Have you just moved to a brand new area, or has your hairdresser left you and heaven forbid moved away? Then this article will help you to locate the perfect hairdresser for your needs when choosing a brand new hair salon!
1. Ask for referrals!
Who better to suggest a great hairdresser than someone with gorgeous hair right? It might sound bizarre to just ask a complete random stranger where they had their hair done but lets be honest (who wouldn’t love that kind of compliment) it is a great method to locating a hairdresser. This is how stylists build business, not by advertising but through word of mouth. However many people just don’t feel comfortable enough to ask friends or beautifully coifed strangers and instead would rather walk into a randomly chosen salon and have a bad experience. Ask for a referral and you will more than likely fall in love with your new hairdresser. On a side note if you adore your hairdresser than by all means spread the word, it is the kindest thing a client can do for your beloved stylist.
2. Do a bit of research
We make so many decisions in our life that we dedicate hours of research to before making a choice. Finding that perfect car, choosing a new home and where to go on holiday are all decisions that require in-depth research but what about your hair? If you have a horrible haircut or colour done, in one instant it can literally bring a person to tears and destroy your hair or take years to grow it back. You wouldn’t just walk onto a random car lot and say “I’ll take whichever one you think would be best.” The internet is a fabulous help for locating a stylist these days. Look for reviews and testimonials on websites like Yelp and various forums in your city.
3. Do they offer a free consultation?
A good consultation is the most important part when deciding to have a service done by a professional. It gives you an opportunity to meet and greet with a stylist, so you can determine if they are the right fit for you. If a consultation is done properly, you should feel a connection with the stylist and that your hair needs have been heard loud and. We are usually attracted to hairdressers that have hairstyles that we ourselves would generally desire to have. If you tend to love a classic glamorous long hairstyle with layers and lots of length, then try to pick a stylist with a similar personal style. Look around at the type of clientele they have in their chair beforehand, generally hairdressers attract a “type” of client. What type of client are you? Are you more of a low maintenance, tousle and go kind of person? Or do you love long blonde highlighted hair that needs to be done every 6 weeks?
Make sure they are asking you questions about your wants and desires, telling you what can be accomplished and what might take time to achieve and if your desires are even feasible. Sometimes we have unrealistic expectations and a great stylist will be sure to be honest with you about this. Communication is key and you want to make sure your stylist is a great listener. All bad hair mistakes occur when you and your stylist both have a different idea plan for your hair!
4. Ask questions
Questions help to specify, precisely what you are looking for. Where did your stylist work before this salon? Maybe hearing that they have years of experience working behind the chair in various cities would put you at ease? Or maybe you would prefer to try a junior stylist at a lesser price because that is more within your budget? Are you looking for someone with advance education in cutting or colouring? What does your stylist specialize in? Do they love colour or are they more into cutting and styling? Perhaps they excel with blondes or curly haircuts? Just by asking what their own strengths are you can figure out if they are a perfect fit for you and often discover many hidden talents that you wouldn’t of known otherwise.
5. Love your hair!
Now that you have this new wonderful haircut or colour by your fabulously talented stylist, make sure you take care of it! So often we spend a fortune and hours at the hairdresser just to get that perfect shade of red or blonde and then go home and shampoo our new colour with a drugstore brand (which can be the equivalent of using dish soap on our hair) and all of that work can just go down the drain…literally.
Hairdressers don’t like to be pushy and make you feel like you have to buy products but often it makes professionals so frustrated when you come back in and all their hard work has been stripped out, faded or dulled and weighed down by product build up. By switching to proper professional products your hair will thank you. It will feel lighter and you will be able to get more bounce and volume out of it. It will have more shine (naturally) and it will feel softer with no product buildup (therefore you will end up using less). You don’t need to spend a fortune to have beautiful hair. Ask your hairdresser for a recommendation for your hair type. Invest in a great shampoo and conditioner and try to only shampoo every other day. Then watch how the wonderful work your stylist does will now last until your next appointment.
After careful consideration and research: finding the perfect stylist for your hair shouldn’t be a gamble. When you do sit down in that chair with the right stylist, chances are significant that you will leave feeling like a million dollars!