First Trip to a Salon - Need Advice!! - Lenox,MA

I think it's great that you want to do something for yourself! Start there!

I would not do up the make-up - you'll be in the sink and the water will get along the hair line and at least 1/2 inch in. If you want to take make-up with you to do afterwards, you can do that.

Some salons have you put something on (a smock) and others just put a cape on over you. I would wear something that buttons up the front, not something that you pull over your head, so that you don't mess up your hair putting it on at the end. Good hairdressers will make sure there are no loose hairs on your neck - between the cape and the little towel they put along your neck and under the cape, your should be okay. The blowdryer should take care of what's on your face. I usually wear a scoop neck shirt so it's not up high on my neck like a turtle neck or even a regular t-shirt. You can get a little bit chilly once your head is wet, so I would definitely wear something with sleeves.

If you see pictures of things in magazines that you think might be attractive, take them along. But not every cut is right for your type of hair. Tell the stylist up front, before you appointment, that you don't know what you're doing (!) and you need some time to talk before she grabs the scissors. Most stylists like this part of it! You don't need to know the names of things.

You DO need to let them know your routines - do you go to the gym 3 times a week and need something you can stick in a ponytail? Are you not so coordinated with a blowdryer and need something that is quick to style? Are you figuring you won't have a lot of time with a new baby? Do you have a strong feeling about short vs. long? What is the shape of your face (if you know)? What's your clothing style - jeans and t-shirts, sweats, tailored shirts with nice pants, etc.? Do you work, party, hike, swim - a lot? Do you have any talent or time to spend on your hair? Are you a complete klutz with a blowdryer? TELL THEM! Their job is to make you happy (so you will come back) and to give you something you can live with, while making you feel terrific and excited about your new look.

Tipping is 15% minimum, 20% customary - like waitresses. If you are going to the owner of a salon, and if he/she charges a higher price, then you don't tip. If, however, the owner charges the same as the other people, then you do. You actually have to ask - and they will tell you. If one of the less experienced people shampoos you or rinses out your color, then I usually give them a few bucks, up to $5, separate from what I give my main stylist - but I also cut back my stylist since she didn't do all the work herself. If you buy any products there (conditioner, etc.) you don't tip on the value of those. If you are unsure, ask the receptionist who is ringing you up what the cost is of the services themselves. Also, some people tip the person directly, but at larger, high-end salons, sometimes they have little envelopes you can leave the money in at the front desk. That's up to you.

You should ask friends for references - find people who have hairstyles you admire, and ask who they would recommend (and who they would NOT recommend.) If you have particularly difficult hair in some ways - extremely thick, or extremely curly and coarse, then I would ask people who have similar hair where they go (not just the salon, but the person too).

I think you should consider starting slowly since you are nervous - maybe just start with a good cut, and don't worry about highlights for now. You can do that at the next appointment if you want. Too many drastic changes can be stress-producing.

If you feel you are being pressured, tell the stylist to take it easy. Tell him/her you don't want to do anything too drastic the first time out. Don't feel pressured to buy all of their products. If you have a particular issue you want help with, you might want to buy a product that helps with that. For example, my hair is baby fine but I have a lot of it - I need help getting some volume at the roots so it doesn't lie flat. So I use a product for that. Someone with very coarse or damaged hair might want to use a good conditioner that they recommend. Once they look at your hair, they'll be able to give you some advice. Just don't feel that you need to walk out of there with a shopping bag full of professional products.

Again, their job is to make you want to come back there, so they should be working in partnership with you.

And don't be intimidated by the trendy pictures on the walls and in the magazines - they should be giving you a style that works for you and that doesn't require a professional to style it every day!

I say, do it! It will refresh your look and make you feel better. However, I would also make sure the cut you're given doesn't involve a whole lot of styling (i.e. if you have curly hair, it needs to be flat ironed every morning or takes tons of blow drying to look good). Make sure they know you have kids and need something easy to care for. Talk to your friends and find a stylist they like, or read some local, online reviews. I have curly hair and if that's a consideration for you, there are definitely stylists who are better at cutting it than others.
The trouble with dying or highlighting your hair is once you start, it's hard to stop, plus it can be expensive! You can ask your Dr about highlighting; since they basically just apply the bleach to the hair and wrap it up in foil, it's not the same as when they cover your entire scalp with hair dye (although you might just want to skip it altogether to be on the safe side). Once you do it, though, you have to keep it up every 6-8 weeks, I believe.
As far as tipping goes, make sure you bring cash. Most salons I have been to do not let you put tips on credit cards. If a different person than the stylists washes your hair, I would give them a few dollars as well.

Good luck!

Go for it and have fun! Every few years I change my look with a cut. I go short for 5-10 years, then long for 5-10 years, short, long.... At 50, I've tried a lot of different cuts through the years.

The other responders had some good suggestions. I'm not a facial, makeup, pedicure, or manicure kind of gal, but everything else JL said was right on the money. Don't be nervous and just enjoy it. It always grows if it turns out you don't like the cut.

I'm always freezing in the winter, so I usually wear turtlenecks and thick wool sweaters to the salon. They just turn down the collar and put the smock over it. I rarely have a lot of little itchy hairs to deal with even with the turtlenecks. Just wear whatever you feel comfortable in.

I go to two different salons, depending on if I'm going for something new or not. One place consistently gives me a good cut, especially if I'm going for something new. They give a wonderfully relaxing head and shoulder massage plus great-smelling products. But that costs $40-45 for a cut and a 20% tip. The other place is a no frills place but she does a great job if she doesn't get to talking too much--she only costs $15 and I give her $20 because she is so inexpensive and good.

I totally agree that you should look at some magazines or websites, or look around you, for ideas for cuts. And ask people around you if they have a hair stylist they really like. It's much easier if you have a picture, or even a drawing, you can bring in to give them an idea of what you're looking for. Keep in mind your hair type (curly, straight, wavy), face shape, ease of care, etc. And think about how often you want to get a cut. Many cuts require a trim every 6-8 weeks to keep it looking right. Others can handle longer periods between cuts. Just be prepared for the time and cost of whatever style you pick.

Skip the highlighting for now probably. I love the look of highlighting but I would definitely check with your OB or the hair salon first before making a decision like that.

My hair is graying and I don't mind the gray at all. It has a lot of great variation on its own (I call it my cheap highlighting, one stylist calls the gray "ultimate platinum", and the other expensive one said people pay lots of money to get the varied color I have naturally. Hah! I KNEW there was a reason I didn't spend the money to get my hair colored!

I love changing things up every once in a while. So, go for it!

Do what will make you feel good! My OB said highlights are fine, because they don't touch the root.
I tip 20% of the cost of the service.
Most hair dressers are cool down to earth people, as long as you don't go into the city or to a ritzy place. Bring a picture if you want, because most people would not be able to describe the technique. They will drape an apron over you, so where what ever is comfortable.
I usual do put on some make up because usually you are staring into a mirror the whole time you are cutting your hair
HTH. If you want to come down to Farmington CT i can give you the name of a place where everyone is really nice and they do a great job!

:)