By DAVID MATTESON
Sure your hairstylist has made you happy in the past, but sometimes it is just time to move on. Perhaps it’s an out of control situation, like he has decided to move to a new city or transition into another career. If this is the case, then spite his name and make a voodoo doll of him to take out the frustration you will surely experience in the future search for a perfect hairstylist.
Yet there’s an even worse situation to consider. That is they’ve betrayed the cardinal rule of hairstyling- to make one look beautiful. Maybe the cut isn’t up to par, or the color has left you an over-processed hot mess. Whatever the situation, it’s time to break up. This is one of the rare instances that can justify a break-up by stating, “It’s not me, it’s you”.
So if it’s time to say a final goodbye, don’t crawl into a pitiful hole of despair and suffer by wearing awful knit hats all spring. Instead, follow this list of tips on how to end the relationship.
It’s like ripping off a band-aid. Be assertive. If he or she messes up, then as the customer you have the right to ask for a correction. He is entitled to give a product that makes one happy. Be completely assertive that this corrective service is to be done at no additional cost to you.
Sometimes he or she may demand a return visit, especially if he or she has just over processed highlights or used another harsh chemical process. In this case, it is up to your discretion. Can you stand to look like a freak of nature until the next appointment? If the answer is no, it’s time to take matters into your own hands. Pay for your appointment and make a trip to Sally’s Beauty- the home of Do It Yourself correction color. Products like Second Nature by Clairol dye hair without harmful lift (a normal DIY hair color lifts color prior to depositing your chosen color, this can cause further damage and unusual effects), so that colors may be fixed without worsening the issue.
Let the search begin. Finding a perfect hairstylist in Orlando is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. There are a thousand different beauty schools, like Paul Mitchell on Colonial, that release newbie stylists into the city salons and replace experienced stylists as they leave town. The city beautiful is seriously lacking in the beauty department.
But don’t fret; there are those sparkling gems in the rough that, once one finds them, he or she will want to hold onto like a prized possession. Here are some basics for starting the search.
Friends will backstab you. Often hairstylists serve as the keepers of the darkest secrets. They know every detail about everyone’s lives because when you get a haircut, you’re paying someone to not only make you beautiful but also to listen to you whine for an hour and a half. After all, hair appointments are the best forms of therapy. Point is, who is going to recommend their hairstylist when they know every detail about them? In order to protect their secrets, friends might recommend a relative who cuts hair, because it seems everyone is somehow related to a hairstylist. So, don’t trust friends when they recommend a stylist, you’ll surely be disappointed.
Find a salon. Check out that salon you drive by every day that looks fun, cool, hip, trendy, modern or whatever floats your boat. Stop in and ask a few questions about the credentials of the salon. Are they new? What do they look for when they hire stylists? Does each stylist have his or her own area of expertise? If the answers and the price meet pre-established needs, then book an appointment. If not, then there is always another studio in Orlando to check out.
Get your man (or woman). When it comes to picking a stylist, you should be aware that age, gender, sexual orientation and race do not matter. Ask for someone the salon owner suggests will serve the purpose you are after- whether it’s color, highlights, men’s hair or women’s hair. On your first appointment, ask about their previous places of employment. Where did they attend beauty school? How long have they been in the business? The answers to these questions should help to alleviate any built up nerves.
Hopefully all of your hard work will have paid off and you’ll be able to have a hairstylist to call your own. See, that wasn’t so bad.