Miscommunications in the salon can lead to unhappy clients and stressed stylists. Whether trying out a new salon or seeing your trusted stylist, it is always a great idea to have a game-plan for every appointment. Breaking down the basics, there are a few foolproof ways to ensure a perfect outcome every time.
The Consultation
To achieve a coveted style, there’s only one place to start and that’s in the salon. Once you’ve found a stylist who understands curly and highly-textured hair, book a consultation and chat through your wants and needs extensively before starting.
Hair History:
The longer your hair, the more history it has. Due to the fact that hair grows an average of 1/2 an inch a month, the hair on your head has a longer history than you may realize. It's gone through various seasons, product changes, color, heat damage, keratin or perm treatments. To get a great finished hairstyle, your stylist needs to know what's going on beneath the surface to get you to your hair goals.
Images:
Bring images and examples of your own hair throughout the years and be sure to note what you did and didn’t like. Due to the fact that curl patterns are so unique, referencing your own photos can help cut down on miscommunication. In addition to this, if you are bringing inspiration pictures from celebrities or online sources, aim to find images that are very similar to your curl type and base color to ensure the chances of getting a similar result.
Don’t Rush:
Time is money in the salon which is often why the environment is so fast-paced. However, when it comes to having a deep and honest discussion, this is not the time to rush. It is important to make sure you are both on the same page before starting. Sometimes it can be a great idea to book a separate appointment for the consultation so you can decide if it is a good fit before booking a service. Although this may seem like an unnecessary step when you’ve been yearning for a change, it can benefit both the stylist and the client in the long run.
Have Your Questions Ready:
The point of a consultation is to ensure you are a good fit, this goes both ways. While the stylist may be asking many questions, be sure to prepare a few of your own.
A few examples:
- What experience do you have with hair similar to mine?
- What type of training have you received?
- Can you show me examples of previous clients?
- What products would you recommend for my hair?
- Is the style I want achievable without compromising the integrity of my hair?
Deciding on a Style
The cut and color you choose can have a big impact on the shape and outcome of your style. Highly-textured hair can easily be impacted by damage so make sure your stylist understands that you are aiming to improve the health of your curls and enhance their natural shape. This will help guide them accordingly.
Color:
Be aware that if you had dreams of instantly transitioning from a deep brunette to a platinum blonde, you may have to adjust your timeline. While it is possible to lift your color, a low and slow transition will help keep damage at bay and increase the health of your hair, leading to a better curl shape. Before committing to hair color, discuss the effects it may have on your curl pattern. Once you decide on a shade, find out the path to getting there before the process begins.
Cut:
Additionally, when deciding on a haircut, you might have to go shorter than you imagined to help get rid of split ends or fine-tune your new silhouette. Think about the bigger picture of what you want and don’t be afraid to cut a little length in the short term to get a better result later on. Be sure to discuss with the stylist whether you'll be wearing your hair curly or straight and what your long term goals are. This can help them tailor a cut that suits your lifestyle needs.
