Thursday, March 7, 2013

From the Mouth of a Hair Stylist: How to Get the Haircut You Want

Well, I suppose I should start by saying: Welcome! Welcome to my blog series 'From the Mouth of a Hair Stylist!' I am seriously so excited that I am here, and that you are too! So, without any further ramblings, please enjoy part 1 of my 10 part blog! =) 

Haircuts are really the start and finish of everything to do with hair. While hair has moved into more complex chemical services over the years, haircuts really do remain the staple of the salon industry. Everyone needs a haircut, and thus it raises a lot of questions for people. Should you jump on that new haircut trend, or stay in your haircut rut?

With long waves and short pixies, undercuts and bobs all popular right now, how ever can you possibly choose between everything that's out there, and more importantly, know if it's going to look good?

That is why I hear this question more than any other:

"Okay, so I have no idea what I want my hair to look like... you're the expert! What kind of haircut should I have?"

I'm not going to lie to you, it is my most loathed question, which is why I've chosen to start here.

The reason that I find it so difficult to answer is mostly because there isn't one haircut that is the be-all end-all for your face shape and hair type. While of course there are cuts that work best for hair types and face shapes, with the plethora of hair products and tools available to the every day person, not to mention that everyone has different problem spots with their hair, there isn't really a clear cut answer to what sort of hair cut you should have.

To top it all off, the haircut you "should" have varies from hairdresser to hairdresser. What I think you should have could be very different from the cut "that terrible hairdresser" you use to see thought, and it could also be very different from that cut your "very favourite hairdresser EVER" gave you - and we could all be giving you 'textbook' hairstyles for your hair type!

So, I've come up with the top 5 things you need to think about before you head to the salon so you can get the haircut you WANT rather than the haircut you "should have"!

How to Get the Haircut You Want:

1. Ask people you know (including your hairstylist) what they think would look best on you. Almost everyone knows someone with great fashion sense, and they can often offer you wonderful ideas you never thought of. Always run big changes past people who will be honest with you, and consider them for longer than 5 minutes. Cutting of 2 feet of hair on a whim almost always ends in tears. If you have a big change in mind, they will always be the ones you can trust to tell you if it's a good or bad idea! Make sure to trust your hairstylist to tell you honestly what they think too, and don't let anyone, including your stylist, bully you into something you aren't comfortable with!

2. Come in with a style in mind. I'm not asking you to come in with a folder in your phone of pictures of your perfect haircut from all angles (although that's always helpful, us stylists are generally very visual people!), but consider how much length you are willing to part with, or if you want bangs or not. Even something as simple as knowing you "just can't part with anything more than an inch" is helpful! Your stylist will tell you if they think it's not going to work, so let them help you find something similar that will, and always make you sure you feel comfortable with the final decision before the cutting begins! (Oh, and always physically show me with your fingers your idea of an inch. My idea of an inch and your idea of are often different!)

3. Look at pictures, but don't look at pictures of your favourite celebrities. If you are going to bring in pictures, consider trying to find people with a hair and face shape that looks similar yours. If you have thick, unruly, curly hair and a very round face, trust me when I say you aren't going to be able to have Anne Hathaway's cute pixie cut without a LOT of work in the morning. Try to block out who you are looking at and look just at the hair - you have to remember you don't look just like Kim Kardashian or Jennifer Aniston (and you don't have their daily stylist either). Lastly, consider looking back at old pictures of yourself. If there is a time when you thought "yes, this was absolutely the BEST haircut I ever had - I felt amazing!" it's probably something that should be considered again! (unless, of course, it's a mullet. Never consider that again.)

4. Consider your daily routine. Are you a wash and wear kind of person, or do you have an hour every day to do a serious styling routine? Do you have specific fall back styles you can't let go of like the sock bun or braids? Are you skilled with a round brush or does the idea of having to put product in your hair every day scare you? All of these things are very important to consider! Be honest with yourself, and be honest with your stylist. If you sleep in every single morning, a high maintenance style is not for you. Your routine is also important to consider when it comes to thinking about your future haircuts! If you are going to get that super short pixie cut, are you going to be willing to come in every 4-6 weeks to get it re-shaped, or are you a haircut once every 8 months kind of person?

5. Remember - you know your hair best. We are the professionals, but you have lived with your hair your whole life and know what it is like! You know all the problem areas, and you probably already have a good idea of what types of cuts will work best for you. Trust your instincts, you are more knowledgeable about your hair than you think!

Your haircut should make you feel great, and if it doesn't you need to say something. While we will always try to provide you with the best haircut we can, everyone has bad days and this is an industry where we are always learning. If you leave with a haircut you hate and you never say anything, we don't continue to learn and grow as stylists - but be constructive and don't lose your cool. Sitting there and saying "I just hate this", pulling at it and crying, or playing the blame game is not at all helpful, so be specific. "I hate my bangs because they are too long" gives me an idea of what you see and why you aren't happy. Specificity is key! This goes for when you are getting your hair cut as well, not just after. Saying "I want this piece shorter" is not as specific as "I want my layers to start right below my ear" or "This piece needs to be 2 inches shorter." But please don't micromanage your stylist. Trust them and don't ask them to explain in technical terms every single snip!

Oh, and never, ever, ever, ever, EVER cut your hair yourself. You aren't 4 years old, you are a grownup. I don't want to have to scold you when you come in because you have chopped your bangs too short! Most salons do bang trims for a few dollars, so drop in for a few minutes and see if someone can trim your bangs for you. When you've worked so hard to find a haircut that works for you, trimming it yourself is just asking for trouble!

My last point on this matter is this: Save yourself some money and the chance of disappointment by finding a stylist that understands what you are asking for. This goes not only for haircuts, but for every facet of your salon experience. If that stylist down at the 15 minute haircut place isn't getting it done, stop going. Ask your friends and family, check reviews online, or even ask that lady with the great hair at the bank who their stylist is, and stick with the one you like once you've found them! Trust me when I say that it will save you lots of unnecessary tears and money if you take the time to find the stylist that gives you what you want!

While I can't provide you with all the answers when it comes to getting haircuts, I hope that I have given you some tips on how to make your haircut experience the best it can be! Keep those 5 points in mind before you leave for your appointment, and it will save yourself (and your stylist) a huge headache when you get to the salon!

Next week: Hair Colour!

For the love of your hair:

Kyleigh.

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