Brianna (aka Foxy) is a stylist originally from Orange County who worked with Nic Lange at House of Lange and recently relocated to GEO Hair Lab in Knoxville, Tennessee! Below she is offering her heartfelt insights into getting the best out of your salon appointment by starting with the consultation. Keep reading to hear her top tips!
Imagine taking a road trip without a map or putting together a piece of furniture without directions. Just like anything that involves a process, you need a guide to follow and the same goes for hair.
The purpose of a consultation serves as a road map for both the stylist and the client. It provides the opportunity for you and your stylist to determine the best route for the final desired look, together. It allows the client to also have a hand in the process while creating a bespoke experience. If you’ve ever felt intimidated by the process or simply just didn’t know what to say during your consultation, we’ve got you! Here are a few simple tips that will make your next consultation easy breezy!
Do your Research!
Before you make any investment you should always do your research and it shouldn’t be any different when it comes to your hair. It’s 2019 and you can literally find anything on the internet. Learn about your future salon/stylist before you get in the chair. Instagram, Yelp, Facebook, or Google. Another great way is by word of mouth. These are all easily accessible tools to learn about your future salon/stylist. Reviews often give a personal account of someone’s experience and Instagram serves as an online lookbook or portfolio.
Hair is very personal. Clients put their trust and money into someone who essentially plays a role in how you feel about themselves. Part of a great client/stylist relationship is their compatibility. What’s the energy like? What is the salon culture? Do you share the same values? These can all impact your salon experience.
For example, climate change, and how we treat our Earth, is a relevant topic and the industry is standing behind the cause. When walking into any KEVIN.MURPHY salon – you know they will be using eco-friendly practices and products that are not harmful to the eco-system before, during, and after use. They put an emphasis on keeping our Earth as beautiful as the client. This is a big part of the KEVIN.MURPHY identity, and makes it an easy choice when picking a salon.
Prepare before the Chair!
While trust is appreciated, stylists love when clients join them in the process. “Idk! Just do whatever you think is best! ,” gives stylists absolutely no direction at all. It’s perfectly acceptable not to know exactly what you’re looking for, but have an idea of where you would like to end up by the end of it all. Better yet, if you are indecisive on what you DO want, let your stylist know what you DON’T want. At least that way, your stylist knows what not to do and is able to effectively customize the service. If you’re thinking of changing your hair color but can’t make up your mind, ask your stylist if there are any hair swatches available to you can visually get an idea of how it looks against your skin.
FRINGE.BENEFITS is a perfect way for the client and stylists to preview hair color before the commitment. KEVIN.MURPHY provides 10 of the most popular shades in the COLOR.ME line as a visual tool for clients to experience different tones/colors in the form of a fringe (bang) that clips on seamlessly into the hair. How easy is that?!
Another way to prepare for your salon visit is to bring pictures. Because it is a visual process, pictures are one of the most effective tools when it comes to communicating desires. Not only do trends change, but hair terms as well. If you have ever asked for a certain hair color or process by name, but it didn’t turn out quite as expected, you know exactly what we are talking about. The beauty of individuality is that we all perceive the world differently, but that could also be a nightmare in the salon. Pictures are a bridge for the stylist and client to connect and meet in the middle. Aim to bring at least three different pictures for reference whether from Instagram, Pinterest, Google, or magazines. Just make sure your phone is charged beforehand!
Keep it Real!
You always want to be 100% honest with your stylist. Never compromise your hair, health, or the stylist’s reputation by being untruthful during a consultation. The purpose of the consultation is to customize the look – based on the current state of the hair and what the desired results are. Be sure to communicate all chemical services, allergies, challenges, your budget, and even salon experiences (to a certain degree) with your stylist. This not only protects the integrity of your hair but allows your stylist to make the best professional decision in regards to your service as well as present other options if need be.
If you’re thinking of going Daenerys platinum but your hair isn’t in the best state, or you’ve been using box die on your hair for 2 years – these are important things any stylist needs to know. You might not be able to get to the final look the same day, but your stylist can offer you a deep conditioning regimen like TREAT.ME for your next couple of visits to help strengthen and repair your hair in the meantime.
Keep an Open Mind!
Remember, the point of a consultation is for you the client to gain professional advice from the expert. This advice is not only based on your hair type/texture and face shape, but also includes your lifestyle, your budget, and the maintenance required in and outside of the salon. Let’s say you’ve done your research, and prepared before your appointment, you’ve gathered all your photos and you are ready to start. But, after discussing your hair, lifestyle, and what it takes financially maintain the look, your stylist feels it’s not the best option. Don’t get upset! Your stylist wants to make all your hair dreams come true, but they also have to remain realistic. It’s important to remain open and receptive to other alternatives.
Hopefully, these tips ease the next salon visit. Do your research, come prepared, keep it real, and stay open-minded. Not only will you experience the salon in a different way with more confidence, but it customizes that experience just for you!
