I recently wrote this article for my website after a bad hairdressing experience. I'd love to know what you all think of my thoughts... 
Being an ex-hairstylist I’m rather picky about the kind of service I receive when I get my hair cut. Ultimately a good hair cut is what I’m paying for but that alone doesn’t excuse unprofessionalism and poor working ethics. It’s not uncommon for stylists/technicians to become lazy with their work, taking short cuts and doing the bare minimum of what’s required. How do I know this? After eight years working for a top London salon I’ve developed a sharp eye for detail and can easily spot an unprofessional, short-cutting hairstylist, and unfortunately there is a fair few of them!
Tip 1: If I could give only one word of advice to anyone visiting a new hair salon, it would be to greet your new hairstylist with a handshake. A firm shake suggests confidence and competence, a soft, limp handshake could suggest the opposite.
Tip 2: The first few minutes of meeting your new stylist are crucial! During the initial consultation the stylist should ask some key questions in helping them understand what you require. Firstly ‘What would you like?” – If you’re not asked this don’t proceed any further, get out of the chair and run! “How long has it been since your last haircut?” – From this the stylist should be able to understand how the hair grows and what improvements may be needed to improve longevity and ease of care. Before scissors are put to hair make sure both you and your stylist are on the same page, if you’re unsure they know what you want don’t hesitate to explain in more depth. Personally I think the hair consultation should continue through until the finishing products are applied. Don’t feel you can’t ask questions once the the stylist starts snipping away, it’s not too late!
Tip 3: Experience doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get the best cut possible, it’s not rare that the cheaper, less experienced stylists will produce a much better hair cut compared to their busier, more senior colleagues. Just because someone’s a ‘Style Director’ with 20 years of experience and charging £80 for a hair cut doesn’t guarantee you with the cut of your dreams. Often the newer qualified stylists produce much better work as they are less busy and have time to work more precisely.
Being an ex-hairstylist I’m rather picky about the kind of service I receive when I get my hair cut. Ultimately a good hair cut is what I’m paying for but that alone doesn’t excuse unprofessionalism and poor working ethics. It’s not uncommon for stylists/technicians to become lazy with their work, taking short cuts and doing the bare minimum of what’s required. How do I know this? After eight years working for a top London salon I’ve developed a sharp eye for detail and can easily spot an unprofessional, short-cutting hairstylist, and unfortunately there is a fair few of them!
Tip 1: If I could give only one word of advice to anyone visiting a new hair salon, it would be to greet your new hairstylist with a handshake. A firm shake suggests confidence and competence, a soft, limp handshake could suggest the opposite.
Tip 2: The first few minutes of meeting your new stylist are crucial! During the initial consultation the stylist should ask some key questions in helping them understand what you require. Firstly ‘What would you like?” – If you’re not asked this don’t proceed any further, get out of the chair and run! “How long has it been since your last haircut?” – From this the stylist should be able to understand how the hair grows and what improvements may be needed to improve longevity and ease of care. Before scissors are put to hair make sure both you and your stylist are on the same page, if you’re unsure they know what you want don’t hesitate to explain in more depth. Personally I think the hair consultation should continue through until the finishing products are applied. Don’t feel you can’t ask questions once the the stylist starts snipping away, it’s not too late!
Tip 3: Experience doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get the best cut possible, it’s not rare that the cheaper, less experienced stylists will produce a much better hair cut compared to their busier, more senior colleagues. Just because someone’s a ‘Style Director’ with 20 years of experience and charging £80 for a hair cut doesn’t guarantee you with the cut of your dreams. Often the newer qualified stylists produce much better work as they are less busy and have time to work more precisely.
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