Choosing Your Stylist
Look for a stylist who falls somewhere between the bland, uninspired yes-person who will do whatever you tell him/her to do without offering constructive advice and the dictatorial hairdresser who insists on creating whatever he/she wants with little if any involvement from you. The best hairdresser is sympathetic as well as creative. They need to listen to what you envisage before telling you what’s possible.
Many hair dressers will debunk the photo you have torn from a glossy magazine that shows the look you want. But a good stylist should take a look at it to get a sense of your desired image.
They should then advise you whether or not such a look will be possible with your hair and if so whether it will suit you. Remember that what we see in the magazines is often the result of hours of work using all sorts of gels, mousses, rollers, pins, even hair pieces to create the effect. So use pictures in magazines as a guide for a new length, colour or image rather than trying to copy a look exactly. Here are some useful tips to help you succeed with hairdresser:
DRESS THE PART
Your appearance dictates how the stylist interprets your image. So don’t pop in, unplanned in your jogging suit, unmade-up (unless that’s your daily look) and then expect them to give you anything chic.
DEMAND DISCUSSION
Don’t settle for the cursory 30 second size-up. Take whatever time is required before your hair is washed to discuss your ideas, and get all your questions answered about the possibilities.
ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS, OBSERVE
If seeing a new stylist or getting a new look be sure you know what will be involved with creating the look yourself. If mousse or gel is required, when do you apply it- before or after blow-drying, or both? What’s the best method of blow-drying with your fingers or using a hairbrush? What sort of hairbrush? If you wanted to create something else with your style, what are the possibilities? Don’t expect your hairdresser to actually create all the other looks, but you do deserve the time to be talked through ideas for using combs or bands, pulling back, making fuller with hot rollers or tongs, etc.
CHANGE YOUR HAIRDRESSER EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE
Your favourite stylist gets used to seeing you in a certain way and might not be the best one to advise you on a new look. Once you’ve tried something new you can return to your former stylist and explain you had it done when away on holiday or business. If you like it tells him/her so and why. They’ll get the message that the new you is happy and wants to maintain the current look and not return to the former one.
