How to Avoid Breaking up with Your Stylist

It’s a great thing to find a stylist who knows what you want and gives you beautiful results every time. Unfortunately, sometimes this is not always the case. Your relationship with your stylist is just like every other relationship you have, professional or personal—it requires work. If you are having trouble with your stylist, let’s take a look at some possible underlying factors.

Part 1:  Good Communication

Communication is the building block of every relationship. How good we communicate determines the quality and longevity of our relationships. Consider your last visit to the salon. Were you clear and specific when you talked to your stylist about what you wanted? Don’t be afraid to ask for exactly what you want and be as specific as possible. If you are vague, you risk getting unwanted results.

Vague
“Maybe put some layers in and cut off the dead ends.”

Specific
“I’d like long, face-framing layers starting at my chin with no more than two inches taken off the length.”

If you’re not sure what you want or how to articulate it, ask to look at a few hair style books. Every salon should have these available. They will contain hundreds of pictures of different kinds of cuts. Pick one that you like—or a few—and show them to your stylist

Ask for a Professional Opinion

You can also ask your stylist for their opinion. After all, they are there to help you! Professional hair stylists are trained to advise guests on what cut and color would be most flattering. They consider face shape and hair texture. For example, if you have very thick, naturally wavy hair, bangs may not be a good idea. A good stylist will tell you this.

Part 2:  Good Communication

If you follow the steps above but still end up unsatisfied with the result, don’t give up! Talk to your stylist about it. Your satisfaction should be paramount in the mind of any good stylist, so don’t be shy. You can do this easily without offending them. You can lead off by acknowledging their efforts. For example: “I really appreciate the work you put into this, but I think maybe we had a miscommunication. It’s not exactly what I wanted.”

Give A Second Chance

If you are really uncomfortable with the stylist, you can always ask for another one. But keep in mind that cosmetology is a profession based on customer satisfaction. Just like any other professional, a stylist would much rather their Guests be honest with them than leave without saying why. And more often than not, when a Guest is unhappy with a previous visit, the stylist is able to remedy the situation. If you are willing to return, most salons will give you another visit for free, but it’s a good idea to ask the salon about their policy before going back.

Just like any other relationship, it’s never a good idea to run for the hills at the first sign of trouble. Being able to work through problems and reach solutions is a much more satisfying result for all parties, so give your stylist a second chance—they may surprise you!