“What Are We Doing For You Today?”
When you visit a hairdressers, do you dread the question: “What are we doing for you today?”. For some people, it can be one of the hardest questions in the world to answer accurately.
Not only can it feel quite intimidating when you are sat in the chair and your stylist is waiting expectantly, you’re also probably thinking “you’re the hairdresser, you tell me”. However, it is extremely important that you have a decent idea of what you really want, before you step foot in the salon.
Today’s article looks to help you pinpoint your next hairstyle.
Finding Inspiration
Let’s say you are bored with your current hairstyle – where do you find inspiration for a new one?
We only have to look around us to see the latest hair trends – glossy magazines, celebrities, sports stars and popular culture can be huge influences on what we personally desire from our own hair and clothes. Not only that, dedicated online resources (like FashionBeans’ very own hairstyles gallery) collate excellent examples of modern cuts, which you should consider saving to show your stylist.
I often find that customers feel awkward bringing pictures to a consultation but I personally find it an enormous help. What better way to show your stylist how you want your hair to look than to actually show them an image of the finished style?
Even if the image is not exactly how you want it or the model’s hair is not the same texture/density as yours, it’s great to have that image as a starting off point – you can then collaborate with your stylist in order to mould it to your individual specification and needs.
Before You Make The Leap
There are several influential factors that need to be seriously considered before you choose your new hairstyle:
- Maintenance – How often will you need to get your hair cut to keep on top of the style?
- Time – How much time are you willing to spend styling your hair?
- Products/Budget – Are you willing to style your hair with hair products? Leading on from this, are you prepared to invest good money in purchasing the exact products you need to recreate the look at home to the same standard?
- Equipment – Are you open to using a hairdryer or maybe straighteners to keep the style looking its best?
- Personal Style – What kind of clothes do you wear and how would you describe your personal style? There is probably no point opting for an edgy, rockabilly-inspired slicked-back undercut if you like to dress timeless and refined at all times.
- Job – Is your haircut smart/practical enough for work?
This may seem like quite a big list but work your way through it and figure out where you draw the line. Be realistic as it will be easier to make decisions and guide your stylist if you are honest about your answers.
Once you have considered all the factors above, you can then start to really think about how you want your hair to be styled. This can be quite hard, especially if you’re only used to having a simple short back and sides.
Bear in mind that you may need to grow your hair for a while in order to have enough length to get the desired shape, although this is no excuse to walk around with a mound of un-styled hair on your head. You will still need to go and see your stylist to get it tidied up, but you may leave it slightly longer between cuts in order to allow for more growth. This part requires patience, so don’t give up.
Pinpointing Your Ideal Hairstyle
It can be hard to come up with a vivid image of the type of hairstyle you would like, especially if you are considering the style as a whole. I always try to break the haircut down into sections, which makes it easier to get your head around:
- Start With The Sides – Would you like to see your scalp or would you like some movement in the hair? Do you like it tidy or untidy over the ears?
- The Back – Would you like it to be the same length as the sides or longer? Do you like the hair to be cut into the neck or left unkempt?
- The Top – How will you wear it? Flat, unkempt or spiky?
- The Front – Will you want it longer or shorter than the sides? Do you prefer the hair to be on or off your face? Alternatively, you could sweep the hair to the side.
Your Stylist
Of course, your stylist should always be there to help, guide and advise you on what will suit you and your face shape, as well as detailing what’s currently ‘in’.
I personally feel I have a great relationship with all of my clients and love trying new styles with them. One thing I have never been able to wrap my head around is if someone has been visiting the same stylist for an extended period of time and then opts for a new salon and a new stylist just because they wanted to try a ‘new look’.
I would like to think most stylists out there don’t just give the “same again” service – it is a huge part of our job to inspire clients, so give them a chance to help and make them aware during your consultation that you are considering a change.
On the flip side, if your current stylist is not willing to entertain the idea of a new hairstyle or proactively tries to put you off every single idea you come up with, it might be time to try a new one.
Men’s Hairstyle Inspiration
Hooka’s Most Requested Haircuts
For better or worse, the most requested hairstyles we get asked to recreate in the Hooka salons are: TOWIE men, One Direction, David Beckham and Gary Barlow. Some recent examples can be found below:
FashionBeans Hairstyles Gallery: Top Cuts
Below you will find the twelve most popular cuts from the FashionBeans hairstyles gallery over the past thirty days. Remember there are hundreds more listed in our dedicated gallery, which is updated weekly.
So whether you have short, mid-length, long, curly or afro hair, or just fancy stealing the style of your favourite celebrity, make sure you check it out regularly:
Final Word
Many clients come to the salon for the first time and find it hard to decide what style they would like. Those that don’t have any idea of what they want are generally the clients that you don’t see coming back – but this is down to the individual not having a clear idea of what they want and expecting the stylist to be a mind reader.
This is why I personally feel that it’s so important to consider exactly what you are trying to achieve BEFORE going to the salon. It’s imperative that you come away proud of how your hair looks and know that it reflects your personality and personal style perfectly.
I also find that doing an initial consultation with a new client can sometimes make them feel uncomfortable. But as a stylist I need to find out a lot about them – lifestyle, time constraints, budget and even their personal style – in order for them to walk out feeling confident. Just be honest and practical with your answers and you can’t go wrong, nobody is judging your responses.
Hopefully this article has opened your eyes to possibilities and options available to you when you fancy a change of style. Although some guys know exactly what they want, others need a lot of guidance to reach their desired look. The most important piece of advice I can give you is: remember that even if you don’t know exactly what you want, you ALWAYS know what you don’t want.
Be clear with your stylist and make sure the next time you walk out the salon your cut presents you and your personality in its best possible light.
If any of you are considering a change of hairstyle or simply need some advice, let me know in the comments section below.
