Come With (Relatively) Clean Hair

I can’t tell you how many clients come in with hair that hasn’t been washed in a week because they’ve been waiting on me to do it. It’s OK not to come in with your hair perfectly fresh, but having a ton of product buildup on your strands can cause your color to go on unevenly. Gently shampoo the night before your appointment to make nice with your stylist and get the most out of your color.

ALSO——Make sure your stylist KNOWS what products you are currently using at home! ALOT of over the counter shampoos and conditioners have silicone fillers, which build up on the hair strand… some of that stuff even the strongest lighteners won’t work on!

Be Patient With Your Color

When undergoing a major color change, have realistic expectations of what can be achieved in a single appointment. Don’t expect to go from black to platinum blonde in one day. This should be done gradually to maintain the integrity of your hair

Be Honest About Your Hair History

YALL– It’s critical that you tell your stylist what your hair’s history is, whether it was a gloss, toner, Brazilian blowout, box color, perm, even professional color! Make sure you and your stylist are on the same page about budget and upkeep to ensure you’re not getting yourself in too deep. Certain colors and cuts require more trips to the salon so if your goal is to be low-maintenance, ask your stylist for something that will still look great as it grows out.

Keep an Open Mind

It’s always good to come to your appointment with an idea, but be open to expert advice as well. What you have in mind may not be the best choice for your skin tone, face shape, eye color, or other features, so be flexible and talk with your stylist to ensure you get the best cut or color specifically for you.

Bring Visuals and Be Very Specific

Pictures are the easiest way to communicate to your stylist what you like and don’t like. Bring in a couple different pictures from different angles! Be sure to get very specific on details as well—getting a trim and getting rid of dead ends can be two [V-E-R-Y] different lengths.

Take Better Care of Your Color

Using good quality color-safe at home hair care products really does matter.. Products that aren’t specially formulated for color-treated hair, can strip the color out of your strands, leaving it dull and dingy way sooner than you hoped. You’re a walking billboard for your stylist’s work so we [ALL] want it looking the best it can.

Respect Other People in the Salon

For most women, your time with your stylist in the chair is a treasured time! You get to relax, talk about absolutely anything you want, or not talk at all! A salon is NOT a place for small children! Not only can other patrons not relax while getting their hair done, it’s dangerous. It’s also considered a liability for the stylist and the salon owner. If you need to have your hair done, you should also have a babysitter.

Show up to your appointment.

If you know that you need to reschedule, make sure to call the salon at least 24 hours in advance so that your stylist has a chance to fill your spot. It’s understandable that things come up at the last minute sometimes, but if you cancel at the last minute or don’t show up, you may be charged a fee, especially if you are chronically canceling at the last minute or not showing up to your appointments. No-showing is disrespectful of your stylist’s time, and prevents them from being able to fill your spot with someone else who may be trying to get in.

Don’t be late.

A lot of stylists are on very tight schedules and most likely have another appointment coming in right after you. If you are running late, you should call the salon and let them know that you are on your way. If you are 10 minutes late, or more, chances are you are not going to be able to receive the full services that you were booked for. Most salons consider you to be a no-show if you are more than 15 minutes late. Depending on the salon, you may still be charged for your service if you don’t show up, or you may be charged a fee, especially if you are chronically no-showing for appointments.

Bringing other people with you to your appointment.

This will vary depending on the salon. If the other person will be receiving a service as well, then of course it is totally acceptable. In my salon, I don’t really mind if people bring one friend or family member with them to their appointment, but our space is also small so sometimes it gets pretty crowded. At most salons if you bring someone with you, they will need to stay in the waiting area.

May this rain not make your hair flat!

Sugars!!

XOXOXOOOOOXOXOO-Elizabeth