Effective client/stylist communication is at the center of every great hair service, and let’s be honest, hair appointments are just so much more relaxing when we feel certain our hairstylist has the same look in mind that we do. Today, Kel is offering a few tips to help you make the most of your salon conversations and leave with the hairstyle that is truly right for you.
Let's start with the one that we hear most clients feeling nervous around:
Tip #1: Verbiage and terminology aren’t everything
We do NOT expect you to speak hair fluently, and it is completely okay if you do not know all the correct service terms or even all the best descriptor words to use. These can be helpful, but they are not required to effectively communicate with us. We are happy to go through the consultation and help you figure out what it is that you do or don’t like.
Tip #2: Bring photos (but watch out for AI)
A picture is worth a thousand words! Arguably, one of the most effective ways to communicate what you want to your stylist is by bringing a picture with you, either of yourself or something you've looked up online. We love photos because they allow us to be on the same page. If I say “red” and you say “red,” those could mean two different things, but if we're both looking at the same image, there’s really not a lot of room for interpretation there—the picture says one specific red.
One thing I would say to look out for, though, is AI images. AI images are not a great thing to bring to your appointment because they set expectations that often cannot be met. The pictures are overly perfect, overly doctored, and they're just not real. Cues that an image might be AI are a lack of flyaways around the head, blurred backgrounds, and just generally, the hair looking too good to be true or really, really perfect.
Bonus tip: As much as possible, try to have your pictures ready prior to your appointment. Because we are working with a set amount of time, coming in prepared allows us to make the most of every minute.
Tip #3: Be honest and speak up
Feel free (and please!) speak up during your appointment. If there’s something that you don’t like or there’s something that could be tweaked a little bit more to your liking, that’s okay! Please let us know. Our goal is to make sure you leave happy, and we can't do that if we don't know that you are unhappy. We promise our feelings will not be hurt; a hair service is always a collaborative effort, and it really helps us to know what isn’t working for you so we have a chance to fix it.
Sometimes there is also a learning curve when we’re both new to each other, so especially if it’s our first time working together, speaking up and letting us know what you like is really helpful.
Tip #4: It's okay to say no
Here at Ginger & Maude, we are very consent-forward. Before we start a service, we want to ask if you have any sensitivities to textures, scents, etc., and before we apply something to your hair, we’re going to ask you if it’s okay first. Remember, it’s always okay to say no. We won’t be offended.
Tip #5: Tell us what finishing style feels best for you
Do you blow-dry your hair or prefer air-dried styles? If you want something a little more natural, a little more lived-in and closer to the way you usually wear it at home, we’re happy to accommodate that for you. Just let us know. It is very helpful to bring in a picture of yourself (we just cannot overemphasize how much we love photos) so we can see how your hair lives out in the wild and we can try to replicate that and give you a finishing style that is true to you.
We want every experience in a Ginger & Maude Hair Salon to be your best experience. Let’s work together to make that happen.
Ready to schedule? Book with Kel at the link below or by calling/texting 971.267.4080. They work out of all of our Portland hair salons!
P.S. On the topic of communication, if for any reason you feel like you need a little more time to hash out the nitty-gritty details of your look with your stylist, feel free to book a fifteen-minute, complimentary Hair Design Consultation by calling or texting the salon.