How to get a style you don’t hate!

HOW TO GET A STYLE YOU DON’T HATE? 

We’ve all left the salon with a hairstyle that we hate…. if only we’d asked for it to be that bit shorter, not as blonde or fewer layers. 

Here are some top tips from Hair colour doctor and expert on Channel 4’s Ten Years Younger (Series 5) Lisa Shepherd to help prevent horrific hairstyles… 

1.Come prepared
It’s very important to do your homework before you go into a salon. Nothing annoys a stylist more that someone coming in and trying to describe what you want without a picture. For example asking for the ‘Victoria Beckham look’ could be a variety of styles…she’s been blonde, short, layered and now brown! Its’ always best to bring in 2 or three pictures of the style you want so your stylist can grasp a good idea! Also be prepared on cost, ring the salon beforehand and get a rough idea of how much your visit will be, so there will be no nasty surprises on the day!  

2. When talking length, show with your hands not inches.
Most people end up leaving the hair salon wishing that the stylist hadn’t been so ‘scissor happy’.  Lets face it; three inches to a hairdresser could mean five to you! The best way to avoid them taking too much length off is by showing them with your hands where you want them to cut up to.  Don’t be afraid to tell them not to go any higher, and if you think they’re cutting too much off then it’s ok to tell them to stop! 

3. Don’t go for a hard to manage style if you don’t have the time to manage it!
It’s hard not to want your hair looking like you’ve just had it styled by a professional everyday. However most of us don’t have the time in the mornings before work to spend hours on our hair, curling, styling and spraying with every product under the sun.  So it’s best to let your hairdresser know how long you’re happy to spend on your hair and how often you want to revisit the salon. Then they can give you a style and colour that requires the right amount of commitment from you!  

4.Listen to good advice
Most people ask me if a colour will suit them before I go ahead. It’s always a good idea to get a stylists opinion, after all they’re the experts and will know if it will suit you and if your hair can take it. For example, if you want to go for a platinum blonde but your stylist suggests a syrupy blonde then ask them to show you with a sample. Feel free to ask them to hold it up to your face so you can get a real idea of how the colour will look.   

5.Reveal your Hairs CV!
Although every stylist would love to you stay loyal to their salon, it’s better to come clean and let them know if you’ve cheated and been elsewhere. Stylists need to know what you’ve had done on your hair previously, whether it’s a chemical treatment or even just home colouring products. Stylists need to know as what you’ve had done before could affect the type, length and cost of your visit! 

6.Don’t leave unhappy!
It’s unlikely after following my tips you’ll be leaving a salon hating your hair anytime soon, but if it does happen to you then the last thing you should do is walk away! It’s always better to tell your stylist you’re not happy with it then and there so they can fix it for you on the spot with less stress.