Updating My Style

10. I’ve had the same cut and style for years, I hate it! What should I do?

Learn to let go. That’s the very first thing you must do. We have a little saying around the salon, “if you haven’t had a compliment on your hair recently, its time for a change! Hair is one of the most recognizable accessories that we have and it is often the first thing someone notices about you. Our hair is a direct reflection about how we look and feel about ourselves. So go ahead and take the plunge! Let’s take a look at some of the steps, do’s and dont’s, you need to do to get ready for your big make-over.

Do collect some pictures of styles, shapes, cuts, colors that you like. This will help in the consultation process. Often a client cannot express in technical terms or may have been misinformed in the past about a technical aspect. Sometimes we see color, shapes, and lengths differently. This helps us break through the clutter and ensure better communication.

Don’t bring pictures in of yourself from 20 years ago. We often go back to periods in our life when we were happier, younger, or thinner and think this will be the perfect color or style. The fact is the time is now, we are what we are at this moment and this is what we must work with and enhance and be happy with ourselves at this moment. We cannot change the aging process and our hair texture and density is continuously changing throughout our life.

Do seek out plenty of advice and get consults from professionals.

Don’t get so much that it leads to indecision. Ever hear the expression, “over-analysis leads to paralysis?” Find a colorist or stylist that your comfortable with and trust their direction.

Do ask lots of questions and listen. This is a two way street for both the client and stylist. There is nothing wrong with bringing a list of questions with you to make sure you cover all the basis that you wanted. Think about what you dislike as much as what you like or want. Seek re-confirmation on the desired color and cut before the service is started to solidify the direction.

Don’t just say “do whatever you want, I trust you!” This will often lead to dissatisfaction on both sides. We all have our limits and have certain colors or styles we absolutely cannot stand. So the next time you say “do whatever”, backtrack and think about what those words really mean.

Do be honest with your stylist or colorist. Your hair and its chemical history is very important and some chemicals do not work well together or can lead to severe damage. When trying to correct or change previous done color, think about the chemical processes and what has been used in your hair. Whether its color, relaxers, straightners, or perms, we need to know. And one last thing about chemicals, be realistic. Often when correcting or making big color changes is a process and cannot be achieved just in one service. This can often take multiple services and you and your colorist should make a plan for evolution of your color.

Do try and take some time to get used to your new cut or color. Often big changes can take time to become comfortable. Think about how your new look will affect your make-up or even your wardrobe. Wear it for a couple weeks before making drastic decisions to change your color back to its previous color or do a different haircut.