Lets Speak the Same Hair Language: How to get the Look You really want from Your Consultation

As a hairstylist, I can tell you — the consultation is where the magic begins. Before we pick up a comb, scissors, or color brush, we take time to talk, connect, and plan. This part of the appointment is more than small talk — it’s where we turn inspiration into a personalized plan just for you.

A great consultation is a collaboration. It’s where we learn from each other — I bring my experience and expertise, and you bring your preferences, lifestyle, and vision. When we communicate clearly and honestly, that’s when you leave the salon feeling like the best version of yourself.

Here’s what makes a consultation really work — and how you can help us speak the same language.

1. Bring Visuals — But Use Them as a Starting Point
Photos are one of the best tools for communication. Bring screenshots, Pinterest saves, or even old photos of yourself when you loved your hair. Visuals give me a clear idea of what draws your eye — is it the length? Layers? Tone? Volume?

That said, inspiration photos are just that — inspiration. Every head of hair is unique, so we’ll use your pictures as a guide to shape something realistic and tailored for you.

Pro Tip: When we go over the photos be VERY specific. Try to avoid key words like “chunky”. Chunky means different things to different people. So instead bring a photo and let’s pick apart the photo. Take this picture for example:

*not my work

When talking about the color in the photo:
A) Is it the top of her hair you like best? Where it’s a little darker at the top so the grow out line is minimized?

B) Is it the very bold blond highlight pieces u see just under her chin?

C) Or do you like how blended the highlights look everywhere else?

D) Do you want your overall tone to be warm or cool (meaning golden blonde that is warm or an Ashy blonde that is cool)

When talking about the haircut in the photo :
 A) Is it the large heavy layer that is swooping down around her chin?

B) Or do you like how her ends feel light and feathery or do you want your ends blunt? (Meaning a hard edge that have a little more meat on the bottom that make it look fuller.)

C) You might like how her layers are longer all over and there is nothing above her chin.

This is a great example of how we speak different languages as a Hairstylist vs. a client

2. Use Descriptive Language
Words mean different things to different people. “Trim” might mean an inch to one person, but several inches to another. “Layered” can mean face-framing for some, and heavily textured for others.
A big one with color is being descriptive about what color pallet you want your hair to overall be. Do you want it to be a warm tone or cool tone? Warm colors are like reds or chocolate browns or golden blondes.  Cool tones refer to Ashy blondes (violet, blue or silver based blondes) or green based browns (to cancel out the warm tones) or a brown with a violet undertone to reflect cooler in the light. Then you have a True Tone black that has a blue undertone (which I wouldn’t recommend on almost anyone) but it exists. Or you can tell your stylist that you want something more neutral toned, not to warm and not to cool. Somewhere in the middle of the spectrum.

The best way to describe what you want is to pair clear words with specific goals. For example:
    •    Instead of “I want a trim,” try “I want to keep most of my length, just clean up the ends.”
    •    Instead of “I want volume,” try “I’d like more lift on top or the side”
    •    Instead of “I want low maintenance,” try “I don’t want to style daily — I want something that looks good air-dried.”

When in doubt, I’ll ask clarifying questions — but the more specific you can be, the easier it is to get on the same page.

3. Be Honest About Your Hair History
This one’s big. Whether it’s color, chemical treatments, extensions, or box dye — it all matters. Sharing your full hair history helps me understand what’s possible and how to keep your hair healthy.

If you’ve tried something that didn’t work, tell me what you didn’t like and why. It helps me steer clear of similar results and tailor the approach to your preferences.

4. Talk About Your Routine & Comfort Level
Your lifestyle plays a huge role in the haircut or color that suits you best. If you prefer simple styling, tell me! If you love blowouts, curls, or detailed routines, that’s great too.

When I know how you wear your hair most days — air-dried, heat-styled, tied up, etc. — I can design something that fits you and not just your inspiration photo.

Try saying:
    •    “I usually wash every 3 days.”
    •    “I rarely use heat.”
    •    “I like it to look styled without a lot of effort.”

The more I know about your daily life, the more personalized your results will be.

5. Be Open to Professional Guidance
A great consultation is a two-way conversation. You bring your ideas, and I’ll bring my professional eye — together we’ll find the balance between your dream look and what works best for your hair type, face shape, and routine.

Sometimes achieving your goal may take a few appointments, or we might need to tweak a few details to make it work for your texture or lifestyle. The goal is always to make you feel confident and excited — and that starts with mutual trust and clear communication.

Final Thoughts
The perfect consultation is all about clarity, collaboration, and connection. When you come in with visuals, clear descriptions, honesty about your hair, and openness to advice, you set the stage for a truly customized experience.

Listen Hairstylists are ultimately people pleasers. WE WANT YOU TO BE HAPPY! It doesn’t hurt our feeling if at the end of the appointment you say “ can we take a the length a little shorter?” Can we add slightly more layers?” Can we re-tone it to something a little more warmer or cooler?” We want you to be happy when you leave and have the hair of your dreams because WE WANT YOU TO COME BACK! Trust me we would rather you speak up and if you don’t have the courage to do it at that appointment then next time u come in say what worked and what didn’t. When we take time to understand each other, we’re not just speaking the same language — we’re creating something that feels authentically you.

Sincerely,
 Ashley Lyons