Are You Getting the Most Out of Your Salon Consultation?

Everyone wants to come out of the salon with hair they love, but many don’t realize there is a lot more to it than the nip of the scissors and the flick of the tint brush. Your consultation is the essential learning and bonding time every client is entitled to and every hairdresser needs to achieve the best results.

Consultations should be done prior to your shampoo at the stylist’s station. Your stylist should be asking you questions about your desires and routines as they study your hair and begin to strategize a plan of action. This is the best time to talk about what you want or your concerns.

For haircuts, your stylist will study your face shape and hair type while talking to you about your lifestyle and maintenance. What length are you looking for? How often do you want to have it cut? Do you style your hair every day? Bringing in pictures is always helpful to understand your vision, and your stylist will give his or her recommendations to make it suit your needs.

For color, a stylist will dive a bit deeper because so many factors are involved. He or she will consider your skin tone and eye color to pick the shade. Then you'll discuss your color history, how often you shampoo and blow dry, and how often you want to have it colored. Your hair type is also a consideration, and information about how often you go to the gym is actually important. Make sure to declare any allergies you have and ask for a patch test if unsure. Even your medical history is important. Pregnancy, recent childbirth, surgery, and medication may affect the hair, which will affect the chemistry of coloring.

Consultations are discussions not monologues, so make sure to be a part of them. Your honesty is as important to the process as your stylist’s expertise, and the relationship between you and your hairdresser starts here.

Have anything to ask the experts? Please comment below or email us at modernosalon@gmail.com.