How to get what you want at the salon: 5 ways to avoid looking like a pageant queen

Getting what you want, and certainly what you pay for should be part of every salon visit, but often that doesn’t happen. And while hairstylists and makeup artists are obviously the authorities in every salon situation, at the end of the day you have to live with your new Miss Universe-esque makeup and highlights if there’s a miscommunication.

Upon sitting in the salon chair, you will note the underlying etiquette and general vibe of the place. And the less informed you are, the more basic your blowout will be. Simply put, your knowledge of the salon and what goes on in there is the best way to know what you’re signing up for. The next most important thing? An open line of communication. It’s imperative to be upfront and honest with your stylist/artist. Regard your visit as your turn in the director’s chair, so you’re calling the shots. And without an articulate plan of action, your Kate Moss cut could quickly take a turn for the worst. So when you’ve made the time to sit down with your stylist, ensure you’re asking the right questions and that you’ve vetted a handful of pictures and musings. Provide the expert the tools they need to give you what you want. Help them help you, if you will. Open up about your hair routine from start to finish, fill them in on the minutes to hours you spend with heat styling tools and be forthright about the products you’re currently coveting.

And while no one is at fault here, a meeting of the minds somewhere in the middle is in order. So in order to avoid strong-arming your stylist, we spoke with CoverGirl Makeup Pro Veronica Chu and Pantene Pro-V Consulting Stylist Justin German for their take on the talk. It’s finally time to understand why you asked for Gisele and left looking like a Kardashian…circa 2007.

1. Be explicit about everything
Rather than playing the blame game and pointing your heavily polished fingers at someone, it’s time to assess the situation at hand. If you walk in asking for your dead ends to be demolished, expect to see inches falls to the floor. If you happen to bring in a picture of Kim Kardashian, expect to see your contour look more like a paint by numbers picture than a vacation glow. With makeup on our mind, Chu settled the score and cleared the air. “A lot of the time when people don’t get the look they want, it’s because something was lost in translation. When you make the appointment, make sure you have a solid picture of what you want and can clearly explain it.” So in order to walk out sans volatile exchange, it’s important to meet somewhere in the middle. Try not to push your stylist out of their comfort zone, but don’t choose the most austere style on the menu. That grey area in the middle will prove to be your best cut or contour yet.

2. Know exactly what you want and bring in pictures
How can you saunter in and sashay out with a smile on your face? If you’re a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl, don’t present a picture of Beyoncé. Chu adds that “one of the biggest things is finding reference images that clearly showcase what you want. A lot of the time I’ll hear, ‘I want this look, but I don’t like wearing lip color’ when the image is all about a bold lip. It’s great to tweak a look to fit your personal style, but be prepared to clearly communicate exactly what you want. An image that’s all about a statement lip won’t help if your only comment on it is ‘I don’t like to wear lip colour.’ You also need to say, ‘but I do love the full, natural lashes in this photo.’ If you want a red carpet look, be sure to mention that when you make the appointment so the artist can book the right amount of time to make it happen.” And when it comes to achieving the style you’re set on, German adds that “in the end, people probably do end up with a polished look because they reference a polished celebrity image a lot of the time. To avoid that, bring in a photo of undone hair instead of saying, ‘I want this, but less messy.’ Try to focus in on a photo of a person with similar hair to your own to ensure you can achieve the look in your day-to-day life.” Your satisfaction is entirely dependent on your vision.

3. Speak up when things veer off course
From your blowouts to your next makeup application, the outcome is dependent on ability to articulate your wants and needs. Chu notes that one of the most effective ways of getting what you want is an open and honest discussion with the artist. “If the artist is doing something you don’t like, speak up! They will be able to change the look, or explain the rationale behind what they’re doing. When it comes to curling hair, for example, the stylist may do tight curls in the salon, knowing that between the appointment and the event, they’ll loosen into the beautiful, undone waves you want.” And when it comes down to trusting someone chopping off inches, or moving you out of ombré and into balayage territory, German says that “one of the best ways to control the outcome is to do your research when choosing a stylist. Each hairstylist has his or her own style so it’s really about finding someone who matches yours. Also be sure to stress that you’re happier with “less” —less product, less styling etc.” Just remember, without your necessary navigation, you’re going to end up spending hard earned savings on an unfortunate cut and colour job.

4. Know your comfort zone (and your stylist’s)
Do artists guide their clients into a territory of undone versus polished? Or do the masters of our manes and makeup make us look more ‘done’ than cool because it’s the salon standard? Chu thinks “it’s a mix. Sometimes a polished look is the safe route, especially if the artist is used to always giving you the same look. It just becomes your signature style and an easy go-to. A truly great stylist will discuss what you want every time you sit in their chair and when they hear it’s time for a change, they’ll try to push you just outside your comfort zone for an amazing look.” When it comes to styling your hair post-colour and cut, German thinks overly finished is a safe avenue for a lot of stylists and clients. “Some stylists want it to look like they did something to the hair to show [off] their work, whether it be on people walking out of their salon or [models] in a magazine. They feel that because they’re a hairstylist, the end result should look styled. In reality, while the trend is ‘less is more,’ it takes a lot of talent to perfect the undone look.”

5. Embrace your style with confidence
“In my mind, whatever the client is most comfortable in is going to be the best option for them,” says Chu. “Every style looks best when it’s worn with confidence.” In the end, perceive your time spent in the salon as your time to speak up, from start to finish. Your expert still has a handful of regulars on the horizon, so that in-depth chat that happened months ago might be a distant memory to your stylist. In order to get what you want, ask the right questions and take your next appointment by the reigns with these five tips.

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