Styling Tips for Clients | At Length by Prose Hair
How do you usually like to wear your hair?
No ‘Aha!’ moment with this question, but believe it or not, some stylists ask this question but don’t take the time to actually listen to the answer. If your client comes in for a high ponytail because she saw Kim Kardashian’s super sleek snatched look for the red carpet, listen to her when she says she never wears her hair back. Discuss what exactly it is about the look that she likes and use your expertise to suggest something in the middle. If she insists on the exact look, talk about any “watch outs” she may not have considered. For example, the tension could cause her to get a headache in the middle of her event.
How long should the style last?
Let’s take a blowout client as an example. They come in, get a wash and style, but expect their look to last a week because they’ve invested in it — even though you know that their scalp type calls for their hair to be washed every 2-3 days. Get real with them. Ask them what their time expectancy is before they choose the style. If they aren’t new to blowouts they may have this already figured out, but give them a second version of the hairstyle that they haven’t even considered. One that could help them extend the style. Suggest having them come back when it’s time to wash to turn a tired blowout into an impressive braided style! This can easily extend their wash day another 1-2 days and makes you the most creative stylist they’ve had in years. Win-win!
What is your hair routine before bed?
We’ll go back to our blowout client-she has a bouncy, full bodied blowout but doesn’t have the time (or tools) to keep her volume intact the next morning. If you’re a seasoned stylist — or one who knows the importance of mapping out your work before you begin — this is a great time to show your client how to pin their hair at night. Book an extra five minutes for a 1-on-1 session in your chair and actually teach them how to pin their hair at night. Almost every blowout can be broken down into 3 large sections comfortably at night. And of course, suggest a satin pillowcase to decrease frizz and flyaways!
What have you found to be the most helpful to ask your client when doing a styling consultation? Let us know in the comments below!