Salon Dirt: What You Need to Know Before Your Next Hair Appointment

Salons have a way of making us feel good, refreshed and beautiful. They make our hair look better than we could with just a blow dryer and round brush, and even while at the shampoo bowl we feel as though we are getting the royal treatment. But sometimes your trip to the hair salon may end up costing you more than you were willing to pay. Here are some insider scoops to help you relax and enjoy your next visit to the salon.

She Wants You Hooked on Their Products

Next time you are at the salon, take notice to how your stylist is always telling you about each product she is using on you. Everything from the shampoo to the styling spray will be mentioned by name and why you NEED it. But the truth is, you may not need it at all, she is working off of commission and each product she send you out the door which adds to her pocket. Stylists will often ask what you already use on your hair, and tell you why you should use THEIR products instead, making you believe that you need to completely buy a whole new hair care system. In most cases if what your using now works for you, don't get pressured into buying. The trick here, is most of these salon products can not be purchased at your local Walmart, so she is hoping every time you run out, you come back to her for more. Instead, make your mind up before you even walk through the door whether you will be bringing home a new product or if you are satisfied with your hair care products at home.

She Doesn't Want You To Just Get A Trim

Much like the concept with the styling products, your hair dresser makes a commission off of everything she sells, and DOES for you. She may ask you if you would like to add just a few highlights, which in order to maintain the look, you will have to keep coming back to her every six weeks, and she knows this, hoping that's what you will do. If your going in for a trim....get a trim. But if your looking for something new and exciting, have in mind exactly what you want, or you may be getting more than you asked for. Before you know it, you've been convinced to get a double process hair color, complete with a twenty-five dollar conditioning treatment you could of done at home.

She's Been Programmed to Think Box Dye is the Devil

Do you ever feel guilty telling your stylist that you don't want her to color your hair for $85.00 because your box of color is only $7.99? The truth is your stylist has been programmed to think that box hair dye is the worst thing you could ever use. In some cases it is, depending on the brand and what your doing, i will admit that while I was in Cosmetology School, I myself felt like I couldn't believe I used "box dyes" But the truth is, when your getting a color at the salon, your paying for the service, not the dye. She has been trained on how to apply color correctly, and it will cost you. Especially because you will be in her chair for an extended period of time, meaning she isn't going to be taking clients for a while. If you have been coloring your hair from a box for years and are happy with your results, there is no reason to get it done at the salon. But if your not certain, you might want to consider letting her expertise help you out. But in short, hair dye at the salon isn't much different then the ones at the store, except your stylist can apply it with knowledge and mix colors if she has to get you a custom color, but as soon as it fades and your roots are coming back...be prepared to shell out the $85 bucks again.

Hairdressers for the most part don't make loads of cash, they work hard, are on their feet all day and want you to walk out feeling happy and beautiful so that you come back. A good hairdresser won't push a service on you, but rather recommend things they think will work for you. I'm a stay at home mother right now and my stylist always give me a cut that she says will last longer and be easier to maintain. That's because she knows I won't make it back to the salon for several months later. She wouldn't give me a cut that I would need to get touched up in six- weeks even if its better for her pocket, she wants what's better for me so I come back! And that's what you need to look for in a hairdresser; She should be more concerned with what will keep you happy, so that you will come back to her time and time and time again.