Q. What's the best way to insure getting a haircut I like?
A. There is no perfect way to predetermine if you're going to like a haircut, no matter how much you research it, who cuts it or how good the haircut is; "good" is a very subjective thing. But there certainly are ways to improve your chances.
Get a measure of clarity about what you want before you go into the salon. You don't have to know exactly what it is, a good stylist can help you with that, but it's usually better not to walk in frustrated and confused. Look through magazines or online and find some general or specific styles you like.
It's usually best to avoid going to a stylist who is running around like a chicken, doing four things at once. Find someone who cares enough to have a clear, calm, reasonable conversation with you, someone who actually listens and cares. It's usually best to avoid "superstylists" who only want to see how many clients they can get done in a day.
This can be a tough one for people: don't judge the quality of the haircut based on whether you like the way the stylist dried your hair. Most haircuts can be styled a multitude of ways and you will likely do it differently than the stylist. There are many stylists who are great at blow drying but not so hot at cutting. It's the cut that matters. If you would rather your stylist style it a different way, discuss it with them. Determine whether you like the cut by how it works when you style it.
Be realistic about the type of hair you have. Every hair type has its gifts and limitations. A good stylist can make your hair as good as it can be, but if you've got fine, thin hair and want a style that only works on someone with tons of thick locks, you're setting yourself up for struggle.
Many people go to a stylist and spend the entire time chatting. As much as this is the norm, and most stylists can do a nice cut while talking to their client, would you want someone distracting you while you were doing something important that takes great skill? To me, a good stylist knows how to balance this and cares enough about their work to do it. I've seen many stylists over the years who seem to put the haircut below chatting in priority. Find a stylist who is present, paying attention and focused. Of course it's nice to enjoy some conversation, but in my opinion, it must not be so distracting to the stylist that the cut suffers. Art requires concentration.
Be positive. Bring a positive attitude into the salon and you will have a much better chance of encountering positive things. If you're in a negative mood, that's okay, just don't project it. If you're really in a bad mood, it may be best to cancel and come in another day, unless you know the stylist well and it's all okay.
If you do get a haircut you don't like, it will do no good at all to start a war with the stylist. Either leave or, if you feel the stylist to be a mature, well-meaning person with good skills, talk to them in a clear, calm manner. They want you to like the style and want to do what is required to help. This is planet Earth, things don't always go the way we want, no matter how hard we try. It doesn't have to be anyone's fault. Making someone "wrong" is almost always irrelevant and goes nowhere. Everything works better from kindness and clarity.
One way to play it safe is to book a consultation and feel out your relationship with the new stylist. If everything clicks, book a cut.
