Choosing a new hairstyle can be a big deal and is usually something that people take their time deciding. But, choosing a new hair stylist – now THAT’s a major decision. A good hair stylist is worth their weight in gold, and for many people it’s a relationship that can easily span years, if not decades. So, making sure that your hair stylist not only knows how to cut, color, and style your type of hair, but also is someone that you can trust and get along with is key.
Assess Your Needs
Some people are looking for a simple shampoo and cut, while others pop into the salon every two weeks for a color touch up. Think about how often you go to the salon and what services you usually require to begin to assess what you need your new hair stylist to handle. If getting new color is a big part of your beauty routine, finding a stylist who specializes in color is going to important. Likewise, if you usually wear your hair short, finding a stylist who is known for shorter cuts can be the right way to go.
Create a Budget
Anyone who’s ever visited more than one salon knows that prices can vary pretty wildly between salons depending on a whole host of different factors. Salons in expensive cities will often charge a premium; hair stylists that have been trained by master stylists will also cost more. Look at your personal budget and your monthly salon routine to determine how much you can afford to pay for haircuts, color, and other salon services to help narrow down your search.
Ask Friends for Referrals
Once you have an idea of what you’re looking for in terms of stylist services and what your budget is, it’s time to tap your friends. Reaching out to your personal network can help you find some great referrals. And besides, who better to trust with finding a new stylist than your friends.
Make an In-Person Visit
After getting a few referral leads from your personal network, always make a personal visit to the salon. Before committing to a new hair stylist, you’ll want to check out their salon to make sure it’s clean and sanitary; to see the stylists work; and also to speak to some of the other customers there to find out how they long they’ve been customers and how they feel about your potential new stylist.
