Hair Problems:
Oh no, it’s that dreaded time of finding a new hairstylist….
People look for a new hairstylist for multiple reasons. Maybe you just moved, maybe your hairstylist just moved, or maybe they cut back their hours, or worst of all – you just don’t love how they do your hair anymore. Yikes!
But now you’re in a real pickle, because you found this amazing picture or you are ready for your next hair trim but you don’t know where to go or who to see. If you are feeling pretty nervous to find some new to do your hair, you are not alone!
Before I go any further, just a little shameless advertising 🙂
If you live in Lynchburg, Virginia, I would love to cut your hair because if you didn’t know, I am a hairstylist and I have been cutting hair for 7 years.
To ease your mind that I’m not some newbie, check out my Instagram to see my online portfolio or book an appointment! I’ve worked with all types of hair and styles. If you have any questions, want to send me a pic with questions, or would like to book a free consultation, I would love to chat! I totally understand the ordeal with trusting someone new with your locks and I promise to listen! If you only want to cut a micro-millimeter, that’s what I will do. And if you are ready to rock something new, I’d love to make it happen!
Regardless whether I get the honor to cut your hair or not, I would love to help you with a few question to ask your potentially new hair stylist so that you can feel confident when they start snipping away.
Unless you know several people that go to the same hairstylist, a consultation prior to your haircut appointment is always a great way to get to know them and see if you feel comfortable with them. Consultations are normally complementary and last anywhere from 5-15 minutes. After the consultation, if you feel like it wasn’t a good fit or you did not feel like they understood your desires, then you haven’t wasted any money or much time. Having a consultation and not returning is much better than scheduling an appointment, talking about what you want, and then leaving before the service. Hairstylist normally block out chunks of time for each service and if you bail, that means no paycheck for them. Hairstylist typically gets paid per service, not per hour or salary.
A few questions:
1. How long have you been doing hair?
(TIP: Most hair stylists include the time they were getting training, so if they answer less than 2 or 3 years, they might be still fairly new in the business. Try not to make them feel like they are in a police investigation interview, but consider asking another followup question like, “How long have you worked at this salon?” That might give light if they are in their first job outside of hair school. I’m not saying there aren’t super gifted hairstylists that just graduated from cosmetology school, but most stylists really grow a ton in their craft during the first year after school, including confidence and speed. If they are new, it might be a little bit more of a gamble or you might be there a while. However, new hairstylists tend to charge less for a cut and for some people a cheaper cut verses no cut is a no-brainer.)
2. Are you more of a precision cutter or an artistic cutter?
(WHAT THAT ACTUALLY MEANS: Some stylist are very precise with their technique and while that is a good thing for cutting hair, it can sometimes get them stuck in a box doing a very routine cut without being able to see how it will work with your head shape, hair growth, or personal preference. Some stylists are very artistic and like to snip away gradually and see how it looks as they go. Kind of like a painter who does some then evaluates their work and cuts some more. This can create some really amazing, customized haircuts. However, some styles need precision and if they aren’t a well skilled artistic cutter, they could miss the mark on some styles. So how do you decide if their answer is what you are looking for? You might want to start with knowing if the cut you want is a more precise haircut or more of a textured or soft and flowing haircut. Both precise and textured can be in long or short styles.)
TEXTURED:
PRECISE:
3. Is it okay if I show you a picture?
(TIP: You don’t have to bring a picture but pictures help bridge the gap between words hairstylists use and the rest of us use to describe hair. Unless you are super sure that what you say is what you mean, don’t be overconfident in using the vocabulary you have learned from YouTube or Magazines to talk hair talk. It’s just not always right.)
4. How much do you charge?
(FYI: Don’t be embarrassed to ask this question, its not offensive. Unless you don’t care how much you spend, knowing the price before you book the appointment allows for zero surprises at check out.)
5. How long will I be here for a haircut?
(WHY ASK: Unless you seriously have Rapunzel hair, anything over an hour might be a tip that they are a newbie. Most haircuts are scheduled for 30 to 45 minutes. Also, the last thing you want to do is rush your hairstylist during the appointment. They schedule the haircut for a certain length of time for a reason, that’s how long they need to do their best work.)
6. What is your policy if I find an out of place hair or it is not laying right?
(TIP: Just because you find a long piece when you got home or something isn’t laying right the next time you go to style it doesn’t mean they did a horrible job. Everyone’s hair is completely different from hair textures, to hair growth patterns. Plus, the way they style it and the way you style it usually are not identical. A lot of genuine stylists have a one week guarantee policy where as long as you call within the first week, they will fix it for free.)
I hope this helped and if you have any questions, I would love to answer them.
Until next time…
Good luck! Your next magical hair stylist is out there looking for you too! 🙂
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