Have you ever walked into the salon excited about your soon-to-be new look and walked out enraged because things didn’t go quite like you had imagined? We (yes, me too) have all experienced horrible service whether it be customer service in general or a terrible haircut or hairstyle. I see ladies all too often that come in the salon with nightmare experiences from their last salon, and nine times out of ten it’s a communication breakdown. There is a method to the madness and I want to share some tips that may just help you from going down that road again.

1. Schedule a consultation. This step is so important to your overall experience at the salon. When you find a salon or hair stylist, you want to make sure you schedule a consultation to communicate what your ideas or desires are for your hair. Remember that communication is a two-way street. You need to provide information and understanding to your hairstylist and the hairstylist needs to provide information and professional direction to you. To avoid miscommunication, give as much information as possible about your hair and its history and also get some understanding of basic terminology such as layering, feathers, tapering and trimming. If you don’t understand what the stylist is saying, this is the perfect time to ask. Make sure that the stylist is easy to talk to with a pleasant personality, and the same is expected from you, the client.

2. Get a virtual makeover. There are online websites that allow you to get a virtual makeover by uploading a photo of yourself and try on different hairstyles to get an idea of how a particular style, cut or color may look on you before you actually commit. When you find a look that you like, print it out and take it in to the stylist to show during your consultation. This is a pretty neat idea.

3. Bring pictures. We are visual people. It’s hard to describe a cut or style and be sure that the person listening really visualizes the same picture in their mind as you. You’re taking a huge chance of not getting the look you were hoping for. So, show us a photo of the cut you had that you really liked or bring photos printed from online or from a magazine of the look you want to see on yourself to be certain you are getting what you want.

4. Be realistic. Keep in mind that magazine photos are taken at a photo shoot where there’s a hairstylist and an assistant or two right by the models’ side during the whole shoot to make sure every hair is in place. They may use wind machines, hair pieces, extensions, and even whole cans of hair spray. There are also lights shining on the models’ hair to make the color more vibrant. Not to mention the photo retouching that gives the hair an even shinier, fuller look. So, try to bring photos of models or celebrities at movie premiers or on the red carpet. These photos look more natural because there’s not a stylist trailing them right before the shot fixing every hair that’s out of place.

5. Speak up. Tell your stylist if you didn’t really care for that last look she gave you. Be specific. Tell them why you did or didn’t like the style (be gentle) and discuss what you would like to achieve this time around. It doesn’t help you or the stylist if communication stops because you refused to speak to the one who can help get it right. Take a deep breath, call them up or on your next visit communicate the issue right away and work together.

6. Listen. Be open to the recommendations and direction your stylist has to offer. If you have done your homework and chose a salon or stylist you feel you will can vibe with, then there has to be a certain level of trust. Listen, ask questions and get a good understanding of their suggestions so you can then make an informed decision. Ultimately, it’s your call.

7. If all of the above fails, then you have no choice but to move along and find another stylist. Pay attention to styles that you like on your friends, co-workers or even the cashier. Especially if they have a similar cut like the one you’ve been envying or a similar hair type and texture as yours. Don’t be afraid to stop and ask where they go to get their hair done. They’ll more than likely be flattered.