Why are consultations so important?

Consultations are a vital part of your hairdressing service. Without them, how will your Stylist truely know what you are after? A consultation should be the perfect symphony between the hairdressing world and the client world. This is the point where magic begins. So how can you as a client get the best out of your consultation and provide your hairdresser with all the insight they need?

1. Don't be shy No we don't bite. Even though we look like we have it all going on, at the end of the day, we are human and there to service you. If you hold back, we will never know your true personality and find it hard to get information out of you. Own that shit...and be who you really are. If your Stylist puts you down or makes you feel uncomfortable, then I suggest you get up and walk away.

2. Bring in photos Pinterest photos are not lame. They help us understand what look you are after, especially if you have trouble with the correct hairdressing terms. My only advice is to make sure the person in the photo has similar hair texture and thickness to you and you are realistic about your requests. A good Stylist will tell you if it's unachievable and alternernative ways to create what you are after

3. Don't expect your hair to look like the photo. Photos should be an inspiration. Hairdressing is not a cookie cutting excercise so we can get your hair close to what you are after but there will be differences depending on your hair type and colour. Photos are also edited, filtered and lit in ways to make them more visually appealling.

4. Give clear and consistent information It's hard to consult if a client doesn't even have a ballpark idea of what they want. Similarly, if a client keeps changing their mind in a consultation, then we find it hard to plan the look you are after. Make sure you have a clear idea and stick to it. Your Stylist can steer you in the right direction if the look is unachievable.

5. Listen very carefully You show us the pics, describe what you want and ask for our opinion. Now please listen very carefully to our thoughts. If it's doable we will say so. If not we will explain the process of what is achievable. So at that point, please drop the fantasy you have ingrained in your mind and be a realist. We will explain what will suit you, set out a contingency plan and tell you how to make the most of your hair.

6. Be aware of the limitations of your hair We all have the ideal hair that we visualize having. We would also all love to ride a unicorn to work everyday but in reality, some things just ain't gonna happen. If you have fine hair, we cannot cut your hair to look thick. Embrace your hair the way it is and learn to make the most of it. Good hair is not born, it is made possible by a kick ass Stylist who works with what you have.

7. Lying only makes it worse. If you tell us hair lies, the results will show this, but we can usually figure this out beforehand anyway. If we can see black die in your hair but you swear you have never coloured it, you are not doing either of us any favors. We are not here to hair shame you. So you box dyed your hair. No need to feel guilty but we do need to know these things as colour reacts differently on pre coloured hair. Please let us know of any previous bleaching services now covered by brown dye. We will find this out when your hair snaps while coloring. Get the point! We only ask you these things to get the best colour possible and keep the integrity of your hair.

8. We talk products and treatments for a reason. This is because we truely believe in them. Not because we need to make a quota for the month. By you using good quality products, it makes our job easier and our work look better. This helps you style your hair more successfully and have a kick ass colour for longer. Treatments are a must after any colouring service. It puts the nutrients back in your hair and holds your colour longer. We all use shampoo and conditioner so why not let the person who has just spent 3 hours on your hair be the one who tells you what is best for it.

9. If you need a quote, just ask. Prices vary greatly in our industry and each salon has their reasoning for what they charge. Here at Birdie are color prices are based on time and amount of product used. If cost is an issue, please ask or come in for a consultation. We would much rather quote you, then have you feel uncomfortable the whole service. But be aware, we value what we do and in the end you do get what you pay for.

And finally...

1. Please don't ask us if it will look good. Come on. This one is a no brainer. We wouldn't do anything that doesn't suit you and if we believe it will look bad on you, we will steer you in another direction. And what kind of response were you thinking you would get anyway?

So there you have it. The hairdresser/ client experience is a sacred one and like all good relationships, is based on truth, honesty, clear communication and effort on both sides. Heres to a long and happy hair dating life.💋

10 ways to get the best from your Hairdresser.

So you have stalked your dream hairstylist on Instagram, read the reviews and have finally booked your appointment. Yes as a Stylist, we love our job and are very excited to be doing your hair. Here are 10 ways to get the best out of your appointment and make your Stylist love you as a client.

1. We consider ourselves as Artists and art is a personal opinion so please do your research before choosing to book in with us. Just like Tattoo Artists, we all have our own style and specialise in certain looks. Don't just be dazzled by our pretty Instagram and Pinterest pictures. Work out if this look is for you. Can you maintain the style? Is it appropriate for your job? Do you really have the confidence to wear hot pink hair? Chose the best stylist for the particular look you are after.
2. No we don't double book like your doctor does. If we run late, it is usually due to a process taking longer than expected or the client has extra thick hair. If we have a day of back to back long, thick haired clients, this will surely throw our schedule out. Some hair takes longer to lift than others and some people take longer to consult. We make adjustment to the times when we know the client but it can be difficult with new clients so please state when booking if your hair is extra long or extra thick. We will also call you if we feel we are running really late but please don't huff and puff over 15 min. If time is an issue, give the salon a call about 30min before your appointment to see if the Stylist is running on time.
3. We love pictures and we respect other Stylists work as inspiration, but don't be coming into my salon with a picture from a Stylist in the same town and tell me how amazing their work is but you could't get in with them or we were cheaper. If you love that Stylists work then please go and see them. We don't mind inspiration but we cannot exactly replicate another Stylists work, especially when it has been Photoshopped, filtered and Stellar lit. Show is your inspiration and let us do the work. We like to know you chose us after some research and that you have confidence in our work.
4. Please have some idea of the look you are after. It is wonderful that you want to let us weave our magic but please give us a ball park idea. This is not a Makeover show. If you let us do what we wanted, then I am sure you would not like the mermaid/Galaxy/unicorn look we will create for you if your job is a Lawyer. We will ask you open ended questions so please answer honestly. Also be realistic on what your hair will do and your styling ability. Some of my favourite looks have been the simplest things which complement the client's look
5. Please let us know if you are on a budget. Most salons will warn you if the price is getting over $250 but who are we to make judgements on what you find expensive. If money is an option, then ask for a quote. We would rather tell you up front then have you pass out at the front desk.
6. You know your hair the best so if there is anything unusual it does, please tell me. A weird kick, an area that doesn't colour or patches that go lighter or darker than they should are all really helpful thing to know before I start your hair. Saves us a minor freak out later at the basin but in some cases we may be able to rectify the problem if we know about it beforehand.
7. When your Stylists speaks, please listen. If we tell you that you will not be able to achieve your desired colour today or your hair is too damaged to lighten any further, please listen. Don't just nod and then complain at the end. Sometimes I wish we had one of those Telstra 'recording your call' services to play back to clients who refuse to acknowledge our conversation.
8. Please don't lie to us about your colour history. Just like your parents, we can see through your lies. We can see it in your hair. Even if you put a semi permanent in your hair 3 years ago, chances are if your hair is past your shoulders, it will still be in your hair. Even semi permanents will mark the hair and we need to consider this when colouring. Your lies will only make your colour not turn out as hoped so please be honest for both our sakes.
9. Please respect the time it takes to create the look you are after, and time is money. These days we can do double colour processes in the one day thanks to Olaplex but this does take more time and will therefore cost extra. The darker your hair, the longer it will take to lighten. Please be patient, clear your day and bring a packed lunch if you are wanting an extreme colour change.
10. By all means, if after a week you are feeling uneasy or not liking something about your hair, call the salon. All respectable salons will amend your hair and will most likely not charge you if its a reasonable request. Obviously if it is a complete change of mind, there will be charges. Peoples variations and perceptions of a certain look or picture may vary so tell your Stylist what it is you don't like or can't do with your hair and they can rectify it. It is usually an easy and quick fix. Don't ever leave it over 2 weeks to contact the salon and definitely don't go to another salon to get it fixed then come back for a refund. You owe it to the Stylist to let them see what you don't like and attempt to sort the problem.