Choosing the Right Hair Salon for You

How do you know which salon will work best for you? How do you know how qualified the stylists at a particular establishment are? How do you know whether or not their style and personality is a match for you? With the price that stylists charge nowadays you have to be able to trust that the one you choose is listening to you and can understand exactly what you want. Here are some things to look for in choosing a hair salon to determine whether or not the establishment is right for you.

Not surprisingly, quality stylists work at quality establishments. You generally do not find hairdressers that botch color or make errors in cutting and/or styling at reputable institutions. Because of this, it is recommended that you choose a hair salon that is known nationally for its quality care. This type of establishment is more often than not one of many franchised or chain shops that follow strict guidelines in hiring stylists. At these establishments, stylists are usually required to follow stringent industry rules, and are, in fact, competent at what they do.

Once you have found a nationally reputable hair salon, the next thing to consider is hygiene. Obviously, for you to feel comfortable with an establishment and its stylists working on your hair, you have to feel comfortable lounging in said establishment and allowing its materials and products to touch your hair and body. As you enter a shop the neatness and cleanliness should be impeccable. The floors, chairs, counter and sinks should all be spotless and free of debris. The stylists should be well kept, clean and odor-free. Also, take a look at how the establishment cleans and manages things like combs, scissors, rollers and sinks, which many people will routinely use time and again. If you are not comfortable with what you see, than the hair salon is not for you.

If you can make it through the doors and feel good about the cleanliness and hygiene of an establishment, another area to pay close attention to is the process involved in shampooing. As you prepare to get shampooed, before a drop of water comes in contact with you your stylist should be asking you what types of products and treatments you have used on your hair. He or she should be probing you with questions trying to discover what has worked well for you and what has not, what you like and what you do not like. If the hairdresser passes this test, the next thing to look for is the quality of the wash itself. Is the stylist thorough in washing? Does the shampooing include a scalp massage? If not, this can be a red flag. The scalp massage is actually very important in offering you a positive experience as a client. Not only does this process calm and relax you, but it also improves your hair's general condition.

Okay, so the establishment passes the shampoo test. Now what? The final thing to do is make sure that the shop works with images. Your ideas can be more clearly explained with pictures and your stylist will be more likely to know exactly what you are looking for with the help of an image. If this concept is being properly used along with all of the previous guidelines, chances are you have found your place!