38 Secrets Your Hair Stylist Won’t Tell You
Hairstylists share their secrets for saving money, getting a great hair cut, and more.
The clients I dread the most are those who say things like “Do whatever you want”
Or: “I’m pretty easy to work with.” Nine times out of ten, it’s not true.
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We know you hate the word bleach
So we use words like lightener and decolourizer. But no matter how we prettify the language, if we’re lifting a dark colour out of your hair, we’re using bleach.
(Related: 9 Things You’re Doing to Your Hair That a Stylist Wouldn’t)
Yes, I keep notes about you on your client card, and they can get pretty personal
I may note that you don’t tip well or that you talked loudly about how drunk you were last night. I may also write down that you’re going through a divorce or that you’re into tennis so I can remember to ask you about those things next time.
After you’ve been late a few times, I ask our receptionist to say your appointment is at 2
But really it’s 2:30.
(Here’s why you may want to stop washing your hair.)
If there’s one rule to live by, it’s this:
Don’t make your first appointment with me on a Saturday. That’s our busiest day, and I won’t be able to give you the time and attention you want and deserve.
Find out whether your salon offers a discount if you get a cut and a colour together
Ask for one if it doesn’t. Doing a cut and colour together eliminates some steps and should save you about 20 percent.
It’s fine to use Groupon or another social media site to save money on your hairstyling
But be wary of salons that offer deals all the time. That’s not a good sign.
Thin hair doesn’t have to be worn short
I had a client who wore her super-thin hair short for years because she thought she had to. I finally talked her into growing it out into a stacked bob, and everyone now says she looks incredible.
(Here’s what you need to know about thinning hair.)
Always dry your hair completely before using a hot tool like a curling iron or a flat iron
If your hair still contains moisture, the iron will damage your hair and prevent hair growth.
Sometimes when I don’t have a client’s colour—either because we’re out of it or because I forgot to write it down last time—I don’t say anything and just mix something new.
If you think I’m applying what you had before, you’re much less likely to complain.
(Ready to go back to your roots? Get your virgin hair back with these hairstylist-approved tips.)
I know you’ve heard you shouldn’t wash your hair before getting an updo, because a little grit can help maintain the style
But please don’t show up with hair that’s greasy, tangled, or smelly. Wash it the night before, and don’t put any styling products in it. That way, we can start fresh and create our own texture.
Every year after school starts, at least one mom brings in her daughter with hair down to her waist and tells us to give her a pixie cut.
We know what’s going on: a lice infestation. But when we point out the nits and tell the mom we can’t do the cut, she always acts surprised and says, “I didn’t know.” We’re thinking, Yeah, right. To save the embarrassment for all involved, get the situation under control before your appointment.
(Here’s why you may want to start caring for your scalp.
We don’t “wash” your hair—we “shampoo” it
When we’re trying to make you feel pampered, we tell you we are going to shampoo your hair. We just can’t use the same word you use for doing dishes.
I’m a beautician, not a magician
I can give you Gisele Bündchen’s haircut, but I can’t give you her face.
Come at least five minutes early
If you’re running late, please call ahead. Show me some basic respect. This is a business, not fun and games.
Don’t ask me to squeeze you in
My work takes time. When a client says she’s in a rush, I tell her she needs to schedule her time better. If I’m already booked, I’d be taking time and effort away from other clients. You wouldn’t like being treated that way.
(Also, here’s why you should tell not your hairstylist but your dermatologist about hair loss.)
I’m not a psychologist
Hairdresser school does not teach about counter transference, projection, negative reinforcement, or personality disorders. If you’re looking for a therapist, all I have is a tail comb and an opinion.
Layers are the magic remedy
Some women think that if they keep their hair all one length the way it was in high school, everyone will think they’re still in high school. Guess what? You’re not.
Bodies and hair change as hormones change
If your hair is dry, listless, or brittle, or if it’s not holding your colour or style the way it used to, see a doctor. If your hair isn’t over-processed, you could be pregnant (surprise!) or menopausal (yes, I can tell).
(Considering a hairline tattoo? Here’s what you need to know.)
A trim is not “just a trim”
It requires my expertise, skill, knowledge, and time. Would you say to your dentist, “It’s just a tooth,” or to your doctor, “It’s just a leg”?
A dollar doesn’t buy anything anymore
That loonie you stuff into the shampoo person’s hands isn’t doing her any favours. You should tip them more (more if your hair is long).
Let me do my job
If you want to buy a bottle of colour and do your own hair to save a buck, you can live with the consequences.
(Ready to let your greys shine? Here’s how to care for grey hair.)
Take a picture
Some clients will say, “Cut my hair just like you did last time.” That always baffles me. The average time between appointments is six to eight weeks. I have hundreds of clients. How am I supposed to remember exactly how I did your hair the last time? If you want a carbon copy of a cut and style you loved, take a picture and show me.
Kids’ haircuts aren’t child’s play
Why do you think a child’s haircut should cost less than yours? Kids don’t sit still. Kids kick. It’s an intense experience.
Standing all day and using scissors and a blow-dryer takes its toll
I have arthritis in my fingers, calcium deposits in my wrist, and 10 percent less hearing than I used to. I am a physical wreck.
We see women at their worst
Their hair is wet, they have foils on their hair, they have no makeup on. There’s nothing for them to hide behind. So they tell us everything. The truth is, I really don’t care about their personal lives. I’m only interested in their hair.
I’ll work hard to make you happy and I’ll want you to like it
After you leave my salon, I’ll worry about what you think. (I work on people, not on cars on an assembly line.) And if you feel like calling to tell me how happy you are with my work, you will make me smile.
For stylists, tips should be 15 to 20 percent of the total cost of your bill.
They are a significant portion of my pay. If you tip me, I’ll remember. And yes, salon owners who style hairdo appreciate tips and want them.
(Want salon results at home? Here’s how to DIY a 90s blowout.)
Sure, you can bring your child or your dog in
As long as you control them. One of my clients used to bring her Great Dane to all her appointments. He would curl up in the corner and sleep the entire time, so I don’t mind. But if your baby or your dog starts bothering me or the other people in the salon, I won’t be so easygoing.
I need to charge you for my time
No matter what you’re having done. I am a trained professional. I’m in the business of making you look good.
Your hair showcases my work
So it’s in my best interest for you to look good.
(Related: Here’s an ingredient that can fix all your hair woes.)
I am not all things to all people
I don’t have manicurists or masseuses in my salon because I’m a hairstylist.
(Also, you may want to learn about the styling mistakes that are giving you split ends.)
I’m not in this business to make hundreds of thousands of dollars
I just want to make a decent, comfortable living, and at the end of the day, go home.
Men will tell you things they won’t tell their wives
“My throat hurts.” “My back aches.” They want a little sympathy, which maybe they can’t get at home because their wives have heard it all before, or they’re not listening. So they tell us. It’s the only place they can unload.
Spend a little money on the right products
Hot water removes colour. The sun can dry your hair. So protect it as you would your skin. Cover it when you’re outside in the sun. Wash and condition it properly.
(These ingestible beauty products can improve your hair, too.)
If you cancel at the very last minute
That’s lost money to me. I can’t fill that appointment with little or no notice. Please manage your time appropriately.
Putting too much junk in your hair will almost always kill a look
The market is saturated with every possible product to make thin hair thick, dull hair shiny, and curly hair straight. But more is not more. Your hair wants to be healthy. That doesn’t mean trying to totally recreate it every day. Just help it a little. Let it do its thing.
Do not attempt hairstylist-speak
Do you really know what “thinning” or “graduation” mean? Leave the terminology to the professionals.
Sources: Hairstylists Dawn Trudden in Wellington, Florida; Ericka Sandstrom in Aurora, Illinois; Megan Moore in Salt Lake City, Utah, who blogs at thebeautysnoop.com; and Jenny Strebe in Scottsdale, Arizona, who blogs at theconfessionsofahairstylist.com.
Next, learn the secrets nutritionists won’t tell you for free.
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