you're the one who has to live with it everyday.
A lot of these are going to seem like common-sense, but they are the most common problems we all make when visiting a salon.
Finding The RIGHT Salon
Finding the right salon for you can be hard. I spent years finding mine, and now I work there. Don't be scared to try somewhere new. Ask around for recommendations from your friends and family (and ask where to stay away from). If you are nervous about going somewhere for a cut straight away, why not book in for a blow-dry and try to suss it out? If you don't like it, nothing is lost, and you can move onto your next one. Don't feel tied to one salon for the rest of your life. They might not like you moving, but it's up to you. I know some people who carry on going back to the same salon, hate their hair every time, but are too scared to move. Don't be, it's your hair.
Good Relationship
Having a good relationship with your stylist can be so valuable. Just simply talking to your stylist, answering their questions and asking questions back can make both of your more comfortable. There's nothing worse than an awkward silence from start to finish. Becoming comfortable with your stylist means that you trust each other and you're more likely to get a good result. Most hairdressers will love working with people and chatting, so don't be afraid to strike up a conversation with them. It doesn't have to be the clichéd "so have you been anywhere nice on your holidays" topic either. You should never get into a routine with your stylist though. If you like to keep things fresh and change things, then suggest new ideas, and you can bounce off each other.
Stay In The Good Books
Once you've found the perfect salon for you, it's important to stay in their good books. This might sound a bit silly, but it's important to keeps things positive. Being on time is always a good one. Make sure you get there 10 minutes early because they might be ahead and can start you earlier. Being late, especially early on in the day can mean that they are behind for the rest of the day, and it's not fair on the stylist or the other clients. If you're going to be late, give them a quick, we actually like knowing what's going on, and it's just good manners. Another no-no is not turning up with reason. If you make an appointment and don't keep it, it's never going to look good, especially if you've do it more than once. If you can't make it at all, then just ring up and cancel, then they can give the appointment to somebody else and you can just re-book for another time.
Do your research
In 2012, we have no excuse for not being able to research what we want our hair to look like. We have the internet at our finger tips, with thousands of websites devoted to hair styles. Before you book your appointment, have a look at celebrity haircuts and colours that you like. You don't have to decide on an exact image, because it might look different in reality, but you can get an idea by basing your style on someone famous. You can explain to the stylist, and they'll know who you're talking about and what sort of path you want to go down.
Visuals
I love it when people show me pictures as to what they want their hair like. It means the client has a good idea in their head, and visual aids are always good to show an understanding between client and stylist. If the image is in front of you, and not in your head, then you can both clearly see it. You can take more than one image with you (how easy it is to save pictures to your phone now?), and they don't have to be of the same person or style. It's about being creative, having a look around, and getting a rough idea of what you want.
If you haven't done your research, there are always tons of magazines in salons, so have a flick through and mark pages you like. Hair magazines and celebrity glossy magazines are always great places to find great hair styles.
Be Clear and Confident
Don't be scared to tell a hair dresser exactly what you want, if you have that idea in your head. Having a hair cut should be a collaboration between you and the stylist, not just them doing what they want. Most hairdressers will like it if you are confident about your ideas and have a clear idea, because it means there's less chance of them getting it right. Make sure you're clear about how much you want cutting off, how you want it cutting, what sorts of colours you want, the style you want ect. If you trust your stylist, then that's the best thing in the world, because over time, you'll build up that relationship with your stylist so they know what sorts of things you want, but if that trust isn't there, make sure the right ideas are. There's a little joke in the hair dressing world of 'just cut it over the ear'. It can be read in so many ways. Do you want it cutting around the ear, or leaving over the ear? Remember, stylists can't read minds, so try to communicate as clearly as you can what you want.
Be Open To Suggestions
Stylists know better than you about hair. It's their job. So be open to suggestions and recommendations. They have learnt some new techniques on a recent training course that would be perfect for your hair, so don't be offended if they say "well, why don't we try this instead?".
If Things Go Wrong
Sometimes, things do go wrong. Ideas get lost in translation, and you can end up hating your hair. If you can see they're cutting off too much, say something doing right away, don't wait until it's finished, lie and then go home and cry. If you stop them, you can both decide how to proceed and how to sort it out. If you have a rude stylist, then complain. You're well within your right to tell the manager and they can sort it out. You're paying for a service, so they should carry it out to the best of your ability.
Be Realistic
If you had an idea, make sure it's going to work for your hair. Don't walk into a salon with 3 hairs on your head and expect to walk out with Cheryl Cole hair. Everyone has different hair types and lengths, so go for something that will work best for you.
Hair is your expression, so make sure you are confident in what you are doing with it, and find a stylist that works for you. If you follow these simple tips, you should have the right stylist and right hair in no time!
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