Ever feel like you just want to go back in time? You know, take that journey back to a particular time, a particular place or a particular moment and just do things differently? You’d think that with all the iPhones, iPads and iPods littering the market there’d be talks of the new iTimeMachine. The gorgeous, sleek new gadget that gives you first class seating as you journey into the past and make a change. Instead of nodding your head and agreeing to that favour, demand or plea, you’d simply freeze, take a moment to think and swiftly turn that nod into a ‘No’. No, I can’t take on a bit of your work because I have some of my own. No, I’m afraid I won’t be able to accompany you to XYZ because I have previous plans and it wouldn’t be fair if I cancel. No, I won’t decide to go to any random hairdresser simply because I’m feeling too lazy to search and travel.
Let’s pause at that last one. The hairdresser one. The defiant ‘No’ that never seemed to escape my lips when deciding where and when to do my hair. Instead, I went against what I knew would be best for me and decided to YOLO that day. I’m here to tell you all as I write this post with a bunch of ripped out hair keeping me company, that YOLOing when picking a hairdresser is most certainly NOT the answer.
So, what is the answer?? And when sampling permanent hairdressers, what two main points should you be looking out for?
1) Skill and expertise
She might be able to win you over with her words but what does her work say about her? They say seeing is believing so take some time to check out her previous work. If you see someone rocking a style that you like, don’t be afraid to head over to them, compliment them on their hair and ask them where they got it done. If not, maybe there are a few pictures that you could check out either on their website or in the salon itself.
2) Passion
No matter how much skill and expertise her previous work may indicate she has, if she doesn’t have demonstrable passion, chances are that you’ll end up looking like you went for the bedhead look when really the aim was Coco Chanel. It’s the TLC she devotes to your hair that helps your hair remain healthy and beautiful: no unnecessary pulling/tugging, using the right products and not the cheapest and definitely no attempt to do a rushed job by cutting corners. For those that do weave, make sure (I repeat) make sure that your base is done well! Big fat cornrows might stay firm for about a week but if you plan to keep your hair in for longer than that then you’ll only end up with matted hair that starts to break at the sides! Make sure your hairdresser takes her time when doing your base and uses a braid pattern that protects the sides of your head which are prone to get messy first. Make sure the weave isn’t too tight: it should be firm but never uncomfortable. Last but not least, make sure that she uses a sewing technique that you are familiar with so that whenever you take your hair out, you don’t end up cutting off your hair giving way to an involuntary haircut.
I think it’s safe to say that out of my horrible mistake, a silver lining has appeared in the form of a lesson learnt on my part and a lesson you guys won’t have to learn (hopefully!). I think it’s also safe to say that having skill and expertise without passion is nowhere near enough and vice versa. So, make sure that before she becomes your ‘go-to’ hairdresser she has what it takes and actually deserves your money.
Good luck guys and stay beautiful!
P.S. For speeds sake I decided to not keep writing he/she but I am fully aware that there are talented male hairdressers out there as well so wherever I’ve made reference to a hairdresser, please help me add a ‘he/she’ 🙂
thatgirlamala 