What Is A Hair Consultation At The Salon?

20 June 2022 | Inside Tierney Salons

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Have you ever left a hair salon fighting back tears because a hairdresser completely missed the mark on your hair goals? Let’s be real, when you have a vision for your hair, it’s heartbreaking when your stylist gets it wrong.

To avoid that feeling of utter betrayal, you should be getting a hair consultation at every salon appointment.

So, what is a hair consultation at salons? We’ll show you how it’s done at Tierney Salons; after all, we’re the salon that listens to you!

 

What is a hair consultation at a salon?

Whilst a hair salon consultation sounds like a very formal procedure, there is nothing to worry about. A hair consultation at a salon is just an opportunity to discuss your hair goals before your appointment, whether you have a solid vision or you need some guidance.

It’s really nothing more than a friendly conversation about your hair to ensure that you and your stylist are on the same page. Let’s delve into what happens during a hair consultation:

 

What happens in a hair consultation?

After you’ve had a warm welcome from your hairdresser and taken a seat, they will take the lead during the consultation by asking you questions about your hair. These will be based on your individual situation, however generally, they might ask:

 

• Are we changing or maintaining your hair?
• What are your overall hair goals?
• What do you think about your hair at the moment? Anything you like or dislike?
• What has been done to your hair in the past year?

 

Once your hairdresser has all the information they need, they will recommend the services and / or treatments you will need to get your dream hair. This is your chance to take it all in, confirm that you’re happy and ask any questions.

You might want to ask your hairdresser the following questions if they don’t cover them:

 

• What is (specific service)?
• How long will the process take?
• How much will the services cost?
• What products will be used?

 

At Tierney Salons, we understand that discussing your hair goals can be daunting, especially if you haven’t quite got them figured out. But, not to worry, our team of fabulous stylists always pull through with some amazing recommendations tailored just for you.

 

How to prepare for a hair consultation

When it comes to your hair salon consultation, preparation is key. Whilst we can help you figure out your hair goals during the consultation, it never hurts to have a vague idea of what you want.

So, how can you prepare for a hair consultation?

 

1. Reflect on your current hair situation

To help you conjure up a few hair goals, start by looking at your hair now.

What do you like about your hair, and what do you dislike? Have you faced any issues with your hair, such as breakage or dryness? Is your hair too high maintenance?

For example, if you love your blonde lengths but hate how quickly your roots grow out, making your hair very high maintenance, you might consider a balayage or shadow root.

 

2. Have an idea of your hair goals

So, you’ve taken a long, hard look at your hair in the mirror and now know what you want to change and keep the same. These are your hair goals!

We recommend typing these out, for example in your Notes on your phone. This way, you won’t forget any details when you hop into the salon chair.

 

3. Do some quick research

If you want to take things further and understand what kind of services are out there, there’s nothing a quick Google search won’t help you with. Or better yet, check out some of our previous hair blogs here.

By doing some research, you’ll rule out the chances of wanting something unrealistic. For example, if you look into a scalp bleach, you’ll find that your hair needs to be in good condition to avoid compromising your healthy hair.

 

4. Look for inspiration

Another way to pinpoint some hair goals is to look for some inspiration. You could start by looking at your favourite celebrities or influencers.

A fantastic place to search for inspiration is Pinterest. There, you can scroll through a plethora of aesthetically pleasing hair pics to really spark some inspiration.

Finally, consider looking at your salon’s social media pages. You should find photos of their work, and the best part is, you’ll know for sure that your hair stylist can achieve this look, since they’ve already done it!

If you’re interested in seeing some true hair inspiration, why not check out our Tierney Salons Instagram page here? 

 

5. Gather some photos to show your stylist

As you scour the internet for inspiration, make sure to screenshot anything that fits your hair goals. This way, you can show your hairdresser exactly what you want, which can help with miscommunication.

(Psst…never feel embarrassed about asking your hairdresser if you can show them photos. This makes our lives much easier!)

 

6. Have your hair history in mind

Finally, before your appointment, make sure to have a mental (or physical, if you’re a little forgetful) note of your hair history.

What do we mean by this?

Hair history just means anything that has been done to your hair, for example colouring, bleaching, treatments, etc. 

It’s important for us to know what your hair has been through so we can get a feel for how it will react to certain treatments. For example, if you have box-dyed your hair with a jet black colour, we’re going to have our work cut out if you want to go blonde.

So, be sure to know your hair history for the past year so that your hairdresser can tailor your services accordingly.

 

How long does a hair consultation take?

A hair consultation can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes; it all depends on how drastic your hair goals are. This is why it is so important to arrive to your hair appointments on time, especially if you’re booked in for a hair transformation.

 

Are hair consultations free?

To put it simply – yes, hair consultations at a salon should always be free. As hairdressers, we have your best interest at heart. So, naturally, we want to offer you a free consultation to explore your visions, but also ensure that you trust us with your precious hair!

 

Get a hair consultation at Tierney Salons, Hertford UK

At Tierney Salons, consultations are key. We’re the salon that listens to you, meaning we take your hair goals and bring them to life!

We’re so confident in our ability to delight you that we have a 100% Happiness Guarantee, which you can learn more about here.

So, if you recently went to a hair salon that had you walking out the door with tears in your eyes, come over to Tierney Salons and our Hertford hairdressers will be sure to put a smile on your face.

You can book an appointment here or contact us to arrange your free hair consultation here.