New cheap and cheerful spring beauty

Spring is in the air! It makes me want to shop! New New New everything! However my pocket book right now says ...no. But don't despair. There are plenty of money saving products out there that will save you some bucks and you can still look fab!

Colour! Now I am still a big advocate of demi permanent colour. It's the most forgiving and least damaging option out there. However, for some that will not cover any greys. L'oreal and Clariol have come out with Foam Permanent hair dye. It promises the easiest application ever. No mess, and 100% grey coverage! Now most important thing to remember is getting the colour right! When people complain about bad results...it's usually the wrong shade or bad application. Be safe. Pick the most neutral colour. Ash colours will be darker, and anything that says "gold" will be really warm (red brassy) The only concern I have is retouching the roots with mousse? Strawberry blonde and copper are very trendy now. I would still stick to demi if you decide for a change down the road, it is harder to remove permanent.

Highlights should be left to the pros. Grown out colour is great and the cheapest way to go through the summer. For those who wish DYI Ombre. It's actually a really easy technique called balliage. Literally hair painting. It works best if you have naturally blondish hair. Just chose a colour that is really only a couple shades lighter to start. If you have colour or dark hair or you want something more extreme go to a pro or you will look like a tie dyed tiger. Another fun option is doing a bright semi permanent or temporary shade on the ends. Pastel shade are nice like yellow, orange or pink. They will wash out in a few shampoos. Works best on blonde hair. Use Manic Panic and dilute it with conditioner so it is not so neon!



http://www.lorealparis.ca/haircolour/highlights-and-professional-techniques-colour/touch-on-highlights.aspx
http://www.garnier.ca/_en/_ca/haircolour/hcl-nutrisse-cream/multi-lights-kit.htm

Try youtube for more vids on DYI Ombre!

http://schoee.blogspot.com/2010/09/diy-ombre-hair.html



You want an instant update for make up. Completion is important. Our skin is usually oily in the summer. Using a concealer and a bit of powder/bronzer is all most people need. I like using a Mineral foundation like L'oreal Bare Naturale. $15 It is everything, foundation, concealer with a dewy finish. It feels like nothing on. I am kinda old...:( so I like that it doesn't crease or look cakey. Bare Essentuals $30 has the best mineral foundation. But it's a bit more pricey. Worth it! Almay also has a new Mineral foundation out there for sensitive dry skin. Almay Wake Up $17. Don't forget the Moisturiser with SPF 15 or higher!!

Update your lips. Bright colours is an esay way to add a pop of colour.
Cargo has a great lip gloss Quad $24
Rimmel lasting finish, $7 Bright pink In Vogue, coral Alarm,
Mac new line of Sheen Supreme lipstick. High pigment gloss in intense colours. $14.50

Waves and texture are super easy for the summer. Start with a wave or beach texterizer. Kevin Murphy Beach Resort $22 great for any hair type. Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray, $25 or Garnier Surf Hair comes in spray or cream $10. This works best with layered or textured hair. You just apply liberally and allow to dry naturally. This is supposed to be messy, beachy, matte waves or curls.
If messy is not your bag, and you are more sophisticated. Good old hot rollers will do the trick. use the old school ones. Modern waves are not about root volume it's more about curling the mid lenghths and ends. Try watching some podcast to get the visual how to. kevinmurphy.com has a series of DYI podcasts. for ideas.
http://www.conair.com/xtreme-instant-heat-multisized-hot-rollers-p-683-1_14.html

Trending For Spring

Been while and many new changes have happened in my life. I have changed salons after nearly 6 years in the same location. Change is good. Now that we are well into February everyone seems to have the blahs. The cold weather the drab colours and just being plain old sick and tired of staying in and doing nothing. I find as a stylist this is my quietest time of year. the calm before the storm if you will. After March break when we get the first glimpse of what is to come for spring...the calls start to flood back in. I NEED A CHANGE!!!

Well some things to look for this spring is simplicity. The 70's is a huge trend. Long hair, straight, wavy, curly you name it. Centre parts, texture and neutral tones. Think brown honey wheat and copper!

If long is not your style, the wavy shoulder length bob is going to be huge again this year. Ombre (grown out) colour will still be a hit as well. Don't forget the super cropped pixie cut think Rosemary's Baby era Mia Farrow will be great to freashen up some dull locks.

My Haircolour cost WHAT?

I was on Yelp the other day and noticed that there was lovely young lady giving rave kudos to her stylist but could not justify why her highlights cost 145 dollars ( pretty standard btw in mid to higher end salons in Toronto) I decided to demystify how salons charge for services.

There are several factors to take into consideration. As a client you definitely want to research what you want before hand. The quality you expect from the stylist, and your budget. With colour for instance. You have to consider...the service

Most salons operate on a scale of Junior to Master stylist/colourist. Let me explain further what you can expect from these people.

Junior's have less then 2 years experience in most cases. They are the interns. They have gone though all the necessary training to be a hairdresser. They just lack the experience with real clients. They can be very skilled, but sometimes have trouble communicating or interpreting what the client wants. It is totally normal to have them ask for guidance from a more senior stylist. If you do decide to go this route. It is safe to say don't have super high expectations. They are still learning and that is reflected in the rate you pay. So you may not want to get more then a trim, basic cut, or basic highlights/colour from them. If you are adventurous, let them go wild you may be very pleasantly surprised!

Intermediate, and Senior Stylists/Colourists have 5+ years on the floor experience and have taken master classes and are much better at colour correction and creative colour/cut techniques. Some may even work as trainers for a manufacturer, doing trade shows, private in salon classes or winning competitions. You will pay a premium for this experience.

You should also feel more confident that less will go wrong. Beware the "Primadonna hairstylists." You should go for a consultation for big changes. Bring pictures of what you like, communicate your expectations, ask how much it will cost BEFORE. Ask about maintenance and after care. If your stylist cannot answer your questions, or you feel uneasy that they do not "get" what you want, or they are vague with costs, thank them for their time and leave. Remember paying more does NOT mean you are getting better service. Do your research.

Most salons will have a price list or menu one can look at to get a general idea of STARTING rates for each service and stylist. It is the minimum charge. You pay for that slot of time for that service and that is the minimum it costs. Price can go up from the following things... complicated service (corrections) overly long or overly thicker then average hair. You are paying for the extra time and product this hair takes to do over the average.

Other things that can inflate price is location of salon. Trendy, boutique, or franchise salons can have a higher price structure. Owners may charge way more. Almost any stylist working in a salon with more then 15 to 40 years is going to be charging Master prices. There are also hidden costs. The colour product ( can reach into 25 dollars or more just for the dye per application) the salons commission, chair rental and taxes ( HST and GST now in Ontario) this all factors in on the final price. Also, it is totally normal for a salon to NOT include a blowdry in a colour service. That is a separate service that needs to be booked in or they offer complimentary blow off with a assistant. Again not always the case either. Ask your stylist about their polices.

I find that all problems in the salon are from miss-communication. We don't ask enough questions and assume that we are in good hands. We assume the price will be the same as before or somewhere else. We have unrealistic expectations of what we can have and we overestimate the skills of the stylists in some cases. I always likened this to how we trust and assume doctors always know best or know what they are doing or have homogeneous knowledge. This is also not always the case. The more prepared one is less sticker shock occurs.

.

Finally ammonia free drugstore colour!

I am pleased to say that the L'oreal finally caught up with Clairol. Their main drugstore lines, L'oreal Paris (Healthy Look), and Garnier Fructis (Herbashine) are launching demipermanent/ammonia free hair colour. I personally as a pro, I use this type of colour on my clients 80% of the time. The benefits are huge. Less damaging, more natural looking, grey blending ( up to 20%) no visible root line ( as long as you are not going too dark or bright.) It's super shiny to boot after. Things you can NOT do with it...lighten the hair or cover substantial grey roots. But hey, it can not be everything to everyone. What I like is that it's great for those who change their hair seasonaly. It leaves little colour build up with reasonable use. It's best used on unbleached or super porous hair. Unless you go to a pro.

Tips, you need to use it all over every time as opposed to permenent dye. So make sure that you buy enough to cover your hair. One box for every 6 inches. Or 1 for fine, 2 medium, 3 for long. If you have pretty thick hair ( your might as well pay to get it done you will have to buy the same amout in product), or have damaged, bleached hair, see a pro. It's too tricky to do on your own. If you have highlights that have gone brassy, you can use one of the blonde ones as a toner. Amazing!

http://www.garnier.ca/kim/en/index.aspx?cible=herbashine

http://www.lorealparis.ca/haircolour/all-over-colour/healthy-look.aspx

Dry SHAMPOO?

Hey there guys, It's been a while but I'm back from Mama land. So I have a series coming up to make up for my absence.

So I was walking through Sephora, and browsing trough the endless bottles of new potions, lotions, and the not so new Dry Shampoos and I was aghast at the prices of these truly simply products.

First, dry shampoo is a simple concept. You spray or sprinkle it into your hair then brush it out. It's powder based and it does not actually cleanse the hair but it absorbs excess oil so one can go and extra day or more without ruining that 'do with water. It can also make thin greasy hair look thicker and fuller. The main ingredient is starch. Corn starch most times and a few added fragrance's, sometimes vitamins/herbs, milk solids, oats and preservative.

I was in shock at the prices of these VERY simple concoctions. Don't waste your money. $27 bucks on cornstarch is ludicrous! If you are not the do it yourself type and you need the ease of aerosol try a Classic... Batiste. The scent is not my cup of tea but for 8.99 it does the trick. This is easily found in a drugstore or discount department.

The next is Klorane the have two scents. You get half the amount of the Batiste, but great size for travel. 14.99 this is found in more boutique cosmetics counters in the drugstore.

Pro's Kevin Murphy Fresh Hair ( $22) has an amazing smelling dry shampoo.

If you don't mind the old school way this is the cheapest option. Use good old cornstarch or baby powder. Sprinkle a small amount in at a time to the roots evenly. Massage into the scalp an leave it in a minute to absorb the oil. The key here is...BRUSH it OUT. This is so you do not get the powdery old man wig look. Unless you like looking like Andy Warhol. :)

You can now endure another day water less to keep that fabulous blow dry, or lift the greasy fringe of your face. The great thing is that if you are washing less daily you hair will be in better condition and not so dependant on the dreaded shampoo. It will save you colour as well and some money in the long run.

Been gone a long time

Hello friends, I am sorry have been AWOL this summer. I had a beautiful baby girl and she has been taking up much of my time. I will be posting again this month new fall trends, new hair and make up products and deals, and of course answering your beauty questions.

Eco Friendly and Frugal Hair Treatments

I recently had a bit of a problem with dry scalp. I find that traditional methods to deal with this condition are a bit harsh on the hair itself. Other times they make your scalp dependent on them or worse... immune.

I like to turn to mother nature during these times (if it's mild and not an underlining medical condition) Then it got me thinking about all the fabulous hair treatments we can make in our own kitchen for CHEAP! The best part is that it actually works, saves money, and it eco friendly. (may be a bit smelly and messy)

First, you have diagnose your problem. Dull hair, dry hair, dry scalp, product build up, flat and limp, frizzy?

If you have chronic or acute flaking, itching, or scaling on the scalp. You may have more then dry scalp. Dandruff , Seborrhea, (fungal) Eczema, (allergic reaction, or environmental) and Psoriasis (genetic) are all different. Have different causes and some can be treated with medications see you your doctor to figure out exactly what you have.

So you have figured out that it is a simple flaking problem due to build up/ dry scalp. This remedy kicks ass.

Use some simple table salt and olive oil mix a paste and apply on damp hair before you wash. Massage it in and really exfoliate those flakes out. Wash out the mixture. Condition as usual and this is the trick here...apple cider vinegar. It clarifies the scalp, kills any yeast ( acidic) closes the cuticle ( shine!) and doesn't make you smell like a salad. Try it! I did this twice a week until I saw improvement. Now I only do it once a month. It also helps to invest in a scalp massage brush. They are usually round plastic short bristle brushes used while you shampoo they hair. It will loosen any dead skin from the scalp, so less flaking there. Rinse well!

I would also like to note that the number one reason one would see flakes and dryness is improper rinsing. We are all in such a hurry daily. I myself am guilty of the 20 second shampoo rinse in the shower. I am going to stress that step one to flake free locks is rinse rinse rinse that shampoo out!

I have no time to style my hair!

So may times I hear, "Can you come home with me and do my hair everyday?" or " When I do my hair it never looks like this again." Why do we feel so helpless with our hair sometimes? One day it behaves, tomorrow it doesn't. What is the secret?

The advice that I give is dependant on the person because it's one or the other, don't try too hard....or two, you gotta try SOMETHING!

We are all put into three categories. The product and styling junkie. New tools, new smoothing serums, new brushes and shampoo. Fluffers, scrunchers, and teasers. You want to look good and you take the time to do it.

Then there's the I don' t have the time/talent girl. You shower, you comb and that's all your hair can hope for. You can't be bothered to style that hair. (mmmm sleep)

Then there is the in between gal's. You only put the effort forth when there's an occasion for it. But most of the time, you just blow it dry, throw it up in a pony, put a bit of product in and away you go.

I find that most people over think the hair. It is easy to deal with your hair as long as you remember a few simple rules. Unless you rock at taming the tresses, Don't fight your hair...it will always win. Next no haircut, product,nor hairdresser is a magician waving a wand and POOF perfectly "styled" hair with zero effort. If you take a bit of time based on your lifestyle you too can look more polished. Your hair can say a lot about you. How do you want to be percieved?

1. Obvious, chose the right cut. MEDIUM length hair needs the MOST styling and therefore most effort. SHORT can be a FAST and easy. Minimal blow drying, or air dry, a bit of gel or wax and away you go. LONG is great for VERSATILITY if you are creative or skittish. Easily worn up, and can be curled and straightened if you have the time.

2. Find a good blow dryer, iron, curlers or diffuser for the look you are creating. Invest in the right tool. it will cut you time/effort significantly as well as any damage.

3. Hair accessories. Clips, bands, scarves for the days you have to run out. It will look like you put some effort in.

4. If you can do it, it is a huge time saver.(and hair saver) Put the effort into a good blow dry and let it last a couple days, Put it up on the last day. Add some baby powder or dry shampoo to the roots to soak up the shine at the roots. (I go 6 days, curly hair lasts longer with this method) Bumble and Bumble make a great coloured hair powder in a can! It's pretty $$ though :(

5. If you have natural curly hair, Add your favorite product when your hair is more on the damp side. Saturate each strand from scalp to ends. Comb through with a VERY WIDE tooth comb. Twist sections into the parting you like. Air dry or diffuse. DO NOT TOUCH or SCRUNCH until it's DRY. Very important. The hair is setting, and will get frizzy if you touch it too much during the drying process. ( products I like are creamy leave in conditioners, non oily straightening balms like Fructis Sleek and Shine anti frizz smoothing cream, Phytodefrizzant, L'Oreal liss extreme leave in)

6. Short hair needs some product to do anything. Every short hair cut needs a small arsenal of gunk for different occasions. Gel or straightening balm (thick) mouse (fine) for the on the go slick look. A wax, paste or clay in the desired amount of hold you like. Apply to dry hair only. Good for messy, textured looks. Small head bands and clips look nice in short hair too, more girly.

7. Please don't dump your hair upside down and blast it dry. It will give your hair a limited amount of volume, yes it can be faster BUT...it also makes it FRIZZY and unmanageable. One hardly ever sees a stylist doing this to you for good reason. The nozzle directs the hair with the where you want it to go. PLUS blowing down promotes more shine because you are going with the cuticle, not against it. Unless you want to look like you stuck you finger in the light socket?

8. Finally, if you are round brushing, finger dry until your hair is nearly 75% dry before you section and use the brush. Hair will not style soaking wet. You save HUGE amounts of time here. Plus if you use irons ( flat or curly) Your hair must be 100% dry. You will scald your hair, and it will not set so it's pointless. Wet dry irons are BS. Period. What happens when you put water in a frying pan? sizzzzle, that will be your hair.

Summer Hair 2009

THE question that I am always asked is what is in style now? Well, that depends on the individual. I still condone people to stay away from trends. Look to yourself for inspiration. Not all trends look great on everyone. That being said any cut or colour and even make up for that matter can be customized to suit you.

Personally, I have pretty much stayed true to my "look" since high school. It has matured over the years, sometimes it's really in or completely out. Regardless, I know what looks good on me, I stick with it. I do tweak it though, as the times change. I usually take a huge length plunge every 2 or 3 years to jump start and revamp my style. Then the cycle starts again.

You want to stay "current." Looking dated is never good for anyone. Even the smallest of changes can give you a lift. That being said. Big changes can effect everyone differently. Some folks live for it. Others are rebelling against a break up, or peer pressure from friends. Some people are so afraid of change that it can be traumatic, like fear of looking like a boy, or their BF's/ Hubby's hating them forever. ( yes most dudes still love long hair, I hate to say it it's a sad fact) As I said change is good! But within your comfort zone.

So what is Hot right NOW? Well it is still many extremes. I have seen the return of the nineties in the last 2 years and this is still going strong. Short hair has made it's return. All fashion regurgitates every 10 years or so. Hey it's new for a next generation.

The crop, and pixie are back for the adventurist. The most popular being Agness Deyn. A higher maintenance choice. Needs regular trimming. Best for women who like to glam it up with make up and hair accessories. Don't forget your dangly earrings! It can be worn slick, messed up or ironed straight. Try fingers waves for a fancy night out.

The Bob is still here. But it's becoming more soft or more extreme. Sort blunt bobs are taking over from the POB of last year. The longer shoulder skimming bob is a great alternative for those who want to grow out last years model or are too scared to take a off too much hair. Curl, wave and sleek are all in style. Try to find something that works for your hair texture.


At the other end of the style spectrum is Long hair. It's taking it's cues from all over the place. 40's glamour, 70's Boho, and late 60's french pop stars. Heavy bangs/fringe are still a fave. as well as hair accessories, head scarfs, head bands, and clips. Try some asymmetry in your style. Pin one side up let the rest flow down.


Long hair will always be in. Styling is the key. Soft waves created with rollers or irons, the retro pin up or Hollywood starlet look. Messy beach waves, and milkmaid braids for those who don't have time for all that curling.

(tip set your dry hair in large braids overnight for a wave loose crimped look, or just a few random braids to add body, The other is set your hair in rags. Cut long strips of cloth jersey (old t shirt works well.) take dry, clean, hair in LARGE sections or you will look like Shirley Temple. Tie the ends once and loosely roll up to the scalp. Then tie again to hold in place. Sleep overnight and you got some curls and waves. I recommend that you use this as a base for messy updo's for beginners. If it's too curly mist some water all over to loosen the curl and dry with a scrunching your fingers and a dryer.)

As for colour. Spring is always a nice time to lighten things up. Since the fashion pallet this season calls for bright colours http://www.fashion-era.com/trends_2009/2009-fashion-colour-trends.htm#Spring_2009_Top_Colour_Trend_Tip You may want to keep on the natural side. Solid colour trend is still hot, as is face framing highlights. Forget about chunky Highlights (unless you're starting and emo band) It's OVER! If you like being a bit more adventurous try a placement of colour or blocking. Avoid the high contrasts, go for more of a tone on tone look.

Hues to try for blonde's, Beige, Honey, Platinum, and Gold. RED is making a huge comeback. Copper and strawberry blonde. For brunettes, try some soft highlights around the face and under layers at the nape, go for a couple shades lighter. Going too light will create brassy, streaky, high maintenance hair. All over gloss is nice as well, a shade darker then your natural. Anything goes here, chocolate, nutmeg, maybe even a hint of cranberry or blueberry?

Short Hair Trend, Old is New Again Spring Trends

So I am feeling really old. May is marking my 16th anniversary in Hairdressing. I have officially been in it long enough to see something come back in style. For the last ten years, Short hair ( well short in the REAL sense) has been a no no. Short was maybe chin length. But a pixie? NO way! I speak of course of the mainstream all hail Hollywood standard of extended locks. For the most part there is a whole generation of Millennials that have never had short hair...ever! Crazy!

Well that is changing. Thank goodness! The type of sass an confidence a short cut gives a women is a welcome change to the lady Godiva look of recent years. The difference with the pixie now is that its far more glamorous the it's grunge, Gen X version of the nineties. Fashion is more feminine. It's all about the details, softer styling and edges. Accessorise with some really great statement jewelry. (as above seen on Carey Mulligan)

The other big trend this year summer as we saw last season is Red hair. Copper and titian hues, highlighted or all over, bright and subtle. (think Karen Elson, Ashley Simpson-Wentz, and Rose McGowan)

Now long hair gals...do not fret. Long hair is still "in" But it's definitely more polished. The last few years its been all about tousled, rock and roll, or boho waves, bedhead, disheveled...whatever you wanna call it messy. No more! It's about taking time for the little details, glamour! We are seeing the return of the 40's starlet. soft and smooth waves. More structure and its gorgeous and sexy. I know it sounds like a lot of hard work. But no. If you can wield a flat iron you can wield a curling iron. If that is still too much skill, try some old school hot rollers. I recommend You Tube for styling tutorials, they are amazing to see regular folks like yourselves giving step by step instructions. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9KISezxlmc

Does make up expire?

I was watching the Tyra bank show today. I was so ticked off at the misinformation on one segment about women who don't throw out their make up. Yes we are all guilty of hanging onto stuff way too long. But she continued to quiz the audience about the shelf life of everything from lipstick, cleanser, to mascara.

I'm a make up artist. If I threw out my foundations every 3 months like she suggested I would be spending astronomical amounts replenishing my kit. RIDICULOUS! Yet again another show spreading propaganda so you buy more product. (sponser..Cover Girl, shocking!)

Here are the facts. If you treat your make up like I do, no cross contamination, leave the caps on, refrigerate liquids when not in use and use brushes and sponges. Your make up will last three times longer.

Liquid Foundation, 12 months ( most people will use it up sooner then that)

Cream foundation/Concealer, 2 years. Keep in cool dry place use clean applicators or scrap out what you need and apply.

Mascara, 3-4 months. It dries out and will have bacterial growth by that time. Don't pump air into the tube, Keep tightly closed.

Lipstick, Gloss 2-4 years or more depending on quality. I have some MAC lipsticks that I have had for 8 years they are fine. I remove my lipsticks and put them into pallets that cover. I scrape out what I need on a stick and apply with a brush. If you use the tube on your lips, it will expire faster and grow bacteria. ( I still have tubes I uses directly on my mouth but I go through them in less then a year)

Powders, eye shadows. 4 or more years. If you store them in a airtight, dark place out of moisture. They can last forever depending on their oil content.

Liner pencils. 4+ years. Keep the lid on. Keep them in a cool dry place. (they will melt or get crumbly)

Liquid Liner. 6 months, they dry out and will get bacterial growth.


Nail polish, 1 year. You will know it! (separate or thicken.)

Finally WASH you brushes!!! Every month or more. Soak them in a mild shampoo in your bathroom sink. Use fingers to work out any creamy product (with extra shampoo) Do a soaking. Rinse 2 times. Then shape the brushes with your fingers so they retain the shape. Air dry on a towel overnight. In between I dip my brushes in alcohol once a week to kill any bacteria.

DON'T SHARE YOUR MAKE UP!!! Unless you take cross contamination precautions. Herpes people! 80% of the human population have Oral Herpes otherwise know as cold sores. (and yes oral herpes can turn into genital herpes if you get it/have an outbreak and kiss etc your partner) and Pink Eye are the most common infections/virus's you could get with sharing or using expired/ unsanitized make up and brushes.

Hair Salon Hell

Bad hair days? Hair slut? ( hopping around from chair to chair you hussy!) Do you find that when you speak to your stylist you may as well speak Klingon? Well you are not alone. Many of us are unsatisfied with the services we pay good money for. How does one find a decent stylist/colourist when there are so many over whelming choices out there. Here are some tips/questions on trying to find the right person for YOU!

1. Determine the hairstyle and be prepared. Do a bit of research. If this means looking for pictures..it's OK! most stylist love visuals. A pic speaks a thousand words. I see so many people everyday that say "I don't know what I want" Then I have to play CSI for the next 10 minutes. You can't complain if you don't give someone direction.

2. Lifestyle. Are you funky, classic or conservative? High maintenance or a ponytail girl? Workout or blowout queen? Get real with what kind of work you're willing to put into the cut you get. If you know you are not going to flat iron your thick curly hair into that geometric bob everyday AND get it trimmed every 6 weeks, this is not a good option for you. Having a good cut/colour is the START of good style.

3. Ask your friends, co workers or that girl at Starbucks, "where do you get you hair done?" If you see someone on the street with hair you like, ask them! Search the net for reviews. Do you want a quiet spa, a simple studio, a euro chain, or a rocking trendy shop? Check if they have a website for price menus and photo's.

4. Expensive does not mean the best. Junior and intermediate stylists usually have the most recent training. They are up on the latest trends and techniques. Location has a lot to do with what you will pay as well. Plus there are many seniors that don't charge highway robbery. For instance, I only charge $65 for my cuts. I find that this is affordable for most. I get a great cross section of people from students, entertainers, lawyers, PR, artists and hipsters. I also find that people are more likely to maintain their hair instead of thinking it's a treat.

Ok now you found a place what next?

Ask for a consultation, They are usually free. I suggest you book it and not walk in. It may be too rushed. Bring your research with you.

Try to be positive. If you have had a bad experience try not to assume the new stylist will do the same thing to you. It is bad mojo...and stresses the stylist out. Never good. Give the history of your hair and BE HONEST!

If you don't like what they have to say, they seem distracted/indifferent or don't listen to you. You are not obligated to see them. Find someone else.

Make sure that before you begin any service, that you both have a clear idea of what is to be done and how much it will cost and the maintenance both physically and financially.

Not every stylist will get it perfect the first time. Sometimes it takes a couple cuts for the them to get the feel for you hair or personality. (Unless it's horrible) If it doesn't click after 3 cuts, move on.