Let’s talk about the elephant in the salon.
You are scrolling Pinterest and start building a “Hair Inspo Board”, then you bring a few pictures into your stylist for them to understand what it is you’re looking for, you discuss and they deliver, you may leave the salon so happy and then a month later you’re sitting at the bathroom mirror thinking:
Why doesn’t my hair look like my inspiration picture? Or maybe you think this, the day you leave the salon.
Here’s an honest answer: It’s not because there is something wrong with your hair or that your stylist didn’t try or do their best.
It’s because the inspiration picture didn’t tell the full story.
Social Media has changed everything in the Hair Industry. Some good… Some not so good. It has raised the standard and that’s a great thing! We have better techniques, more education, more creativity, more complex methods, more complete consultations and transparency.
Here’ the part many are not saying out loud:
It has also created expectations that don’t always match real life.
Photos that many are bringing in are:
- Freshly done color and glosses.
- Freshly done blowouts and styles.
- Shot in perfect lighting.
- Some shots edited or filtered in Photoshop.
- Hair that has been done after multiple appointments.
- Many thick, long inspo pictures the model has extensions.
- Have been created by AI.
So when you bring in that inspiration photo to your stylist, you’re bringing in a split second in time. What you are not seeing:
- The person’s hair at 6 am after a night out
- Their hair without extensions.
- Their hair after 3 weeks of washing as the gloss or toner has faded.
- The knowledge that the model may have had two or three appointments to reach this picture.
- The fact that your hair may have different texture, porosity or color history different from the model in the picture.
The three things that matter more than the inspiration photo you bring in:
- Your starting point ( This is everything)
If your natural hair is dark brown and your goal is primarily blonde, that will not be a one appointment situation- even if what you want is an effortless, balayage or lived-in look.
A good stylist will be transparent about this up front. They aren’t holding back– they’re protecting the integrity of your hair. A good stylist will say “no,” if you’re not being realistic.
- Your hair’s history ( this matters way more than you might think)
Old color, glosses, root shadows, box dye, minerals from hard water and previous highlights.
All of this affects how your hair lifts, what is possible, and if it’s realistic to proceed forward. This is why most stylist will ask these things before booking an appointment.
Two people could bring in the exact same inspo photo and get completely different results because of their hair history.
- Your hair’s texture and porosity
Fine hair, coarse hair, porous ends, resistant grays… hair doesn’t always behave the same way.
So what should you bring in addition to your photo?
An open mind!
In all Seriousness– photos are so beneficial and a necessary part of an appointment, but they shouldn’t be the only language and being overly attached to your inspiration picture is a recipe for disappointment.
What is very helpful for your stylist is hearing things like:
- I don’t love seeing warmth–but understand that my gloss will fade, all hair fades warm, and I understand that I may need a gloss or use a purple shampoo in between highlight appointments to maintain a cool tone.
- I like a softer lived- in look- a Balayage or Foilyage
- How often you’d like appointments- if you only want to come in every 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 months, let your stylist know.
- I like brightness but still want some of my natural to come through.
- I like brightness but want to see very little natural – blonde as possible.
- I want to be bright red or I like a more natural brownish red.
- I like my color to whisper, talk loudly or scream- tell us which one.
The magic happens when you build a plan with your stylist. You map out a year of appointments to create looks or reach a specific goal. Good hair takes time and is intentional, not thrown together at the last minute.
What a good consultation should feel like:
- A conversation where the stylist is asking questions, and you are answering honestly.
- A strategy is laid out that includes an honest conversation about time and financial budgets.
- It shouldn’t be fast and “sure, we can do that without any questions.”
- It should sound like ” We can get there, but it may take a few appointments.”
- “This look may not be realistic or best suited for you, but this one is ” (Have several inspo pictures with you). Some trends don’t suit everyone, a seasoned stylist will know.
- “No, that’s not possible. ” A good stylist isn’t afraid to have healthy boundaries. That’s not resistance, that’s experience- if you start challenging that in an unrealistic way, it may be a misalignment. The best partnerships are ones in which you trust your stylist’s process. Stylist’s should welcome your feedback, but if you’re chasing a perfection or an “internal image” wound, no stylist will fill that gap.
If you’re tired of guessing, this is exactly what I specialize in.
Not just making your hair look good when you leave, but creating a color that actually works with your lifestyle, budget, time constraints, and desire.
If you want a result that’s realistic, intentional, elevated and designed for you personally, I might be your person. Still unsure? check out my Instagram for the variety of looks I have created.
Are you in or near the Conejo Valley and ready for custom hair designed specifically for you? Here’s a link to my booking page– See you soon!
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