Be Careful What You Ask For

Communication is a very important part of your salon or barbershop visit. It’s just as important as customer service and price. It is the job of the barber/stylist to make sure that the look you are requesting, works out to the best of his/her ability. True enough we are not magicians but with a proper consultation you can address your desires and concerns and the hair professional can address how that particular style suits your face and the upkeep needed to maintain it. Who knows, after a lengthy chat you may decide it’s not for you or you may have heard a different suggestion. So I’ve created a small list of popular hair terms that if used incorrectly can make or break a hairstyle... and definitely make or break your relationship with your stylist. Remember: Its up to you just as much as it is up to them to make sure you desires are coming across properly.

LAYERS: The most popular hair term. The basic definition of layers is cutting the hair so that it has different lengths. You can have layers at any length just understand the shorter the layer, the more volume that it creates.

FEATHER: Although its an older term, it pops up from time to time. This is hair that is brushed backwards (usually around the face)to resemble the feathers on a bird. This is more of a styling concern more than anything but for best results, layer this area and it'll give more of the "feathered" effect.

TAPER: This term is used on women’s short hairstyles and men’s cuts—basically meaning to gradually make shorter, thinner or narrower towards one end.  If you have longer hair, you may not want to get this confused with layers when making your request in the salon.  You will probably leave very upset!

STREAKS: Basically an older term for highlighting the hair. Highlights color individual strands of hair throughout your head in a shade that is lighter or brighter than your base color. If you are trying to fully cover gray hair, highlights are not for you.

COLOR: You have permanent color, semi-permanent and temporary rinses. Sometimes people come in and say they want a color but depending on what they are trying to achieve, it could be any of these options. A permanent color is just as it sounds. Meaning to remove it you either need to do a completely new color, cut it out or grow it out. None of it will come off while shampooing although red tones do fade a little. Semi –Permanent and Rinses are pretty similar—what makes them different is the amount of time that they last. A semi last a few weeks longer than a rinse but both will come off a little at a time during every shampoo. This is the only type of color that you should get when getting another chemical service done. PLEASE NOTE: YOU CANNOT GET A PERMANENT COLOR THE SAME DAY AS RELAXER OR PERM. 

Hope this helps you and if by chance you have another term that you don’t understand please feel free to click the comments and I'll answer you as soon as possible. 

MO' HAIR!