Life At The Hair Salon

There are student Hairdressers, Apprentice Hairdressers, Shampoo Girls, Master Stylists, Instructors, Managers, Salon Owners, Stage and Print Artists, and Celebrity Hairstylists.  Titles vary from Hairdresser, Hairstylist, Stylist, Cosmetologist, Master Stylist, and Colorist, to Wave Master and Beautician.  Each one of these Hairdressers has hopefully taken advantage of all of the training available to them, and is ready to use that knowledge  to make you look your very best!

You just have to find the hairdresser that fits your personality and style.

How, you ask?  Exactly, you ask!  Whenever you see someone with awesome hair, you ask them who did it and get a number.  Hairdressers live on recommendations.  Many will offer free cuts or styles for a certain amount of referrals.  It is called getting your clients to work for you.  Everyone wins!

Call the stylist and book an appointment for a style.  Why just a style?  So, if you don’t like it, you can simply wash it out.  Chemical services and cuts require trust and commitment. 

Be observant on your first visit.  When you enter the salon, are you greeted immediately?   Is there loud hip music playing, or is it soft and soothing?  If your stylist is running behind, is an explanation or apology given?  Is the salon neat?  All states differ in sanitization and sterilization laws, but even older salons should be clean.  All dirty implements and towels should be placed in the proper receptacles.  Floors should be swept after each cut, before blow drying.  Some stylists rent an area in a salon and have no control over the other areas.  Is the individual’s area neat?

 Observe the stylist while he or she is working.  Watch facial expressions.  Are the clients in the chair pleased?  Does the stylist have the most beautiful hi-lites you have ever seen?  Do you both have pink and green hair?  Is cursing relevant during the conversations?  Does the stylist dress conservatively?  Are most of their clothes missing?  Is their hair even done?  What about tatoos and piercings?  These are not questions of good or bad.  These are simply questions that you should consider to insure your own levels of compatablity and comfort.

However, whether or not the stylist reflects your personal style, the most important questions are these:  Does the stylist listen to what you are saying and act on it, and are you comfortable with them?  If the answers are yes, and you are really happy with your experience, you might have found a match!  If so, ease into cutting and chemicals later on, again observing other clients as you go.

If all is well and you are pleased, make standing appointments.  Most Hairdressers will book ahead, and otherwise, it might be hard to get in to see them.  You now have a new hairstylist and will be building a lasting relationship with them over the next several years!

Now, congratulate yourself!  Go out and show off your beautiful hi-lites, perm, relaxer, or awesome hair cut!  You are the star!  After all, “All the world is a stage!”