Going to the Hairdresser’s

If you have a hairdresser you’ve been going to for a while and trust, stick with them (unless you don’t like what they’ve been doing with your hair – more on that another time). Your regular hairdresser knows your hair and will be able to help guide you through a major style change. They may even suggest some stages you can go through to move towards your desired style if you don’t have the length, your hair isn’t in good enough condition, or you are scared to go very short in one go. If you don’t have a regular hairdresser, ask around to get a recommendation or look for local recommendations online! If you are going to a new stylist at the same time as making a drastic change, such as going from long to short, it probably is worth paying for a style director or art director, who is more experienced at creating new styles and working with different kinds of hair.
2. Consultation
Make the most of your pre-cut consultation. Don’t rush it and make sure you cover the questions discussed above. Show your hairdresser a photo of the style you would like, but have a back-up plan in case your hairdresser thinks the style you’ve chosen simply won’t work on your hair (perhaps because it’s the wrong texture (too thin, too curly) or because you have awkward ‘cow-licks’ on your hairline, etc.). If this happens, don’t be too stubborn or downcast about it, but discuss an alternative with your hairdresser. They may even show you some more pictures to make sure that both of you have the same thing in mind before they start cutting. Because this consultation will take longer than one for a standard trim, it might be worth mentioning when you make your appointment that you are making a big style change and would like to discuss it first. If you give the salon the heads up they are likely to take more time with you.
3. During the Cut
This is not the time to sit back and get caught up in a magazine or a conversation with your hairdresser. Keep a watchful eye on what they are doing just in case they have really misunderstood what you wanted. A particular risk with short styles is that if they cut too much off in a certain place or all over, you will have to wait some time for the hair to grow before it can be fixed. Of course, with your hair wet, it’s not always easy to see what they are doing. If things do wrong, get your hairdresser to fix it. A friend with slightly wavy hair once went for a Meg Ryan style shag cut and came out with hair roughly half an inch long all over. Because she had taken a photo of what she wanted to the salon and her stylist had said she could do that, the salon gave my friend free cuts until her hair had grown out enough to achieve the style she’d initially asked for. Still, nobody wants to be put in that position, so stay alert.
4. Blow-dry
This is one time when it is definitely worth paying a little extra to get you hair blow-dried and styled. Watch closely what your hairdresser does and ask them about the appliances and products they are using. That should give an idea of how to style your new cut so that you can make the most of it!