Welcome To My Blog

This blog is a culmination of my 30 years of experience in the hairdressing industy (and out of it).

I will be giving you tips and advice on your trip to the salon, doing your hair at home, inspiration for a new hairstyle as well as all the lastest hair gossip and product reviews.

It is my intention that you find everything you ever wanted to know about getting the best out of your hair here. If there is anything that isn’t included that you would like to see, please drop me a line.

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At your service,

Having owned or worked in hair salons for most of my adult life I never had a problem getting the hairstyle or colour that I wanted. I now realise that this was down to the fact that I knew whoever was doing my hair and they knew me. Unfortunately when you go to a salon for the first time you do not have this luxury. So what I want to do here is to walk you through the steps to make it virtually impossible to come out of the salon with anything other than the look that you wanted. I have no control over the stylists competence of course but if you follow these steps you will have a much better chance than most!

Step 1 – Making The Appointment

The bigger salons operate a tier system of stylists. The idea behind this is that the more you pay, the more experienced the stylist. I generally ask for a director or someone with at least five years experience. It is really important that you feel as confident as possible about the person who is going to tame your lucious locks! Tell the receptionist what type of hair you have and ask if they have someone who specialises in this type of hair. If cost is an issue then I would look at your smaller local salons which can be very good and not so imtimidating. Go in, ask if you can have a free consultation and get them to write down how much it will all cost. This will help you get a feel for the salon as well as the stylist and you will have no nasty surprises when you get to the till!

Step 2 – First Impressions

Dress Up. I don’t mean dressing up like you are going for a big night out! This is your chance to let your stylist learn something about who you are. They will get their first impression of you within the first few seconds. If you usually wear trendy clothes, then make sure you wear them to the salon. If your style is more classic then again make sure your clothes reflect this. If, when you arrive at the salon, someone tries to put a gown on you, just politely ask if you can wait until you have had your consultation with your stylist. It really surprised me when this happened to me in a top London salon recently! Do your hair at home before going to the salon. This might sound a bit odd and I would advise against this if you were having your hair put up. I think this tip applies especially if you have curly hair. It is best if you let your sylist see the curls so they know what they are working with.

Step 3 – Communicate With Pictures

Hairdressers speak a different language mere mortals so it is important to communicate through pictures. I would expect in a good salon that the stylist have a portfolio of styles to show you but it is best to be prepared in case they don’t. This is THEmost important step so make sure you take your time with this. When you look at a picture you will never see the whole style so it is important to have several. Pick out pictures that show different parts of the style. For example if you want the back tapered then take a photo of exactly how you would like it to look. If you want graduation then have a photo that shows what graduation is to you. Just think about the language you are using and have a photo to support it. Talk about what you like to do eg. how you like to socialise. Talk about whether it important to you to have a syle that is very easy to manage or whether you are prepared to take your time drying and finishing.

Step 4 – Be Open To Suggestion

Ok so if you have followed the last four steps you are well on your way to getting exactly the hairstyle you want! At this point though I should mention that should allow your stylist to give their opinion of what would work and what wouldn’t with your hair and face shape. If you have your heart set on a style then don’t allow yourself to be talked into something completely different because chances are you will hate it! Try to look at ways your could compromise by varying the style slightly.

Step 5 – At The Backwash Don’t be scared to ask questions about what is being used on your hair. Ask about what hair type you have. Conditioning treatments are fantastic if you have the time and money. I would be tempted though to buy a bottle, take it home and do it myself. Much more cost effective and means you get more time with your stylist. Remember that you are only booked in with your stylist for a certain amount of time. They would like you to have a conditioning treatment because they will get commission but you can be sure that they will be under pressure to finish your hair in time for their next client.

Step 6 – In The Salon Chair

Ok so hairdressers have got a reputation for chatting about where you are going on holiday! If you are not intersted in chit chat then make sure you have some magazines and start reading. (Remember to keep checking what is happening to your hair regularly though!) If you are going to engage in this sort of conversation make sure that you are letting your stylist know about your lifstyle. Don’t move your head around too much when you are talking though and please, please, please don’t have conversations on your mobile phone! When your stylist starts to blow dry your hair you should really take notice. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about the best way for you to do it. What products are they using? Some salons will talk you through this as part of the service but I think they are few and far between.

Step 7 – The End Result

When your stylist has finished and asks you what you think, be truthful. Hopefully you have an amazing hair style that you love! If not, be strong and firstly point out what you like about it, then go on to what you are not completely happy with. This is the bit that most people find really difficult but remember that the hairdresser’s reputation is at stake here. If you leave and you are not entirely satisfied then you will probably tell lots of people. The stylist really doesn’t want this so they should do their utmost to find a solution.

Step 8 – Take A Photo Of Hairstyle

Now it’s time to record this magnificent event with a photo! Take a photo and keep it safe for next time. Ask someone to take shots of different parts of your hair style so you can show your stylist next time. Ok so that’s it. Armed with this advice should really help you next time you have your hair cut. I would love to hear what you think. Please leave a comment below.

At your service.

Cathy