Being real

One of the most challenging questions for me to answer as a professional hair stylist is:

“If you could do anything, what would you do with my hair?”

This is not for a lack of ideas or inspiration but rather the fact that I am not the one who has to wear that particular fashion accessory with confidence every day. Your look is far more than a two hour visit to the salon. It is the only accessory that you wear 24 hours a day, in any season and also naked. Can you name a different item in your wardrobe that you wear that much?

When people visit the salon chair, there is often the misconception that your stylist is going to become a wizard and have an answer to a feeling of something lacking within yourself. This could be simply boredom, emotions from home or work and sometimes a reflection of how you feel about yourself on the inside. Your hair is the perfect place to begin a transformation of change to feel better - you just need to make the choices on your terms.

Although your stylist probably has countless hours of training on the latest trends and may have just returned from a creative cutting class, it does not mean that those looks are going to work for you. It is a really unfair position to put your professional in, if you are unable to communicate your expectations clearly on what a realistic change means to you.

Here is where I usually begin the discussion with my guests in order to find a complete look that they will wear with confidence and be able to replicate after they leave the chair:

Long or short: Are you searching for a change that is going to take you from long to short? Are you mentally prepared for a transition and parting with something that has grown along with you for years? If you are truly ready to create a beauty breakthrough, get your stylist to position your hair in the mirror and show you what you would look like with a shorter style.

Be realistic: When you are searching through magazines and circling pictures of hairstyles you like, take note on the styling. Do you have enough time in the morning to blow-dry and curl your hair? Most celebrities appearing in magazines have ‘hairdresser hair’ meaning it has been styled by a professional which on average still takes 30 minutes to one hour. What does your lifestyle actually permit you to spend on your hair?

Texture: Time is something that we just cannot get enough of and is the only thing in the world you cannot get back. Embrace your natural texture and selected styles that work with it. If your hair is sleek and straight, rock it! If it’s curly and coarse, own it! It is a part of who you are and changing it will require time.

The Fringe: Sometimes this is referred to as ‘bangs’. The true purpose to a fringe is to create a focal point on the face. For instance a wider set, full fringe will add width to a long face, a close-set fringe like Vogue Editor-in-chief Anna Wintour will make a wide face look smaller. A side swept fringe is a great option to add softness to any face shape. Be sure to choose a fringe with purpose, not just because.

Photo: Contributed

Condition: Again I am going to ask you to be real for a moment. Have you been caring for your hair as you would a $400 cashmere sweater? This is the only way you can ensure a seamless transition into a new colour of the season. Consult with your hair stylist on a product prescription to ensure you are caring for your hair appropriately before any colour change procedure.

A change in season is the perfect time to visit the salon before you buy the hottest fashion trends. Unlike that new sweater that you are allowed to wear in front of your friends a maximum of twice a week your hair needs to radiate the true you.

I challenge you to step outside of your personal comfort zone that is influenced by your past experiences and begin to look at beauty with new eyes. Be realistic and walk into the salon with utmost confidence in yourself and your hair care professional.  Together you can create a masterpiece.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.