I know you’ve been there before and so have I. Can I take a moment just to say how painful it can be to sit in a chair and pray that the stylist does a halfway decent job? Listen, as a Hairstylist myself, I can relate heavily. I’ve seen many colleagues give me that look of, “Help Me!” with their client in their chair. 

I want to help you not make the same mistake of just walking into a random salon and hoping they can do a service that suits you. When spending your hard-earned money, you want to make sure your salon visit is the most satisfying experience. Here are some things to consider when picking a new stylist and salon just for you. 

Questions To Answer First

Before you do anything, you must ask yourself the following questions that only you can answer:

• Are you searching for a stylist for yourself or the whole family?
• Do you want a service done for a special occasion or to maintain your everyday hair?
• Do you want a stylist who specializes in a certain service or a generalist?
• Are you willing to stay local or are you willing to travel?
• What’s your budget?

All of these questions will help you stay focused when searching for the right stylist. Now, let’s go deeper into the research stage. 

Research, Research, Research The Stylist!

Now that you have an idea of what type of stylist you are looking for, you can start with a Google search first. If you are looking for a natural hairstylist, you can search “natural hairstylist in Raleigh, North Carolina.” 

Some salons have a website set up for their business and you will find them with a Google search. If not, you can search on Instagram. A quick way to search on Instagram is to use the following search query “city name + type of stylist.” Or you can use “city name + type of service.” 

You’ll get something that looks like this.

But if you have no idea of the different stylists out there, here is a list:

• Hair Colorists
• Barbers 
• Bridal Stylists
• Braiders
• Natural Hairstylists
• Locticians

Once you find a few options, check out their portfolios to verify the quality of their work. 

Check Out Stylist’s Portfolios

Most stylists will have their portfolio on their website or Instagram. A lot of stylists live on social media, so their Instagram and TikTok profiles will be the best way to see their work and get a feel for their professional skillset. 

You want to look for before and after shots to see their transformative style and skills. See if their work is consistent and what type of service varieties they offer. One rule of thumb, if the stylist says they do a certain service but don’t have any posts on their portfolio relating to that service, move on to the next one. 

Though this may seem harsh, you want to make sure the stylist is comfortable doing that particular service. Remember, if they are posting about it, they have a level of confidence in that style. If not, move on. You are looking for someone who specializes in the service you need. 

What’s Their Specialty?

Say you have blonde balayage lived-in hair, and you are looking for a stylist who specializes in that service. Will you choose a stylist who only posts about caramelized brown balayages? Or will you choose the hair colorist who posts more on blonde balayages? 

Choosing a stylist who can do your service in their sleep is the ideal stylist to make an appointment with. 

Check Their Booking Requirements

You finally found a few stylists that will satisfy your hair needs. Now, before you get all excited, you should check out their booking requirements. Remember 10 years ago when deposits weren’t a thing and you had to call the stylist to make an appointment?

Well, those days are literally in the rearview mirror, as everyone has gone digital with their business. I’m sure you can still call some stylists to make appointments. But nowadays, you have to read the fine print before you can even set a date and time. 

So be sure to check if a deposit is required, if your card information must be stored to secure an appointment, their prices, and their do’s and don’ts. Some stylists won’t allow extra guests to sit with you or children. Just be on the lookout and read everything before you hit the submit button.  

Always Ask Questions

If you are unsure about something, always ask questions. Whether you have questions about their booking site, availability, accommodations, service recommendations, etc., you should ask. Be sure to pay attention to the stylist’s responses. 

You can get a sense of their professionalism, personality, and knowledge when you ask certain things. If you don’t get a response within 72 hours, and even that’s pushing it, you should move on to the next stylist. 

Also, you should ask for the salon’s location, if not already provided at this point. I say this because I’ve noticed some stylists won’t give you an address until 24 hours before the appointment. This is an important question to ask because you want to verify that the location is safe. Don’t book a stylist if the location seems sketchy. Trust your gut and move on if necessary. 

During Your First Visit

You’re finally in the salon chair, and you’re as excited as all can be. So what do you do now? You should verify the service you booked with your stylist. Make sure you are both on the same page and ask what kind of products they use. 

If you want, you can make small talk or sit there and enjoy the quiet. Afterward, ask your stylist for their recommendations on how to care for your hair in between salon visits. They should give you some tips, along with hair products to take home. 

Now, it’s up to you if you want to rebook with this stylist. If they are everything you wanted and are satisfied with your service, go ahead and rebook. That way, you both are locked in and hopefully at the start of a beautiful stylist and client relationship. 

Boy, I sure miss those days.

Here’s to receiving the most compliments at your holiday parties, and always being selfie-ready this season. 

1. Don’t Skip Out On Your Deep Conditioner

I bet you start noticing that your hair is dryer in the cold seasons than in the warm seasons. That’s because we are in dryer weather conditions, with a lack of humidity in the air.

So you must give your hair extra moisture during this time. Natural Hairstylist and Salon Owner Candace Nichole from Silked Natural Hair Studio says, “Never skip out on your deep conditioner during the winter time. This is when your hair and scalp are more prone to shedding and breakage due to the weather change.” 

2. Stay On Top of Hair Trims

Speaking of shedding and breakage, Master Cosmetologist Quanesha Taylor says, “Always schedule your hair trims every 6 – 8 weeks to prevent split ends from traveling upward on the hair strands.” You and I both know that neglected split ends can lead to an unwanted hair cut. So keep them at bay by only trimming what’s needed every two months.

Both stylists also recommend wearing a silk or satin bonnet or pillowcase to help retain moisture during the frigid winter season.

3. The Power of Leave-in Conditioner

Lastly, you can apply a leave-in conditioner on the ends of your hair to control excessive frizz and static during the cold season. Not only will the conditioner keep the frizz at bay, but it will also protect it from static from your clothes, scarfs, and hats. 

And the best part, it helps prevent those troublesome split ends we were just talking about earlier. Stay on top of your hair game this season so that it will thrive to its fullest during the spring and summer seasons. 

4. Skincare for Your Hands?

Did you know you can use the same skincare products on your hands? If you want more youthful-looking hands that won’t give away your age, you can create a skincare routine just for your hands. Start with a good cleanser, one with hydrating ingredients. A moisturizing hand cream, an exfoliator, and most important, SPF sunscreen. 

During the day, you should always wear sunscreen on your hands to prevent ultraviolet sun rays from drying out your skin, which causes wrinkles and loss of elasticity. At night time, you can give your hands the royal treatment by moisturizing with my personal favorite, L’Oreal Paris Collagen Daily Face Moisturizer. 

Even though it says it’s for the face, it is also perfect for your hands. It contains collagen, which helps rebuild and structure the elastins in your hands, gives them instant hydration, and reduces wrinkles.  

5. Brighten Your Skin With This DIY Mask

Suffering from dark spots on your skin? I have a recipe for that. You can make a turmeric mask that will help remove dark spots that come from age spots, acne marks, or overexposure to the sun. 

I found a creator on TikTok who swears by this turmeric mask and just by the look at her skin, it’s absolutely flawless. She used a spoonful of turmeric, yogurt, and honey and mixed them all together. She didn’t say if it was a teaspoon or tablespoon, but be sure to use equal parts of each ingredient.

Leave it on for 10 minutes and remove it with a paper towel, because it will stain your linen. 

6. Remove Dark Circles With This DIY Paste

This one almost took me by surprise because I would have never thought to use coffee grounds to remove dark circles. Coffee has an abundance of antioxidants, which helps reduce dark circles. When you add honey to the mix, you receive the added boost of antioxidants and hydration needed to diminish dark and puffy eyes. 

You can use 2 teaspoons of coffee grounds, 1 teaspoon of honey, and 1 teaspoon of water if you want the paste to be thick. You will want it thick enough to stay on, and not run down your face. Leave it on for 10 – 20 minutes, and use a paper towel to remove it. 

7. Using Cuticle Oil For Fast Nail Growth

Are your nails stubborn and won’t grow as fast as you want? Give cuticle oil a try. Cuticle oil is a mixture of oils that help moisturize, strengthen, and promote nail growth. Most contain nutrient-rich oils such as Vitamin E, Sweet Almond Oil, Olive Oil, and or Jojoba Oil, which all aid in healthy nails and cuticles. 

According to V Beauty Pure, the professional acrylic & gel nail makers, cuticle oil will help strengthen brittle nails, heal damaged cuticles, prevent infections from bacterial growth, and give manicures longevity by preventing premature chipping. 

8. Don’t Rub, Just Spray Your Perfume

When putting on your perfume, always tap, don’t rub it into your skin. I know I’m guilty of spraying my wrists, and rubbing them together. Why do we do this? Maybe because we’ve seen the women in our family do this, or the actresses in the movies. But this is a reason why our perfume wears off faster than we want it to. This breaks down the top-note fragrance, and evaporates faster in the air, without fully settling into your skin. 

If you want it to last as long as it should, just spray, and walk away. You want to give the perfume time to settle and mix with your skin’s natural scent, which creates that beautiful chemistry that’s unique to you only.