Pre-Salon Tips

An NLM Reader (Shoutouts to @HenryQs) and I recently discussed some things that is on the minds on every transitioning or natural haired chick that has considered going to a salon to get their hair cut or trimmed:  

"What if she chops off all of my hair????"

We all know someone who's gone through it. It may have even been you who's gone to the salon expecting a quick trim and left with more chopped off than you wanted. Luckily, there are some ways to prevent this. Here are some tips you should keep in mind before heading to a salon to get anything done. 

• Research alot of natural hair salons online or around town. I usually use good ole Google Local to find places in my area. Pay attention to any reviews they have, and go to their site if they have one. Look at the styles, the actual design of the site, and also look at their prices. 
• Once you've found a few you may be interested in, call them to set up a consultation. If they say, "Oh you can just come in," for one, then it could mean that they don't take consultations seriously. I've been to plenty of places that have said the same thing and rushed me through the consultation or have even looked at me crazy because I asked so many questions. If that's the case, then move that salon to the your last resort, because the way they react to you could reflect how they take care of your hair. 
• During your consultation, be clear with what you want, even if it means repeating yourself. If it's about not cutting off too much, then tell them. Some stylists may tell you that you have a lot of split ends, so it may be necessary to cut alot off. If that proves to be true, and you are really apprehensive about getting alot cut off, then tell them you want to get it gradually cut off so you won't lose much length. 
• Check out the salon during your consultation as well. Check for cleanliness, and most importantly, check out how they interact with the customers. There should be a level of professionalism, but also a level of comfort in the salon because it essentially is all about customer satisfaction in a salon. If it doesn't seem that way, then scratch them off the list. 
• If you get a chance, talk to some of the clients. Ask how long have they've been going there and how the service is overall. This will help you get a real view on how the salon is. If there are alot of clients that are regulars there, then the salon is most likely a great one. 
• If everything is to your satisfaction, then set up an appointment! During the appointment, make sure you remind the stylist of your needs. During the session, pay attention to what the stylist is doing, so you can stop them if they start to do something you don't like. 

I know it may seem like alot, but you're not serious about it, then the stylist might not be. You also don't want to just show up to a salon and waste your money on something you won't even like! 

Hope this helps you guys! Do you have any questions or any additional advice? Let us know!