9 Steps to Follow to Get Your Best Hair Cut Ever!!!

1) Think Ahead

Whether you’d like to add a few face-framing layers or chop all your hair off, consider your lifestyle and the time that you're willing to spend on styling. Is your morning routine more get-up-and-get-out-the-door, or do you wake up with enough time to put yourself together? Are you willing to use new styling tools and products? The bottom line: You don't want your new haircut to compete with your everyday routine.

2) Sit for a Consultation

Let your stylist know what you have liked and have not liked about haircuts in the past. Elaborate on as many details as you can — for example, how much time you realistically have to spend on your hair, where you part your hair, if you have a cowlick, etc. The more information you give, the better idea your stylist will have.

3) Bring Visuals

Pictures are very helpful when understanding a client's personal style and taste. This tactic will guarantee that both you and the stylist are on the same page.

4) Be Realistic

Sometimes we just have to face the facts — those of us with a curly mass of hair will probably not be able to get Jennifer Aniston's sleek and straight hair without a lot of work. With that said, if you are bringing in pictures, make sure that the pictures are of a hair type similar to yours.

5) Trust Your Stylist

Don't let yourself be swayed one way or another if you have a firm desire for a certain look. At the same time, listen to your stylist's suggestions and trust his or her expertise. A good stylist will take into account your face shape, complexion, and features, and then create a look that best suits you, all while keeping in mind what you initially wanted.

6) Pay Attention

For decades, women have turned to their hairstylists for quality conversations. But chatting too much can have adverse effects. Be warned: Talking can be distracting for both you and your stylist.

7) Communicate

If you find your stylist is headed in the wrong direction, don't be timid — let him or her know. More often than not, it's easier to make adjustments during your cut than afterward. If you feel uncomfortable any time during the cut, always speak up. Your stylist wants you to be completely satisfied, and for that to happen, you have to be vocal.

8) Inquire Within

During your service, ask questions. Have your stylist show you what products or tools to use and how to apply/use them to complete your look.

9) Be Courteous

This should go without saying, but don't be late — even 15 minutes is pushing it. Your stylist is on a tight schedule just like you, and any ripples in hi/her day can cause stress. Plus, you want a relaxed, easygoing appointment.

How to Protect Your Investment

Yes that's right, your investment in hair color: one of the biggest concerns clients have. Some things that will destroy your color are: 

• Cigarette smoke,
• Perspiration,
• High ammonia color,
• Very hot water when shampooing,
• Chlorine,
• Improper preparation of the hair before color service and 
• Improper formulation.

While it's impossible for your hair not to fade, there are a couple of things you can do to slow down this process:

• Begin with low ammonia content color: ammonia is what aids color to enter the hair. High ammonia colors swell the cuticle too quickly, making it difficult for it to fully close and therefore allowing precious color molecules to rinse out. The content of ammonia in hair color ranges from 0.5% to 5%. Color from companies such as Enjoy, range around 0.5%, where store brand colors meet and many exceed the 5% ammonia content.

• Pre treatments are necessary for low ammonia content color because there isn't enough chemicals in the color to get through the contents in hair such as natural oils, hairspray, etc.

• Cooler water is always recommended when shampooing, color safe shampoo isn't the answer. The root of it is the PH level, where it should me more acid the hair's natural PH level (human hair ranges from 5-6 on the PH Scale).

• Using low PH shampoo will keep your cuticle locked, preserving color molecules. Conditioners containing wax may make hair feel great, but makes it difficult for color to penetrate fully into the hair shaft during a color service. Conditioners should have a small enough molecular weight to penetrate the hair shaft, giving deep moisture without leaving build up. These conditioners are great to use during vacation or summer months, but only to prevent hair from absorbing chlorine or salt water.

We hope this information will help you not only understand why your hair color is not lasting you as long as it should, but to help you prepare and get the most out your next color service. 

Contributed by Designer Stylist Jeff Gemmette

Lighten Up Your Locks for Spring!

 

With warm weather fast approaching, it's time to soften your look with a lighter hue. This season's latest trend is the Melted Ombre. The best part of this technique: it has little to NO maintenance!

 

Jessica Biel, Mila Kunis, and Lauren Conrad all share a similar love for the hottest hair color trend we like to call The Melt. There are many variations of this technique ranging from a soft, subtle natural contrast to a severe dark to light fade. This technique can best be created by correctly sectioning and teasing the hair and jaggedly applying either color or lightener to the uncombed hair.

After processing time is done and the hair is washed, those few strands caught in the teasing rejoin the newly painted ends creating a "faded" look. 

It's sexy, chic, low maintenance, and in style. Now what's better than that? 

Contributed by Junior Stylist: Thomas Monaghan