Haircolor Tips
Your Hair Color, Your Self
Blonde, brunette, red - it's only hair color, right? Wrong. Joico Vero K-PAK Color Spokesperson Beth Minardi says it's so much more!
"For most women, hair color is part of their soul, their identity," she declares. "It's extremely personal." So, advises the co-owner of Minardi Salon in New York City, if you're going to put such a vulnerable aspect of who you are in somebody else's hands, it's important to work with a professional colorist who understands the emotional impact that altering your hair color can have. Some tips for your search:
To find a color-sensitive pro, start by doing your homework. Word of mouth isn't enough when it comes to referrals, says Minardi. You actually want to see what the person can do. Ask for photos of the color makeovers that they've done; examine the hair of actual clients. "If you see someone whose color you admire," she suggests, "stop and ask them who does their hair."
Resist the temptation to simply make an appointment and get started. Instead, call the salon and ask to book a consultation. It will be time well spent. Before you go, arm yourself with lots of photos that depict hair colors that you like, as well as colors that you don't like. Consider bringing along shots of yourself when you were a kid - believe it or not, that treasured photo that was snapped at your eighth birthday party will be very useful. It will help your colorist understand your original color (all those dye jobs ago), a variation of which is usually flattering to most people later in life.
At the consultation, be candid. This is no time to keep secrets. "Confess" to everything that has touched your tender strands over the past few years - including perms, relaxers and that color that you experimented with from the drugstore. All of this intel will help the colorist understand exactly how your hair will react to subsequent color applications.
Search your heart and be honest...with the stylist and with yourself. If you woke up this morning and decided that you want to change your delicate, champagne blonde hue to ruby red, stop for a moment to reflect. Is it the color change that you really want or are you reacting to the fact that your boyfriend spent way too much time eyeing that redhead at the club last night? A truly conscientious stylist will ask some probing questions to try to get to the root of requests for drastic shade shifts like this, before breaking out the red tint!
Be sure that your colorist makes you feel confident and trusting. Here are some clues. She gives you her undivided attention during the consultation, which she conducts in a quiet area of the salon where you can hear each other clearly. She looks at you - really looks at your hair, your face, your figure, your clothesm - to try to understand who you are and how you like to present yourself to the world. She looks you directly in the eye during your conversation. She listens more than she talks. Much more. Her appearance is stylish, polished, tasteful and professional. This is especially important if she is considerably younger than you are - you want to know that she can be sensitive to the needs of a more mature client, regardless of her own youth.
Don't let anyone talk you into something you're not ready to do. The hairstylist may be right about the best shade for you, but if you're not comfortable with the change, the most stunning hair color in the world won't make you happy. It's OK to say, "I'm not ready for a big change right now. I'm comfortable going toward the color you suggest, but slowly." This will give your eye (and your family, friends, boss, etc.,) time to adjust as your hair color evolves gradually.
"For every hairstylist, the goal is to take a hair color client through a transition that makes her feel great," says Minardi. "Recognize that this is a psychological journey that you're taking together, and prepare for that journey wisely, and you'll be thrilled every time you look in the mirror."
"For most women, hair color is part of their soul, their identity," she declares. "It's extremely personal." So, advises the co-owner of Minardi Salon in New York City, if you're going to put such a vulnerable aspect of who you are in somebody else's hands, it's important to work with a professional colorist who understands the emotional impact that altering your hair color can have. Some tips for your search:
To find a color-sensitive pro, start by doing your homework. Word of mouth isn't enough when it comes to referrals, says Minardi. You actually want to see what the person can do. Ask for photos of the color makeovers that they've done; examine the hair of actual clients. "If you see someone whose color you admire," she suggests, "stop and ask them who does their hair."
Resist the temptation to simply make an appointment and get started. Instead, call the salon and ask to book a consultation. It will be time well spent. Before you go, arm yourself with lots of photos that depict hair colors that you like, as well as colors that you don't like. Consider bringing along shots of yourself when you were a kid - believe it or not, that treasured photo that was snapped at your eighth birthday party will be very useful. It will help your colorist understand your original color (all those dye jobs ago), a variation of which is usually flattering to most people later in life.
At the consultation, be candid. This is no time to keep secrets. "Confess" to everything that has touched your tender strands over the past few years - including perms, relaxers and that color that you experimented with from the drugstore. All of this intel will help the colorist understand exactly how your hair will react to subsequent color applications.
Search your heart and be honest...with the stylist and with yourself. If you woke up this morning and decided that you want to change your delicate, champagne blonde hue to ruby red, stop for a moment to reflect. Is it the color change that you really want or are you reacting to the fact that your boyfriend spent way too much time eyeing that redhead at the club last night? A truly conscientious stylist will ask some probing questions to try to get to the root of requests for drastic shade shifts like this, before breaking out the red tint!
Be sure that your colorist makes you feel confident and trusting. Here are some clues. She gives you her undivided attention during the consultation, which she conducts in a quiet area of the salon where you can hear each other clearly. She looks at you - really looks at your hair, your face, your figure, your clothesm - to try to understand who you are and how you like to present yourself to the world. She looks you directly in the eye during your conversation. She listens more than she talks. Much more. Her appearance is stylish, polished, tasteful and professional. This is especially important if she is considerably younger than you are - you want to know that she can be sensitive to the needs of a more mature client, regardless of her own youth.
Don't let anyone talk you into something you're not ready to do. The hairstylist may be right about the best shade for you, but if you're not comfortable with the change, the most stunning hair color in the world won't make you happy. It's OK to say, "I'm not ready for a big change right now. I'm comfortable going toward the color you suggest, but slowly." This will give your eye (and your family, friends, boss, etc.,) time to adjust as your hair color evolves gradually.
"For every hairstylist, the goal is to take a hair color client through a transition that makes her feel great," says Minardi. "Recognize that this is a psychological journey that you're taking together, and prepare for that journey wisely, and you'll be thrilled every time you look in the mirror."
