How to ask for someone good to cut your hair?!

[Tricksterfrickster]

After much dithering over my hair, and feeling like I've had a crap haircut for ages which isn't quite what I asked for when I went in, I am planning a re-style and am armed with pics of a couple of styles I like.

Ideally I have 2 salons in mind I went to a few years ago and liked (stopped going due to expense!) and would like to pop in and ask their opinion on whether these would suit my hair etc, but how do you ask for someone good to do it and not just get stuck with whoever comes to the desk to greet you? Do you ask for a senior stylist or is there another term for "I don't want just anyone to cut my hair as I'm sick of it looking crap!" All advice gratefully received on how to go about it!

I did this. I formed a cunning plan before I went. I dressed to death and pretended I didn't have children.

I told them I worked in a clothes shop (am sahm).

I asked for a senior stylist and feined hair confidence. (I have none)

I didn't say I'm shit at hair and I said that I was going out that night when he asked me. He didn't ask me if I had any dc so it must have worked.

I love your cunning plan Savoy I may have to adopt a new persona then ;) How do I feign hair confidence when I have none though. Hmmmmmm....

You just have to fake it. They don't know who you are. I wore fish nets... I had a mothers bob before and I had one side shaved off.

I always used to say 'I'm rubbish at hair" because I am. I know nothing about products and all that but I knew I was ready for something exciting and non motherly.

You know when they say 'do you spend much time on your hair' instead of saying 'no, I have no time for hair, I have children' you say 'yes, I like to look good' this makes you 'one of them' and worthy of having a decent haircut.

16 years ago, I was fed up with unexciting hair cuts and not ever really being happy with how I looked and I decided I would try every single one of the big name salons in Paris (the flagship location) one after the other and see whether I could find a really good hairdresser. On the third attempt I got lucky and I have been with the same salon ever since, though have had quite a few different stylists, as (a) they come and go (b) sometimes I need a change.

I do think that having a hair cut you really like makes a massive difference to how you feel about yourself every day and would urge you to try the best salon you can (just about) afford.

www.hairfinder.com/hairstyles8.com

www.hairfinder.com/hairstyles7/hairstyle-shadowlight3.htm

I'll try again. This is what I am wanting my hair to look like!

Right, now I know the second link has worked I'll carry on! The "do" in the second link is the one I have my heart set on. At the moment I've got just shoulder length, badly layered, really thick hair with no real style and also no fringe, so it would be great if I got my hair to look just like the picture! I have wanted it similar to this in the past and ended up with a dodgy bob type thing, so am hoping that won't be repeated!

Thanks for all your tips Savoy. I have thought today about how I want to come across to the hairdresser, I've never really had an "image" but have slipped into SAHM scruff, so today I have bought myself a dress that's very "me" to wear to hairdressers, and will put on make up and adopt a persona of who I'd like to be rather than who I am. Your tips are fab, I do usually say I'm rubbish at doing hair, don't have time to do it etc, but you make a very good point of being "one of them" if you say you do care about your hair etc so
I am going to do this. I will have a think tonight about what I'll tell them (omitting the SAHM and child part too as I want to get away from being mumsy!) Thanks so much for all your advice! Your hair sounds like it rocks from
your description!

Bonsoir, I think I have made up my mind to do what you did and go to a few decent salons. After having had budget hair cuts for a few years (which still aren't that much cheaper than top salons) I realise I need to go somewhere that will listen to what I want and hopefully I will come out feeling a million dollars. I agree a haircut can really improve how you feel about yourself, and I really need a boost! Thanks for sharing your tips too.

So the plan is to ring salon tomorrow and ask for an appt with a senior stylist as I'm having a re-style. Do I need to say anything else do you think or is matter of fact better?!

asking for a senior stylist should be enough.

i wouldn't go pretending that you spend loads of time on your hair if the reality is that you need something low maintenance, that's a sure fire route to disaster. and surely it;s better to stress you don't want something mumsy rather than just denying you have kids!

Where abouts are you? Can m'neters recommend a salon they use and a particular stylist?

Hmm more food for thought.

Nearest big-ish town Harrogate if anyone can recommend?

When trying a new salon - and I 100% agree with bonsoir on going for the best possible - I just phone up and ask them what different levels of stylist they have, and how much each one charges for a cut, and then go for one of the top 'grades'. In some salons - certainly the ones I go to in London and I'm sure elsewhere - there will be several other levels as well as 'senior stylist, some of them more senior. Some salons also have pictures and details of the stylists on their websites.

Do agree about dressing as you like to present yourself - though wouldn't personally feel happy looking completely unlike my every day self because the style needs to work with that as well as on 'special occasions'.

And I'm always honest about not being good on practical matters and needing a style that's easy to cope with. It is certainly the truth and I think the implication that comes over (or so I fondly believe) is that my life is so busy and dynamic that I don't have spare time to faff about every morning!

Don't know who is around where you are, but I have had the best haircuts ever at Vidal Sassoon. All of their stylists are properly trained and their cutting technique just works amazingly.
No Vidal Sassoon close to where I live now, and Toni & Guy are a close second. Their salon looks horrid and the hairstyles they advertise on their glossy posters are really off-putting BUT their stylists are very well trained and listen to what you say. In order to save a bit I am now with one of their juniors and very happy. You also get a 20% discount with O2 priority moments at the moment. HTH

PS Also agree it's fine just to say you don't want anything mumsy - i've never concealed the existence of my DS from my hairdressers. Admittedly have always worked full-time but don't think there's any reason to pretend not to have children whether you work or not.

PPS Afraid I don't agree on Toni and Guy. I think their quality control used to be OK when they started but is now very iffy. Have ad bad experiences with them in the past, and I'm sure I've read here that other Mn-ers have too.

I ten to avoid 'chains' generally - except, as Bonsoir said, the flagship. I'd think there should be some pretty good independent salons somewhere as affluent as Harrogate. Seem to remember there are certainly some nice fashion shops!

I'd ask for a senior stylist definitely. I'm in Leeds and go to Sarah at Hair Associates in Oakwood and am really happy with her. She's patient, easy to talk to and up to speed with the latest 'do's. Mine isn't too dissimilar to the link you sent. She would be well able to do that I'm sure. I've been there for about 3 years now. It's £33 for a cut/blowdry. I used to go to Vidal Sasoon in Leeds before that and loved it. Can't afford to go these days though. I seem to remember someone raving about Saks in Harrogate. One of the worst cuts I've ever had was at Toni and Guy in Leeds.

Is leeds too far?

Thanks for the recommendation Tunaday. I may well give your hairdressers a go then! Not sure I'll be able to fit a trip to Leeds in the next week or so but after that will be able to.

Sorry to hear the bad reports for Toni & Guy, it was on my list!

I'm really pleased with what she does Trickster and she is a lovely person too. V easy to get on with and she listens to what you want. I've got v fine, fly-away hair and she really makes the most of what I've got. I'm 50 but she totally understands I don't want anything frumpy. She will also tell me if I show her a picture whether it will work with my hair or not. Sometimes I'm not mad about the way she dries it but her cuts are v good and last a good 6/9 weeks for me. Though my hair is pretty slow growing.
I'd not go back to Toni and Guy. It was a long time ago when they wreaked havoc with mine but if someone totally ignores what I ask for and is scissor happy, then I won't give em a second chance. Hope you find somehwere and get the 'do' you want Trickster.

I use the element creative in leeds, it's just behind yates wine place leaading back up to the train station. Ask for reece or matthew,i've used them both about 10 years now, would not go anywhere else, most of my friends and soem of their mums go too. Trust them lots, and they know they're stuff, and will be honest abot whether you and your hair type can carry a styleoff

deffo agree toni & guy are shit.

Thanks for that Joyce, city centre is easier to get to than oakwood so I may well give yours a go at some point.

Thanks all for advice and recommendations, much appreciated.