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rbooh
November 2nd, 2011, 12:23 PM
Paleocurls post about her experience at the salon got me to thinking.

Do hair stylist (cosmetology?) courses involve training beyond hair cuts and processes? Do stylists get any kind of interpersonal skills training or sensitivity training?

I've only found 1 stylist in my life that truly did what I wanted and at least PRETENDED to be happy to work on my hair.

I have been thinking about getting my hair colored at the salon. My hair color issues are complicated and I need some professional help (lol, maybe in more than 1 way). I am so scared to go to a salon and get trashed, both physically and mentally, that I keep putting it off.

The last trip to the salon in July, the stylist was so insulting that I just do not want to go through the humiliation again.

heidi w.
November 2nd, 2011, 12:33 PM
For hair coloring, all stylists are most definitely NOT created equal. While all are trained to color or perm and that kind of thing, not all are good at it, and really understand the chemistry they're performing.

I therefore recommend that you consult with professional colorists. There are those who specialize in one aspect or another of hair care.

As it concerns cutting, I recommend finding a stylist via interviewing and some watching, when a salon is slow, not when it's uber busy, and find a professional to work with. I have conducted interviews where they say they'll cut my hair as I wish, but I could tell they weren't committed to the idea, so I just let them go.

I also tend to prefer stylists that are more "mature" age wise as these folks tend to have lots of experience, be better at the personal nature and relationship, and are generally done with using your head of hair as a place to make their personal statements and declare their ego and purpose as a stylist.

I also tend to stray from the fancy, big-name salons and work with lower-end salons.

However, if you ever have an opportunity to visit a George Michael salon, I can only recommend you GO. It's worth the bucks. The experience will be like nothing you've ever experienced before. I had the good fortunate to visit the Madora Salon in Manhattan, New York once, and it numbers among my grand life experiences.

heidi w.

spidermom
November 2nd, 2011, 12:38 PM
Not a stylist.

However, I wanted to say that I've walked into hair salons on impulse many times during my life, and I only ended up walking out with something I didn't ask for or like once, but the stylist was probably 8-3/4 months pregnant, and it was near the end of the day. I should have known better.

honeydippedxo
November 2nd, 2011, 09:53 PM
Yes we get trained on how to talk to clients, how to be friendly and make them feel comfortable. But you know once you graduate from school, get your license and make it through your job interview...most people do what they want. Or should I say "their version of what you want".

And most cosmetology schools try to teach that short is good, long not so much. The first day of school all the girls in my class with long hair were told by our instructors that by the time we graduate our hair would be short.

julliams
November 3rd, 2011, 03:10 AM
The first day of school all the girls in my class with long hair were told by our instructors that by the time we graduate our hair would be short.

I can see how this would be beneficial to the business and I understand that a salon needs to be a viable business but... wow - I wasn't expecting that. But it does make total sense to me - just that it's the opposite of how I think.

I was totally surprised to find two long hair salons in walking distance from our apartment in Zurich. When I asked GM why they don't have a salon in Australia they told me that they would love to but cannot see that the general population would support it. I can't understand why...

Libbylou
November 3rd, 2011, 04:05 AM
I usually go to the walk in type salons. I have been going to this particular one for 20 years, so most of the " oldies" know me. I have had my share of the noob's, and pretty bad hair from listening to them. Now I just go in for bang trim every 5 or 6 weeks. I make them repeat how I want them cut.
I also know that they are taught that the expensive chemical laden products are the best.

Orangerthanred
November 3rd, 2011, 06:21 AM
Depends on the stylist. My mom [a former hairstylist] specializes in perms and cutting, she sucks at dyeing.

UltraBella
November 3rd, 2011, 07:41 AM
I made it all the way through beauty school with my long hair intact. My instructors did not push us to alter our hair unless we wanted to and my hair generally was viewed as "gorgeous" and highly desirable. There was not a dislike for long hair in my school environment and several other students had long hair as well. Many of them did decide to cut their hair while in school, everyone is experimenting and the temptation to try a funky cut or color is strong. The wildest thing I did was get some chunky highlights that I dyed over a week later, just wasn't me.

I think communication in general is difficult for many people and it is a very hard thing to teach an individual. Stylists with the knack of speaking to people with kindness and confidence, and being good listeners in return, already had those skills in general - it really can't be taught. Those stylists will do better.

rbooh
November 3rd, 2011, 10:37 AM
First of all, THANK YOU all for replying! I moved recently to a city where I don't know anyone or have any family, except my kids and hubby of course lol I left my BFF and all the familiarities of home behind. Finding this forum has been such a relief.

heidi w. ~ Your hair is such an inspiration, so lovely, healthy and long! I never realized that hairstylists would specialize in color. When I couldn't get an appt with my favorite stylist, I would just pop in to the Regis at the mall. I regret it now because that is where I went the last time. I will definitely look at color specialists. I had thought about going to a salon and watching the different stylists but I had no idea if I would be allowed to do that. My dream is to go to a George Michael salon, I think they would have much more... sympathy? about my hair ordeals. I had looked up Rapunzels in Columbus OH, as they pop up when you google GM. I certainly deserve some pampering. Thanks again for you reply!

spidermom ~ Can I just say that you have... amazing, beautiful, awe-inspiring hair. Your signature pic just made my jaw drop when you changed it. I'm so flattered that you even read the post, thank you. And yes, I've done the same thing. They should have a boot on a spring at most salons that kick you in the butt as you walk out lol

honeydippedxo ~ Thank you for replying! I do understand that hairdressers are in the business to cut, style, color and try all the new innovations. Its just a shame that only a cut above the collar is seen as "style". We need more hairdressers like you, that actually LIKE long hair :)

julliams ~ So did you get to experience the GM salons in Zurich? I would love a chance to go, my only hesitation is that I have very short bangs. After reading GM philosophy about natures balance I'm worried that I'd get a stern talking to about growing my bangs out. Which I just can't do unless they offer Botox too lol

Libbylou ~ Luckily Ive been trimming my own bangs for years. I like them blunt and pretty short. I don't know how many times Ive had hairstylists tell me NOT to wear them like this. They want to layer them or put some weird arch in them. Ive only bought 1 salon product ever. Sadly it stained a hotel shower curtain so badly that I had to pay for it :(

Orangerthanred ~ What's your moms opinion on henna? I had a stylist ask me one time if I henna. She said if I did that she wouldn't work on my hair. I never have henna'd tho.


UltraBella ~ Sounds like you went to a great school! When the hair dresser asks me about what I want I have learned to be specific but I am always self deprecating. I tell them I know I sound like a nut lol but my hair is very important to me. I tell them what various torture I have put my hair through, my general routine and what my goals are. I try to never tell them about past bad experiences, because its too much like yakking on and on about your evil ex on a date with someone new. I plan on following heidi w.'s advice and spy on a few salons before I commit.

Thanks to all the ladies that commented and replied :)

mora
November 3rd, 2011, 10:46 AM
Maybe you could try one of the Texas salons in the long-haired friendly salon list (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=11326). They might have more sympathetic stylists, although I suppose there's no reason that a stylist that is good with long hair would also be especially good at color.

rbooh
November 3rd, 2011, 11:23 AM
Maybe you could try one of the Texas salons in the long-haired friendly salon list (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=11326). They might have more sympathetic stylists, although I suppose there's no reason that a stylist that is good with long hair would also be especially good at color.

Hi Mora! I hadn't even thought of looking here for hair salons! I'm in the panhandle of Texas so Albuquerque is just 4 hours away and one of the salons from the list is there! My husband travels there every month so I am positive I can get there. WOW, thank you so much :)

Texas is so huge that the other salons in TX are farther than another state lol

moxamoll
November 3rd, 2011, 11:43 AM
Yeah, finding a hairstylist that you like and can worth with can be an arduous process! The one thing I tell people is that getting your hair done once does not constitute a commitment! If you get a cut you don't like, go back and talk to them - tell them what you didn't like and why. A good stylist should offer you other options, rather than trying to convince you why what they did is better.

I adore my stylist and I kind of feel bad that I'm no longer giving her a challenge! She'd rather I cut it shorter and start dyeing it again, but only because it's more interesting for her. :eek: She has an artist's eye and is very straight forward about what will/won't work for particular hair types, face shapes, etc. And even when I was keeping it shorter, she knew all my personal quirks and was great about helping me find a style that met both my current dream and my standing preferences.

Hold out until you find someone like that for yourself!

jacqueline101
November 3rd, 2011, 11:54 AM
I'm not a stylist but I think it has something to do with people in general we hear people we don't listen. Its the age old problem.

mora
November 3rd, 2011, 12:57 PM
Hi Mora! I hadn't even thought of looking here for hair salons! I'm in the panhandle of Texas so Albuquerque is just 4 hours away and one of the salons from the list is there! My husband travels there every month so I am positive I can get there. WOW, thank you so much :)

Texas is so huge that the other salons in TX are farther than another state lol

I'm glad that might work out for you. There seem to be so few salons in the list that most people can't find one that will be near enough for them.

If it really is somewhat convenient for you to get there, maybe you could just go for a consultation/discussion or simple trim first and then also talk about your coloring needs. Since it is on the list with a specific stylist, that person is probably good at doing long hair and probably doesn't have bad interpersonal skills but coloring could still be a whole different thing.

Once you said it was 4 hours away, I started to worry that I may have directed you to a bad path. I don't really know much about hair coloring but I think that some people go so far as to have a separate stylists for coloring and for cutting. There are stylists that are very good at both, though, too, so YMMV.

Anyhow, good luck!

spidermom
November 3rd, 2011, 01:38 PM
Thank you rbooh; I do manage to catch a good hair day every once in awhile. It has its awful days, too.

akilina
November 3rd, 2011, 03:46 PM
My job put me through some special training to really ensure a great consultation, which is really important.
Since i love long hair so much i really do cut very minuscule amounts if that is what they ask for. It makes me so sad to see people who come in and are literally shaking in the chair! I like to build confidence in my client that im not going to slaughter their hair. They are always happy in the end too.

rbooh
November 3rd, 2011, 07:24 PM
Again, thank you ladies for the replies :)

moxamoll ~ With the help of mora, I think I'm on the path to finding my own hair hero :) You are certainly fortunate to have found someone that seems so attuned to you, good for you! I do understand that some stylists look at long hair and think they won't make any $$ from 2 trims a year, but my half highlights alone cost $120 every 6 weeks and I'm a generous tipper too. I'm quite fond of changing colors lol

jacqueline101 ~ Too true! I've learned to be specific, but I hate coming off as if I'm OCD about my hair. I am, but I hate being obvious about it lol

mora ~ Hello again! I don't know if anyone else is from Texas, but around here, driving 4 hours is like running to the convenience store lol You had an awesome suggestion and I plan on making an appt ASAP since my husband will be leaving for ABQ on the 7th. It will be nice to have a couple of days of alone time... I mean me and my hair :D

spidermom ~ I wish my best days were as good as your bad days. Your hair is just amazing!

akilina ~ I'm sure your clients are thrilled, you have such a lovely attitude! And yes, the last time I sat in a stylists chair I couldn't even look while she was trimming, I absolutely felt ill. Someday you might open your own salon and offer long hair care services along with all the others... I'm sure you would have a built in clientele from LHC.

Thanks ladies! Y'all are super helpful and kind to reply :)

BlazingHeart
November 3rd, 2011, 10:39 PM
Ooh hey, one of those long hair friendly stylists is very close to my parents' house. The next time I visit, I will have to decide between trying the stylist from the list or relying on the stylist I know out there who has always done right by my thick, wavy hair.

~Blaze