How To Get The Hairstyle You Really Want

We've all left the salon with a cut that's too short or a color that's just a bit off. If we could just figure out how to nail down what we want instead of hit here and miss there life would be a lot simpler. Right? Well, Here are seven tips to getting the perfect cut and color out of your stylist. Also, find out if you're guilty of customer habits that the typical stylist hates.

Pick the Right Stylist

Big One. Choosing the right stylist from the beginning of the process is absolutely the most important step in getting the style you desire. Your stylist should be well versed in industry lingo but also be able to translate terms into a language you can clearly understand. Your stylist should continuously be educating themselves in the latest industry products and techniques. If it's been more than a month since their last educational event, it's a safe bet you'd be better off going to a different hairdresser.

Schedule a Consultation

Even though we all know we're supposed to sit down for a chat with a new stylist before a cut or color, consultation before a dye-job,very few women actually do it.

If you are trying out a new look or a new stylist, schedule a 10-15 minute consultation when you book the appointment. The stylist needs to see what your hair looks like dry and styled as you typically style it. This tells him or her a lot: How much time you really put into your hair each day, how your hair dries and how healthy your ends are what type of products you're using etc.

The goal of a consultation is to make sure you and your stylist are on the same page before drastic changes are made to your look.

Bring Pictures

Nothing is more difficult for a stylist than for someone to sit down in their chair and try to explain the cut or color they want without a picture. Imagine if someone said, "I want to look like Cameron Diaz." Cameron Diaz blonde or brunette? Cameron 2001 or 2010? And what does she look like nowanyway? Bring a picture or 2 or 3.

As for color, never rely on salon-speak. Ash blonde to your stylist may mean butter blonde to you. Show a picture of what you like and ask your stylist to show you an example of the color she'll be after.

Never Say " Do whatever you want"

You can never assume that what you envision and what your stylist's muse of the day is will be the same thing. Most often they're not even close. You want your stylist to give his or her opinion but the ultimate decision has to be up to you. Nothing is more frustrating to a hairdresser that to put that perfect look on a client and the client hates it.

Show It, Don't Say it

Want three inches off the length. Hold you hand up to your hair and show your stylist what three inches looks like to you. Even better, take your hand and hold it where you would like it to fall and have your stylist step back and get a good visual. He or she may have some suggestions but you will both be clear on what the end result should look like.


Prepare Questions and Listen to Your Stylist

Before the consultation prepare any questions you may have before the appointment. If you don't, chances are you won't remember all of them during the consultation.
Ask questions like,"what type of hair suits me", "will I be able to style it myself"
"what type of maintenance is involved.
Listen to your stylist's answers and make informed decisions.

Be Honest

Tell your stylist what you've done to your hair in the past. Nothing is worse than a client not telling their stylist about that perm they had 2 months ago and stylist assuming they're just working with curly hair.
Your hair has a history and the more of that history the stylist knows the more effective he or she can be.

Be Nice, Tip

If you're stylist has done a good job, let him or her know it.

TIP