If you’re a person that visits a hairdresser regularly, chances are you would have told a little white lie at least once. Perhaps it was about the products you’re using or the sneaky at-home hair dye job you’ve tried to pass off as someone else’s mistake? Well turns out, these little white lies can be the things that make a hairdresser’s job harder and have the potential for you to leave the salon with a style you really weren’t hoping for. We spoke to Grow’s Expert Hair Stylist Tiarne April of Chumba Concept Salon about everything your hairdresser wishes you would stop doing.
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1. Lying about your hair history
Ok, so you might have done a sneaky little dye job at home and thought it would be less embarrassing if you just blame it on a previous hairdresser. On the surface, this sounds like an innocent white lie, but the reality is your hairdresser really does need to know what is on your hair.
Things like box dyes, henna, and home peroxide jobs can cause reactions with professional products during the colouring process and can alter what direction your stylist has to take with your hair. For example, some black box dyes can take up to a year to shift, with some not so pretty colours exposed in the process. Be mindful that hairdressers aren’t asking you about your hair history to embarrass you, we’re asking so we can make sure we do the best job possible!
2. Ignoring your hairdresser’s advice
Yes, sometimes it might feel like your hairdresser is suggesting a particular product because they are trying to sell you something, but truth be told, they’re suggesting it because it’s the right product for your hair.
A hairdresser has likely suggested a particular product because it’s been specifically formulated with high quality ingredients that target specific hair and scalp concerns. Hairdressers suggest these type of products because they actually do work and we want your hair to still be looking fresh by your next appointment. If budget is a concern, tell us! There is always a solution and lots of quality products at every price point. It makes our jobs a whole lot easier when you come back in and your hair will thank you for it.
3. Being in a rush
These days it seems like everyone is in a hurry to get someone and we totally understand that, but the one place that you shouldn’t be rushing is at the salon.
Hairdressers want to make your experience as enjoyable and relaxing as possible but when you come in claiming that you’re in a hurry, this instantly changes the atmosphere, puts pressure on us and means that we have to rush when we’d rather take our time to make sure your hair is perfect! So, block out more time, sit back and enjoy the head massage instead of constantly looking at the clock.
4. Going to bed with your hair soaking wet
We all know it’s a lot easier to just hop out of the shower and jump straight into bed without bothering with the hairdryer. But if you haven’t already noticed, going to bed with your hair wet can actually damage your hair.
Besides the damage that moisture can cause your pillow and your health (like encouraging bacteria to breed), going to bed with your hair drenched can cause damage. Your hair is weakest whilst wet; not drying it before you sleep is likely to cause breakage, particularly in blondes. Along with a few knots or kinks that will be hard to get out in the morning. Rather than going straight to bed with wet hair, do a luxe hair treatment a few hours before bed like the Grow Longer Stronger Anti-Breakage Hair Mask to ensure your hair is nourished and strengthened from the inside out and then let it dry naturally. Formulated with amino acids and key actives, the Grow Longer Stronger Anti-Breakage Hair Mask helps strengthen hair from within and protects the hair surface, preventing damage and breakage caused by environmental stress, chemical treatments or over styling. Enriched with aloe vera, jojoba, and avocado oil, it works to nourish and hydrate hair, leaving it beautiful and shiny.
5. Covering your hair with too many silicones
We’ve all heard this before, yet it seems silicones are hard to escape. A common ingredient in many supermarket shampoos, silicones add another barrier layer to hair strands. While silicones may initially make hair look shiny and new, they prevent moisture from penetrating the hair shaft, causing hair to become magnet for dirt and other ingredients, resulting in product build-up over time.
Silicones do an amazing job at covering up the damage we do to our manes. So, whilst our hair can look great when using them, the reality is underneath that build-up, hair can be brittle, lifeless and dull, and can also react with professional colour. If you’ve been using a silicone-based shampoo for a while now, try giving your hair a detox with a silicone-free shampoo and conditioner. It will remove the build-up and get your hair on the right track to where you want it to be. We recommend Grow’s range of silicone-free shampoos, conditioners and treatment products, like the Grow Longer Stronger Shampoo.
6. At home dye jobs
Yes, you might have been a bit strapped before payday and your roots were starting to grow a little far out, but that doesn’t mean you should let your sister go ham on your hair over a few wines. Yes, we’ve all been there; the temptation for a quick fix can be all too appealing, but unfortunately, this slip can undo months of getting your hair into good condition, and can also add another hurdle into achieving the colour you desire. These days there are great wash out regrowth covering sprays that’ll get you through that extra week. If you’re blonde, incorporate a toning product into your routine like the Pro:voke Touch of Silver Toning Treatment Mask.
And, next time that $10 dye job looks appealing at the grocery store, say no for your hair’s sake (and the sanity of your hairdresser).
7. Thinking we are miracle workers
Most people know the feeling too well of leaving the hairdressers in utter disappointment because they don’t look anything like the picture they bought in. While most hairdressers will encourage you to bring in pictures of what you really want (this can certainly explain it better), try to remember that hairdressers are not miracle workers. Bringing in a few pictures of where you would like your hair to get to is great. Especially since your hairdresser’s idea of an ash blonde might be completely different to what you consider an ash blonde, and a picture is a very effective way of communicating what direction you would like to take. However, bringing in a picture saying you want your hair to look like Beyonce’s will not automatically mean you will look like Beyonce. Sure, we might be able to get the hair colour and cut right, but we can’t magically transform your hair from straight to curly. It is important to be excited about what you want, but also be realistic.
Words by Tiarne April
Feature image courtesy of Annie Leibovitz
