So you’re sitting in the salon chair and the stylist is standing behind you, looking confused and puzzled while touching your hair. You can see the stylist in the mirror, and she seems overwhelmed and unsure of how to service you.
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.
