How to find a new hair salon
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Want to spend less money and still have great hair?
Yesterday, I wrote about how expensive great hair can be, and why I’m wary of cheap hairdressers — but I also promised to share my new strategy for finding a great cheap hair salon.
Here’s the steps I’m taking to make sure my next hairdresser is great as well as cheap.
Step one: Stalk them a little
There are a couple of salons near my house. Because they’re close by, I can wander past regularly and take a quick peek inside. That means, I can spy on the hairdressers inside a little.
One of the salons really doesn’t look promising from the outside (kitsch name, dated decor, scuffed lino) but I’ve seen some great hairstyles wander out.
If they can consistently create good-looking hair for other people, that’s a good sign.
Step two: Start with a blowdry
So, I decided to give them ago — but I’ve learnt my lesson, and I’m not going straight in for the works. Instead, I used a couple of recent TV appearances as an excuse to get a salon blowdry.
The way I figure it, there’s not much they can mess up. If a blowdry is truly terrible, it just needs a wash and it’ll be fine. Unless I smell burning hair, in which case, I’m prepared to leap from the chair and run.
Plus a blowdry at a cheap salon costs $20-30 here, which isn’t a lot of money to risk.
Step three: Check them out
The other benefit of getting a blowdry at a potential new salon, is you get to really check the place out.
When someone styles your hair, you find out a lot about their style as a hairdresser. Do they listen to what you want? Do they scald your scalp with hot water or burn it with the hairdryer? Does your hair look great when they’re finished?
These all tell you useful info about what they’ll be like if you let them do more with your hair.
Step four: Gossip and snoop
While you’re there, chat with your hairdresser. See if you can get them talking about the salon and their co-workers. In one ten-minute gossip session, you can learn a lot about the place — and whether you want to go back.
Keep your eyes open as well. Watch what’s happening to all the customers, because that’s what you’re likely to get if you come back for more.
Step five: Take the plunge
If the place still looks appealing, it’s time to take the plunge. Let them cut and colour your hair to their heart’s content.
I’m not quite at this stage with my potential new salon yet… but maybe I’ll get there soon.
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Timely post! I’m about to move to a new town and will need to find a new hairdresser. Having them style my hair first to try them out is a great suggestion. I just hope that I’ll be able to find a style-worthy occasion in this small town!
I don’t know if this will work for everyone, but I’ve been going to the same salon for 6 years. I noticed a cute, hip salon was opening up and went to chat with the owner. It was a small place and he was the only stylist. I liked how clean it was, liked the products, liked his credentials and his hair so I decided to give it a shot with a simple cut. That cut cost me $20 because he was trying to build up clientelle. He raised prices for new customers every year, but old customers pay the same rate they started at. His cuts are now $60, there are two other stylists and he is incredibly busy and most important, he is an excellent stylist. A haircut costs me $20 (but I leave a big tip) and a full head of highlights is $75. I think it was totally worth the chance I took
Susanna, there are always style-worthy occasions — if you can’t wait for the next wedding or ball, there’s your birthday, the holidays, going out to dinner… if you look hard enough for an excuse to do it, you’re sure to find one!
;)
Sara, I’ll definitely have to try that next time I see a cute salon opening up. Although I wish hairdressers here kept charging their old customers the same amount! I used to go to a salon that increased their rates by over 50% in under 2 years. Way to reward loyal customers, not! For some reason, I stopped going there.
I’d been unsatisfied with the hair dresser I’d been going to, just getting an average boring and not particularly attractive cut. In the end I was sick of it. I found some photos on-line of what I wanted, printed them out and marched into a stylish looking hair salon down the road and asked for a consultation. I spent 10 minutes with a stylist and colourist showing them the pictures and asking questions and getting their input and I was impressed. I made an appointment and never looked back.
It’s a variation on BQs blowdry to try them out idea. The consultation is especially useful if you want or have an unusual hairstyle. If they look at the pictures with the bright red highlights and go “cool, we can do that” rather than “err, umm, it’s a bit bright isn’t it” they’re the hairdresser for you!
Icy, that’s definitely the way to go if you want anything unusual!
My old hairdressers used to put pastel foils through my hair, but try explaining that to a new hairdresser. “Salmon or lilac. No, they weren’t caramel, they were pastel. Yes, they were actually lilac…”
I’ve given up, I can live with normal blonde for a while :)
Wow, lilac foils, how FABULOUS!
Thanks Icy! I loved them — they’re subtle against my shade of blonde, but still a bit different and interesting.
If only I knew a hairdresser who could do them still!
The best way to find your new hairdresser? Get a referral from someone with hair you like, ask them where they go,even if you have to stop them in the street. A good hairdresser will rely on referrals rather than advertising unless they are starting a new salon/venture.
And as for the pastel shade BQ, sounds a bit like the old wella Oyster Beige blonde which has been discontinued as have a lot of pastel colours have over the last 4-5 years. Colour companies are always taking away shades and adding new ones and this means that unfortunately we lose some of the colours we love. It’s just like that great pair of jeans you got a few years ago but they don’t make anymore because waist lines have risen.
Darn! How dare they discontinue my hair colour! Naughty Wella!