Many of us have been going to the same hairstylist for years. We see them as friends, confidants and counselors. We rely on our hairstylists to make us look and feel good and make decisions about our color or style to enhance our view of ourselves.
And when we are in a “fix”, hairstylists often will step up and go beyond the call of duty with a house visit (I had one at 7:30 a.m. before an important event) or even a hospital visit for a trim.
But what happens when your hairstylist leaves the salon you may have been going to for years? You then need to find another to become used to your unique cowlicks or make that special concoction that gets the color just right.
It is stressful to make the change even if inside you have been wondering what it might be like to go to someone else. You may ask yourself, “How will I trust another hairstylist the way I have with this one?”
Depending on what the circumstances of your separation with the hairstylist there are certain actions to take. If the hairstylist has changed salons you have two choices to make.
First, you can try someone else in the current salon as it too has become a familiar refuge. You probably have become accustomed to the location and ambience of the salon. Even if you find and follow your old hairstylist, you may not like her new location nearly as much.
If you still decide to follow your old hairstylist, according to the New York Times, you can likely find her through Facebook or Twitter, if you have taken the time to learn your stylist’s last name. The old salon may give you her new location, unless your hairstylist has decided to open an office so close by that she is now in competition with the old salon.
Unfortunately, sometimes your old hairstylist may be moving entirely out of state so you must seek a new one. Starting with a new hairstylist is then a little like dating -- you must feel some chemistry with the person. You may want to try a few new ones recommended by friends before you settle in to the one you feel most comfortable with.
Obviously what is most important is how the person does your hair but still, having someone standing within three feet of you while they are running their hands through your hair for over 30 minutes is an intimate contact of sorts.
You want to feel comfortable with the person. Make small talk and see if they have kids, like to travel or have other shared things in common. It is best to stay away from controversial subjects such as politics.
In the end, it is how well they do your hair that matters most. Make sure to communicate your likes and dislikes to a new hairstylist. If they are not able to follow your desires, then before you get too used to them, you might consider still checking out others.
The tendency is to just put up with a less than totally pleased result to not offend the person. Don’t do that, our hair is very important to how we feel about ourselves overall.
Having a relaxed relationship with the person who does your hair and a satisfactory consistent result each time is what you are after.
Sources:
PUTTING YOUR HAIR IN NEW HANDS. BY HILARY HOWARD
PUBLISHED: NOVEMBER 2, 2011. NEW YORK TIMES . Retrieved Dec. 3 2011 at
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/03/fashion/trust-issues-and-a-new-hair-st...
The Long and Short of a Great Relationship With Your Hair Stylist. TLC Style: a Discovery Company. Retrieved Dec. 3 2011 at
http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/style/hair-stylist-relationship.htm
Michele is an R.N. freelance writer with a special interest in woman’s healthcare and quality of care issues. Other articles by Michele are at www.helium.com/users/487540/show_articles
Edited by Jody Smith