Wow, apparently everyone liked the "Let's Talk Hair" idea. The first volume got the most views I've ever had on a post (thanks Julee for the shout out on your blog!). So, it's a keeper! I'm thinking Mondays will be a good day to blog about hair since that's the day we hairdressers refer to as our "Saturday". So here's your second volume of "Let's Talk Hair":
This week I wanted to share an article I've had on my refrigerator for a few years now. It's from the December 2008 Reader's Digest and it's titled "Thirteen Things Your Hairstylist Won't Tell You." Warning: if the article seems a little harsh, remember... I didn't write it. However, I do think the article gives some helpful hints for developing a better relationship with your hairstylist. (The article will be in "quotation marks" and my remarks will be in the [brackets].)
"I'm a beautician, not a magician. I can give you Gisele Bundchen's haircut, but I can't give you her face." [Be realistic about your hair and how a style will look on you, not how it looks on the model. If it helps, put your thumb over the model's face and then determine if you still like the hair.]
"Come at least 5 minutes early. If you're running late, please call ahead. Show me some basic respect. This is a business, not fun and games." [When you run behind, you cause your hairdresser to run behind for every client following your appointment. If you cancel less than 24 hours before your appointment, you leave your hairdresser with a 1-2 hour gap where they make no money. Unlike most jobs, if our chair is empty, we make no hourly wage.]
"Don't ask me to 'squeeze' you in when I'm already booked. I'd be taking away time and effort from other clients. You wouldn't like being treated that way." [Try pre-booking your next appointment when you leave the salon so you don't find yourself in a bind.]
"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." [We feel honored to be considered a confidant, but our real expertise is helping you with your hair.]
"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. As you get older, you need to soften the lines around your face. Layers are the magic remedy." [If your hairdresser makes a suggestion, give it a try. You might like it. After all, they are the professional.]
"Bodies and hair change as hormones change. If your hair is dry, listless, or brittle, or if it's not holding color 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)." [Don't automatically assume that if your hair doesn't look, or feel how you want, it's your hairdresser's fault. I have had several clients learn from a doctor that they had a vitamin deficiency after complaining that their hair was dry and broken. Once a doctor recommended vitamins for them, their hair began to return to normal.]
"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'?" [Be it a half an inch or 5 inches, a haircut is a haircut.]
"That single dollar bill you stuff into the shampoo person's hands isn't doing her any favors. A dollar bill doesn't buy anything anymore. You should tip her at least $3- more if your hair is long." [Tips are never required, but always appreciated, as hairdressers don't make an hourly wage.]
"If you want to buy a bottle of color and do your own hair to save a buck, you can live with the consequences." [Often times coloring your own hair will cost you more in the end. A corrective color costs more in a salon than a regular color. Don't bother asking your hair dresser to recommend a boxed color you can do yourself. Boxed color and professional color are two totally different things. The only thing we know about boxed color, is to stay away from it. It stains your hair, making it hard to remove later. Do yourself a favor, either save your money until you can afford professional color applied by a licensed stylist, or stay all natural!]
"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." [Photos are the best way for us to remember a cut, they help us understand the style you are trying to describe to us.]
"Why do you think a child's haircut should cost less than yours? Kids don't sit still, Kid's kick. It's and intense experience." [All I can say to that is amen.]
"Standing all day and using scissors and a blow-dryer takes a toll- I have arthritis in my fingers, calcium deposits in my wrist, and 10 percent less hearing than I used to. I'm a physical wreck." [Not to mention the ingrown toenails, aching back, and deep gashes on my hands. Never think a hairdresser has it easy.]
"We see women at their worst. Their hair is wet, they have foils on their hair, they have no make-up on. There's nothing for them to hide behind. So they tell us everything. The truth is, I really don't care what they do sexually. I'm only interested in their hair." [Yeah, so in addition to being physically drained, add emotionally drained to the list. Your hairdresser wants you to enjoy "your time," but remember not to overload them, you'll get a better haircut if your stylist is not overwhelmed by your personal life.]
Keep these 13 things in mind the next time you visit a salon, you might just walk out with the best hair you've had in years!
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