ou walk into a new salon for an appointment with a stylist who doesn’t know you or your hair and you are beyond nervous. The recommendations by your best-tressed friends and glowing online reviews don’t matter. From the minute you schedule it, a hair appointment meant to be relaxing, rejuvenating, and rewarding is already becoming stressful, nerve-wracking, and draining. The unknown awaits and you don’t like it. Only a good hair consultation can set your mind at ease.

The First Three Minutes of the Rest of Your Life

As an experienced Manhattan hair colorist, I can attest to the informative power of a hair consultation (or what I like to call the first three minutes of the rest of your life). Follow these general guidelines to ensure that you and your stylist achieve results that will attract praise and have you both gushing with pride long after you leave the salon.

	Expressing what doesn’t work for you or your hair can give your stylists crucial information.

How to Prepare for a Hair Appointment

You have some prep-work to do before going to the salon. Start thinking about what you do and do not like about your hair, as well as what styles work and don’t work. Do you hate when your hair flips out behind your ear? Does your brassy blonde always turn mousey? Expressing what doesn’t work for you or your hair can give your stylists crucial information and let them know what styles, techniques, and colors to avoid.

Hair Products & Hair Styles

Take notice of your daily hair regimen. Do you always use the same products or are you constantly trying out the latest gels, sprays, and potions? Make a list of products that have worked for you and those that have been disastrous. Look for style inspiration from actors, models, or celebrities in magazines. Cut out the images you like and create a look-book. Bring your hair encyclopedia, filled with cuts and colors that you love (or hate), to your new stylist to help him understand your style desires.

Be proud of the preparation you have done and bring out your work during the consultation and not afterwards. I can’t tell you how many times I have been in the middle of working my color magic when a client finally summons the courage to say, “Actually, I brought some pictures of what I was thinking.” Before the styling begins, whip out those glossies of Julianne Moore, Halle Berry, and Jennifer Aniston or, better yet, you at the beach.

I live for those pictures. They speak volumes about my clients and make my job a lot easier.

What Happens During a Hair Consultation?

A proper consultation shouldn’t be long—five minutes at the most. If you find yourself going back and forth with the stylist over what you want, you might suggest that it would be better for you to get more pictures and ideas for another appointment, and then run to another stylist that you trust.

Tell your stylist if you:

• Want your color and style to whisper, talk, or scream
• Want something low maintenance or high maintenance
• Wear particular types of makeup, colors, or styles
• Have a job that determines or counts on your look

And don’t forget, ask them about their specialties!

Listen to Your Stylist

After you have said your piece, listen to the stylist’s ideas. While your ideas and concerns are an important and essential part of the success of the appointment, at a certain point you must concede control. Consider the stylist’s opinions and suggestions and ask for clarification if there is anything you don’t understand. If you’re still a little nervous, even after you have come to a compromise or complete agreement, do the right thing—ask for a glass of wine.

Getting the Results You Want

You are now well-armed for a proper hair consultation that should result in a styling experience exceeding your expectations. Remember that typically apprehensive clients never fully lose their nervous edge, but I find that it doesn’t have to ruin the appointment. Personally, I feel it keeps a good hairdresser on his toes, which can pay off. One of my favorite long-term clients is also one of my most apprehensive. It took me ten appointments to get her to a try a new technique and the result was magnificent. She flicked her hair around in pure joy and, as she winked at me, said, “Oh, Mike P. Now I trust you even more.”