We all want great hair, and it starts with a decent haircut. You may take in a photo, or show what you want to your hairstyle to a “T”, but are your expectations for a new look on par with what your hair can really do? Does the salons that you’ve been wanting match the amount of time that you’re willing to spend on your hair?
Here are 10 things to consider, and points that hair salons likely won’t say out loud, before you go in for your next haircut.
On some level, if you want your hair to look good it’s going to take some work. Unless you have perfect hair, with great body, beautiful thickness, and absolutely no issues whatsoever, you will need to do something with your hair to make it look like that photo you brought in. By the way, I’m pretty sure that the aforementioned perfect hair doesn’t really exist.
Celebrities are born just as human as you and me, with one exception when it comes to hair. Celebrities hire teams of stylists, use extensions, wigs, top-of-the-line hair products and processes that cost a fortune. Unless you’re willing to pay those kinds of prices in hair salons, it’s probably not realistic to have celebrity perfect hair everyday.
The truth is, very few people on this planet have wash and go hair. Many people look like they do (like the girl you work with whose hair is perfect all day long), but they have to work at it. They experiment with the right shampoo, get regular haircuts, try out new styling techniques, and they probably use product in their hair. By the way, we all secretly hate the girl with the perfect all day hair. It’s ok.
If you don’t like to use product in your hair, don’t expect your hair to look like you did. Have you ever checked how many products hair salons use during your haircut/blowout? If you’re still using Panteen ProV and Aqua net, it’s time to find out why professional products are far better and will actually help you have salon hair everyday. Bottom line: professional products are great and could give you a brand new appearance for your hair.
Just because you’re using product, doesn’t mean you’re using it right. If you’re one of those girls that have been using the same product you used 10 years ago (it’s ok, you don’t have to admit it out loud), it is time for a change. Ask for advice on your hair products, and do that advice at home. If the product isn’t working out, change your product for something that will work for you.
If you ask for a new look, but style your hair the same way you always have, you will likely not be happy with your hair’s result. In fact, it will probably look like it always did. A haircut is simply the foundation to a great look. Styling is key. Ask your salon for advice on properly styling your new cut.
Practice makes perfect. Try new things with your hair and re-try them when you don’t get them right the first time. Trust me, even hairstylists have a hard time blowing out their own hair, and it takes some skill to learn to curl your hair with a flat iron. Rome wasn’t built in a day, neither is great hair.
Have real expectations with your hair. If you’re only willing to put five minutes of styling into a hair style that should require 30 minutes, expect your hair to look that way. Ask your hairstylist help you choose a look thats at par with the level of effort that you’re willing to put in and that matches your hair texture.
The more hair you have, the more time it will take to style. Which is a real drag if you were “blessed” with ridiculously thick hair, but it’s just a truth that you have to accept.
Your hairstylist really wants you to look good and feel good about your hair. You represent her talent, experience, skill, and her great name. We honestly stress about your hair, and we want you to feel great about it. We want you to cherish it, to tell your friends about it, and to return in six weeks with enthusiasm about it. If you don’t love it, talk to your stylist about it. And if you do like it, tell her about that, too.