Salon Consultations 101
With so many different hair styles and trends out there, it’s hard to avoid hair envy. Try scrolling through the Instagram #hair page without being just a little bit jealous of that girl with the super cute rose gold ombre, or the one with the icy blonde balayage. Everyone gets that itch every once in a while to completely redo their look. So what happens when you decide to scratch it? You take the plunge and call your stylist saying you need a change. Sure, you may have an Instagram picture to go off of. But how do you make sure that your new look comes out looking just how you want it? A consultation.
In this post, I’m going to give you some insight into why booking a salon consultation with your stylist before making any major changes is an absolute must. A quick consultation with your stylist will put you both on the same page, address any possible issues that may arise, and can potentially give you new ideas that you hadn't thought about before.
Making a radical change? This process took a salon consultation, as well as multiple visits, lightening sessions, and sets of extensions. Make sure to schedule a salon consultation with your stylist so they can pull off every component of your perfect new ‘do. Keep reading to see pictures of the entire process!
Let’s face it: Sometimes, despite our best efforts, we’ve all made style or beauty mistakes that are downright embarrassing. Whether it was my barely-there eyebrow phase, or my neon hair phase, I’ve deleted more Facebook and Instagram pictures from middle and high school than I can count. It happens to all of us, because it’s easy to overlook a glaring error in your beauty routine or pick a style that might not fit into your life well.
For example, I love all the amazing balayages that are popular right now. But I stay away from getting one because I know I'm not the best with maintenance. (My hair has been super easy to style since having a Keratin Express Treatment. Click here to read my blog about it!) The most perfect style in the world isn't really perfect if it also doesn't fit into your routine and habits. That’s where your stylist can step in. Along with knowing the technicalities of HOW to do your hair, stylists are also able to make suggestions that will customize the style you want perfectly into to your life.
So What Is A Salon Consultation?
A salon consultation is a quick visit with your stylist or aesthetician to go over what you want and need in your next visit. They’re not necessary every time you get your hair done. If you’re a regular and have been getting your haircut by the same stylist in the same way for 10 years, naturally you don’t need any advice on what you want to get done. However, if you’re seeing a new stylist, visiting a new salon, or making a change to your current hairstyle it should be your first step.
Why Is A Consultation Necessary?
1. Lifestyle
It’s great to go in with an idea of what you’re looking for, but it’s also smart to let your stylist make suggestions. Our stylists won't sway you away from what you want, but they can ask questions you may not have considered. Does your job require you to wear your hair up? Are you able to take a lot or a little time for styling in the mornings? Are there certain products that you absolutely can't live without? These are all factors that go into choosing your perfect style that works for your life. The more custom tailored they’re able to make your appointment, the more likely you are to love your new hairstyle afterward.
2. Time
Everyone's hair type is different. Differences in hair length, thickness, type, and curl patterns can change your appointment drastically. Consultations can help the stylist get a gist of your appointment, ensuring they have enough time to do what you've requested. Getting to see you and your hair in person beforehand is a major plus. Your stylist wants to give you the optimal amount of time to make sure you're feeling well taken care of and not rushed out of their chair.
3. Reflect On Your Last Appointment
Didn’t like your bangs the last time? Felt your hair color made you look a little bit washed out? Now is the time to tell your stylist of any concerns you had from your previous appointment. So, be honest. Communication is key if you want to make sure you hair comes out exactly as you want it.
4. Different terms/lingo
Sometimes it’s hard to describe exactly what you want. I love beauty and style, but even I’m not a walking hair lingo dictionary. If you scroll through any stylist’s Instagram, they’re likely using more hashtags than you can count. From balayages to mermaid hair to platinum pixie cuts, there’s such a huge range of hairstyles and terms that describing exactly what you want can get messy. A consultation, especially one with pictures and references, is way more helpful to a stylist than just booking and booking an appointment and just saying you want “highlights,” when you actually want a “balayage.”
Nearly 3 million posts on this hashtag alone makes pinning down what you want in a look to one specific photo is almost impossible. Find multiple to show your stylist during your consultation and they'll figure out the rest.
There are so many different features of hairstyles to consider, such as tone, shade, and cut. So, its a great idea to have multiple picture examples highlighting different things you want. Having multiple pictures where you can point to different features is ideal. Think: "I like the bangs on this one. I want the length on this one but with more layers. The color on this picture is perfect.”
This method is so much more personalized to what you want than a single picture. Now, your stylist can piece together your perfectly customized look.
5. Feedback On Ideas
Stylists know what is and isn’t recommended with certain hair types and best ways to frame your face. So, they have valuable background knowledge that can help you make your final decisions. They'll be able to tell you any effects a service may have on your hair type. For me, this is a huge plus because my curly hair is prone to dryness. So knowing beforehand that a treatment will dry it out even more may change my decision. This is also helpful for maintenance like I mentioned before. If you show your stylist a picture and the maintenance requirements are something out of your comfort zone, you may want to opt for an easier style.
6. Specialty Appointments
Some hair appointments take even longer. For example, if you have very thick or curly hair, or damaged and brittle hair. A stylist will cut short, fine hair differently than they'll cut long curly hair. If this is you, you share my stress of going into a stylist. Do I want a different look? Yes. Do I want to destroy my hair in the process? Definitely not. A consultation is a perfect way to address any concerns or have your questions answered before your appointment.
The same goes if you're looking to get hair extensions. A consultation is required to color match your hair perfectly and pick out the desired length. Then, your extensions are custom ordered just for you. Customization is key to finding your perfect new look. So, consultations are necessary because your specific hair extensions need to be ordered in advance of your installation appointment.
Need Proof? Check Out The Dramatic Change In The Photos Below. This Transformation Was Only Achievable After A Successful Consultation
These pictures are the before and after extensions were added. These extensions were custom ordered and dyed for the client to make sure they perfectly matched her new color. Starting from the first picture to the last, it's hard to tell that's even the same person. For a change this drastic, a consultation was needed to talk through all of the steps that would take place.
Scheduling One Appointment Is A Pain, Now I Have To Schedule Two?
At Oliver's we want to give you the highest quality experience every time, so we make sure to offer consultations to all of our clients free of charge. They only take about 15 minutes and can give both you and your stylist peace of mind. After a quick meeting, you'll both know exactly what you want on the day of your appointment. Plus, you’ve done your due diligence with your stylist. Good hair karma all around.
If you can't pull off a consultation, another option is an "online" consultation. (I understand having a busy schedule, no judgement.) First, snap a couple selfies of your hair that show its different features (length, thickness, color). Make sure these are in the best lighting possible so they're accurate. Next, gather all of the #hairgoals pictures you've compiled of what you want your end look to be. Like I mentioned before, the best method is to have multiple pictures that you can pull inspiration from. Then, pass both of these onto your stylist so they can figure out what it'll take to pull off your before and after. While an in-person consultation is still preferable, this is a great alternative to simply booking an appointment without giving your stylist an idea of what your hair's starting point is.
Other Areas For Consultations
Changing up your hairstyle isn’t the only type of appointment that might need a consultation. If you’re receiving any type of permanent makeup application, Oliver’s requires a consultation. These procedures are partially permanent and require some thought before committing to. Microblading, for example, potentially lasts for years and can completely change your eyebrow shape and the entire look of your face.
A full blown consultation separate from your appointment isn’t necessary for most services. However, it’s always a good idea to let your aestheticians or masseuses know of any potential issues before an appointment. That sore shoulder you neglected to tell your masseuse about has the potential to make your massage seriously unpleasant. So, just give them a heads up on any areas that may need special attention. Same goes with any skin issues (like eczema or psoriasis) of you’re receiving a skin treatment. Spa treatments are for relaxation, so make sure you let your professional know of anything that might prevent that.
We Want You To Love Your Look
At the end of the day, we want our clients to have great relationships with our service providers. The better your stylist or aesthetician knows you, the better the end product is. Salon consultations are a great way to not only make sure you’re getting exactly what you want from a service, but also to form a bond with your stylist or aesthetician so in the future so they know your tastes and can give you suggestions. Oliver’s has many of clients that have been coming in for years that know exactly what they want. If you’re a new client or trying out something different, book a consultation to get that Instagram-worthy hairstyle.
If you want to change up your look and are interested in having one of our stylists help you out, schedule an appointment by calling us at (610) 366-8808 or booking online.
Hi! I’m Cristina Manica and I need a consultation for a balayage with Carmen. Please let me know when she will be available.
Hi Cristina,
We would be more than happy to schedule you a consultation. Give us a call at (610)-366-8808 to find an available time with Carmen!