11 Things Your Hairstylist Won't Tell You

The Truth About Your Cut, Style, and What Your Stylist Thinks About Your Hair

We all want great hair, and it starts with a haircut. You may bring in a photo, or describe what you want in your hairstyle to a "T", but are your expectations for a new look on par with what your hair can actually do? Does the celebrity style that you've been coveting match up with amount of time that you're willing to spend on your hair? Here are 11 things to consider, and points that your stylist likely won't say out loud, before you go in for your next haircut.

1.  Great Hair Takes Work. Sorry. 
On some level, if you want your hair to look good it's going to take some work. Unless you have perfect hair, with great body, beautiful thickness, and absolutely no issues whatsoever, you will need to do something with your hair to make it look like that photo you brought in. By the way, I'm pretty sure that the aforementioned perfect hair doesn't really exist.

2.  Surprise! Celebrities Have Hair Just Like You 
Celebrities are born just as human as you and me, with one exception when it comes to hair. Celebrities hire teams of stylists, use extensions, wigs, top of the line hair products and processes that cost a fortune. Unless you're willing to pay those kind of prices, it's probably not realistic to have celebrity perfect hair everyday.

3.  You Want Wash and Go Hair? Me too. 
The truth is, very few people on this planet have wash and go hair. Many people look like they do (like the girl you work with whose hair is perfect all day long), but they have to work at it. They experiment with the right shampoo, get regular haircuts, try out new styling techniques, and they probably use product in their hair. By the way, we all secretly hate the girl with the perfect all day hair. It's okay.

4.  You Need to Use Hair Products 
If you don't want to use product in your hair, don't expect your hair to look like you did. Have you ever noticed how many products your stylist uses during your haircut/blowout? If you're still using Panteen ProV and Aqua net, it's time to find out why professional products are superior and will actually help you achieve salon hair everyday. Bottom line: new professional products are awesome and could give you a brand new appreciation for your hair. 

5.  You're Using That Product Wrong 
Just because you're using product, doesn't mean you're using it right. If you're one of those girls that have been using the same product you used 10 years ago (it's okay, you don't have to admit it out loud), it is time for a change. Ask for advice on your hair products, and implement that advice at home. If your product isn't working out, ask to exchange your product for something that will work for you. 

6.  Change is Good. Embrace Change. 
If you ask for a new look, but style your hair the same way you always have, you will likely not be happy with your hair's result. In fact, it will probably look like it always did. A haircut is simply the foundation to a great look. Styling is key. Ask your stylist for advice on properly styling your new cut. 

7.  If at First You Don't Succeed, Try Try Again 
Practice makes perfect. Try new things with your hair and re-try them when you don't get it right the first time. Trust me, even hairstylist have a hard time blowing out their own hair, and it takes some skill to learn to curl your hair with a flat iron. Rome wasn't built in a day, neither is great hair.

8.  You're Asking for the Impossible 
Have real expectations with your hair. If you're only willing to put 5 minutes of styling into a hair style that should require 30 minutes, expect your hair to look that way. Ask your stylist to help you choose a look that matches the level of effort that you're willing to put in and that matches your hair's texture.

9.  Long Hair Takes More Work 
The more hair you have, the more time it will take to style. Which is a real drag if you were "blessed" with ridiculously thick hair, but it's just a truth that you have to accept.

10.  Your Hair is Different Now, Deal With It 
A salon chair is not a time machine. Hair changes over time as we age, just like our skin and our rear ends. It sucks, but we can only realistically work with the present condition of your hair. As much as you'd love to have your hair look the way it did 15 or 20 years ago, you will be much happier if you work with what you have, at the present moment, instead of focusing on what you once had.

11.  Your Hairstylist Ain't Happy Unless You're Happy 
Your hairstylist sincerely wants you to look good and feel good about your hair. You represent her talent, experience, skill, and her good name. We honestly stress about your hair, and we want you to feel good about it. We want you to love it, to tell your friends about it, and to come back in six weeks with enthusiasm about it. If you don't love it, talk to your stylist about it. And if you do love it, tell her about that, too.

​This article first appeared on About Style