Tips on finding a new hair stylist.. hair business

[Shelley]

I'm considering finding another stylist and business. Not too happy with my current one due to these reasons..

1. My hair is shoulder length with long layers. I'm finding my hair to be uneven. It's not like its chopped all over unevenly. There are strands that are definitely longer peeking out underneath and some at the sides that are cut unevenly.

2. I know stylist have a time frame but I find her rushing through the hair cut, chopping away. It looks round when I'm styling it at home. I said maybe I'm not styling ir right or do I need a different type cut, basically asked her for tips or suggestions. She shruggs her shoulders and says leave it.

3. I know when you have hair colored you may get some color on your neck or a bit on your forehead. However there are plenty of times I have about a half inch to inch from hairline down to my forehead (this is across the whole forehead and to the sides. A few times splotches on my cheeks. At home I remove it myself. One time I was heading out afterwards and asked if I could use or if she could use color remover to take it off. She seemed somewhat annoyed (didnt havea client after me) and hastily wiped off a tiny spot. I usually end up slathering lotion all over my forehead before my appt but sometiems you forget.

I know stylists are busy and have bad days but I'm finding she seems to have an attitude.

There are other stylists at this place but I think it would be awkward to switch to someone else in the same salon. Plus I have seen the hair coloring things with a few other stylists there too.

Anyways there is a place closer to where I live (I can walk there in 7 minutes).

The prices for a color, cut, and blowdry range from $64.00- $150.00 (we have multi-level pricing based on stylists level of achievement and years of experience according to the salon website). I phoned the salon and the receptionist also said it depends on your hair length, thickness and how much product is needed. Hair cut and blowdry (no color) range from $29.00- $55.00 (same thing as above with regards to achievement, experience)

I currently pay around $60.00 (including taxes) for color, cut, blowdry Basically I have my roots touched up every 7-8 weeks due to grays popping up. She pulls the color through to my ends about 5 minutes before washing it all out.

So any tips on looking for a stylist while checking this place out? I guess you can book consultations and find out what the cost would be ahead of time for color, get the feel of the stylist etc? I am guessing the price variation is normal with most hair places?

Thanks for your help!

 

[HairEgo]

Hi Shelley, at my salon, I also have multi level pricing, of course based upon the years of experience, and the other criteria you mentioned. Myself, becuase I own the salon, I'm the 'Master Stylist', I do a lot of work for major companies and local television, so when I do work at the salon, my time is considered somewhat precious. A cut with me, starts at $65 and colour starts at $110. It also has a lot to do with the area of my business, a posh area of a major city - so people who come, know that its not going to be cheap.

Now, I am the only Master Stylist at the salon...I have 5 stylists on staff and 3 are senior and 2 are junior. Thats not to say that one of the Junior stylists wouldnt do just as fantastic of a job as myself, infact Ive seen them do some awesome and creative cuts/colours and thought to myself that I would have never thought to do that. It's true that most of the time, Junior stylists are apprentices and have much less experience, but they also had to go through rigerous training and interviewing process to be hired, so dont be hesitant of going to a junior.

I tell my staff that a happy face is a happy client...dont you hate when you're walking in the mall and peek into a salon and all the stylists are sitting in their chairs, looking quite snobby? Thats my #1 pet peeve...it makes people uncomfortable and you appear unapproachable. Friendliness is key!

My best suggestion for trying out someone new is to book a simple blow dry with them. If they are pleasent and actually try to converse with you (mind you its hard with a blo dryer running, but u get my point) then you have some sort of comfort level built and I would proceed to book a larger appointment (cut or colour). If they are rude, and make no effort...I would move on and try a new place.

 

[Shelley]

Thanks Gina for your help and tips

I plan on walking in and booking an appointment for a blowdry and go from there. Hopefully I will find someone good.

I agree with walking through malls and peeking into a hair salon. Some places I have looked seem snobbish or unfriendly.

 

[Shelley]

I decided to check out the place close to where I live. The two receptionists at the front were quite friendly. I mentioned to them I was looking for a new stylist and possibly someone on the lower end of the price range. They did mention of course that is also goes by hair thickness, length, how much product is needed etc. She suggested one stylist who I met. I could tell right away she was nice, upbeat etc. She looked at my hair and gave me her price ranges. Anyways I booked an appointment for a wash and blowdry this week. So here's hoping I found someone new I like.

 

[GlamourIsLife]

the best styelist i've ever had came from a licensed woman off craigslist.org

:X i even spent a ton of money in the fancy part in boston, and got a horrible cut

you really just have to try people out

good luck with your search though!!

 

[Orangeeyecrayon]

I say try this new place or look for recomendations from friends in the area

you seem pretty displeased with where you are so mine as well give the less expensive place a shot

 

[magosienne]

Great tips Gina ! I agree about the friendly/smile approach. I have no idea how much a color costs here, i never color mine. I usually pay around 40€ for shampoo/cut/blowdry. Most salons make you pay extra when your hair is considered long, but at my salon instead of paying that extra cost i get a hair massage and extra care for my lengths. Considering i don't go to posh hair salons the cost is the same no matter who cuts my hair, but that would be different if i went to other places.

 

[HairEgo]

It sounds promising Shelley...a wash and blow dry is the safest best for a first visit. Let me know how it goes...and please remember...communication is key..if you dont like your hair parted a certain way or blow dried with volume etc, you gotta let the stylist know...we cant read minds! lol

 

[Shelley]

Thanks everyone for your tips and advice!

That is true they can't read our minds. I'll update once I have the blow dry.

She doesn't charge much more compared to the other place I was going to. It's only $8.00 extra (for cut, color, blowdry).

 

[Shelley]

Update..

I made an appointment earlier this week for a blow dry. The stylist is friendly and talkataive (not overly talkative which is fine too). I liked her. She seems more upbeat etc.

Anyways I decided to book an appt for a cut and color. She had a cancellation yesterday (Saturday) so I had my hair done. I think she did a great job. She did a consulatation beforehand on what I wanted, she made some suggestions, spoke about the cut etc. My hair, according to her, is in excellent condition.

The other salon, the stylist never said much or if I asked questions or for suggestions during the consultation.She never seemed interested. She wasn't that friendly.

Anyways I like the cut she gave me and color. My hair beforehand was just slightly past my shoulders and now it's just above. She gave me some great tips on blow drying and styling.

It's a Redken based salon.

Funny enough I always thought my hair was on the finer said but she said no its quite thick. She made some suggestions on Redken styling products I should use.

So I'm quite happy with this salon. The receptionist are nice, the atmosphere of the salon is warm.

With the price and tax it's only $11.00 more compared to where I use to go. By the time I pay for gas or bus fare to the old salon it's really not that much more.

They gave me some coupons for a free deep conditioning treatment, free brow wax, $10.00 off my next service and $15.00 off my next retail purchase.

Plus they have esthetics services.

Yay!

 

[Scarlette]

Sounds like you found an awesome place! I am having similar problems, but I think it's mainly because I don't speak up enough about what the stylist is doing. She doesn't talk much and yeah, she's intimidating, too. I told her during our consult that I wanted to keep my hair long and not cut layers, but to trim off the dead ends. hahahahahah.. yeah right. Like 6 different layers were chopped into my head in the back and I didn't notice because she used scissors the whole time. Usually I freak out when they bust out the thinning shears. I have really thick hair and it's bleached blonde, except the ends of my hair won't take bleach, so I even asked her to do my roots a few times and try to bleach some pieces to see if the red would come out of my hair. My roots came out yellow and she toned my hair, which then turned purple/grayish. When my friend came to visit me at the salon she was freaked out by the toning job. Ughh.. so yeah. I need to find a stylist that has experience with platinum blonde hair!