HAIR COLOR TIPS FOR YOUR VISIT...

USING HAIR COLOR SWATCHES
Sometimes I get a new client whose hair color needs correction. Frequently this is because she had chosen a hair color from a "hair color swatch" at the previous salon. When a Hair Stylist / Colorist uses that color (of the swatch of hair) seldom does hair become the same color of the swatch sample and this makes the new Client unhappy with the results. The reason for this is a very technical matter. However, the best way to explain this to a client is that a swatch of hair color is only a sample of the "paint". Choosing a new hair color from a swatch hair color sample is no different than asking an artist to paint a picture with only one tube of paint. It is the end result that is most important. It is up to the Stylist / Colorist to mix the hair colors needed to achieve the desired end result. More often than not, the single hair swatch chosen is not the color that will be mixed to achieve the color of that swatch. This is why it is extremely important that the Stylist / Colorist you choose understands the basics of color and knows color formulating, color mixing and application techniques extremely well.

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PUTTING ART INTO HAIR...
Only once a Hair Stylist understands the complete theory of coloring hair extremely well does coloring hair become an art form. The Art of Coloring Hair is totally dependent upon the knowledge the Stylist / Colorist has regarding hair, the color wheel, hair color, color formulating, hair color mixing, color applications, foil placement and advanced foiling techniques. Then, and only then, can a Hair Stylist / Colorist perform Art and thus, be called a Master Hair Colorist.

Mastering the Art of Coloring Hair is achieved by understanding and experience.


ARTFUL HAIR COLOR FOILING APPLICATIONS
Beauty / Cosmetology Schools teach foiling techniques in the most basic way and those rules are strongly advised to NEVER BE BROKEN. To be an Artist with Coloring Hair takes years of experience and application of foils for a Stylist / Colorist to become free from those rules. The results can be spectacular if the Stylist / Colorist knows many different foiling techniques and is able to control them well enough to achieve any desired multi-color hair color result. I teach these advanced techniques to Hair Stylists / Colorists through educational Hair Coloring Seminars and online education.

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SPEED OF APPLICATION
There are many Hair Stylists / Colorists out there who are not able to speedily place foils. I am certain that many of you have spent over five hours at a Hair Salon in order to have your hair colored and/or foiled. The one thing to keep in mind when choosing a Colorist is that speed and efficiency come from having done color successfully on many, many heads of hair. It takes DOING and UNDERSTANDING to create the results that are desired within a timely manner.

However, when a Stylist / Colorist commits to tediously picking through your existing highlights to create a new multi-color hair weave, you must allow time for the extreme care that must be taken to maintain the integrity of your existing highlights. Bleach can not be placed over previously bleached hair. Therefore, you may need to take the "intricacy of weaving" aspect into the time your hair color application will take.

HOW MUCH EXPERIENCE IS REALLY NEEDED?
If I were to count how many heads of hair I have colored since 1985 the total would be extraordinary. But a Hair Stylist / Colorist does not need to have colored hair for 19 years to be ACCURATE and EFFICIENT. A Hair Stylist / Colorist has to KNOW what he or she is doing and with that certainty comes speed and efficiency. So, don't let someone tell you that you have to be at the salon for 4 to 5 hours. A full head of long-hair, multi-colored foil application should take no longer than two hours to apply. Add another 30 minutes for processing, another 10 for shampooing and conditioning, and another 30 minutes for the shaping and blow dry. That is a total of only 3 hours and 10 minutes for complete color "remapping" with advanced foil placements to achieve a gorgeous multi color hair color! It does not have to "take all day at the Hair Salon" to get the results you want! So, if your Colorist is slow, then he/she is either not very experienced or has not learned the more efficient foiling techniques that are used to create multi colored results.



PRICING
The price of professional hair color is costly. 2 ounce bottles or 4 ounce tubes of Professional Hair Color can cost the Salon owner up to $8 each. Some larger canisters of hair color can range up to $24 for 8 ounces of hair color. After adding the peroxide developers and other supplies to the equation, you are looking at approximately $8 used for each hair color used. Add three or four more colors and/or lighteners to the Highlight and Lowlight foiling application and the total cost of product can easily get up to approximately $30. This does not include the Hair Stylist's / Colorist's time or the Artistic Application of the hair color onto the hair. When you combine the cost of the product, plus the time and expertise of a Hair Colorist, you are looking at about $150 for a short hair partial weave, $185 for a short hair full weave, and the prices continue to climb from there. Long hair prices are higher due to the amount of additional product used, and the amount of time it takes to place the color onto the hair.

Remember, as with any high quality end product - you get what you pay for. I don't recommend you "cut corners" when it comes to paying for Professional Hair Color applications.



HAIR COLOR PRICE QUOTES
When calling a Salon to request prices for Hair Color applications, it is always best to receive a price range. Many times the way a person describes his or her hair over the phone is not actually what the Hair Stylist / Colorist sees when the new client arrives.

There are many factors that have to be taken into account when a Stylist / Colorist prices Hair Color application services. Do not rely on the pricing the Salon receptionist tells you. The reason for this is that receptionist is basing your Hair Color price quote on the price list. She may not be a practicing, Licensed Cosmetologist and may not have the experience and/or knowledge in hair color applications to ask you the detailed questions about your existing hair color, desired hair color, length of hair, etc. Therefore, the price quote you receive from the Salon receptionist must only be considered an approximate price of the hair color application you will be receiving from the Hair Stylist / Colorist.

It is best to receive a thorough hair color consultation first. The consultation will enable you to meet the Hair Stylist / Colorist, discuss your current hair color, desired end result and different hair color application techniques. Only once the new Hair Stylist / Colorist sees your existing hair, fully understands what your desired end result is, and has explained to you what hair color application(s) she/he will be using to achieve your new desired hair color, can you receive an hair color quote that is more reliable.

You, as the Hair Color Client, must also understand, that once the Hair Stylist / Colorist gets into your hair (while actively applying the hair color) will he/she have the exact idea of how much the work will cost.

While this may seem to be "keeping you in-the-dark" about the total price of your new hair color application, this is the reality of having your hair color professionally done by a Hair Stylist / Colorist that is willing and able to take the time and care to correctly color your hair so that you not only achieve your new desired end result, but that your hair is in even better condition, and you are extremely happy with your hair.

Nothing is worse than a new Hair Color Client adamantly insisting that the price of his/her hair color application be only $X (as quoted), when, in fact, the Hair Stylist / Colorist knows that the application skills and techniques needed are not compensated within that quoted amount. This is when the Hair Stylist / Colorist begins to feel that they are not being paid for their work and resentment toward the new Hair Color Client results.

The best way to avoid being surprised by the price being different than the original quote given to you by the Salon receptionist is to first receive your hair color consultation AND allow your Hair Stylist / Colorist, who is going to be doing the work, the freedom to charge what they think is fair. You don't want to upset your Hair Stylist / Colorist, nor do you want them to take "short-cuts" when it comes to your hair color application.

If you prepare yourself for the price to be approximately $50 higher than the price you were quoted by the Salon receptionist, then you will not be surprised.

If the price remains the same, and appears to be lower than the value of the work you are receiving, then it is best to give a generous tip to the Hair Stylist / Colorist who performed your hair color application. By generously tipping you are expressing your gratitude for the extra care taken.

Here are a few aspects of your hair and hair color application that should be taken into account during your hair color consultation: Quantity, length, existing color, desired color, and product cost.

Your goal is to not only to achieve your new desired end results while having your hair colored within a price range you can afford, but to create a lasting relationship with your new Hair Stylist / Colorist.



HAIR COLOR MAINENANCE PRICE QUOTES
I have seen and heard many Clients express that they can not believe that the price of the foil weave touch-up was "that much". This can be easily explained due to the care that must be given to touch up a multi colored foil hair weave. When done properly, every existing hair color must be woven back OUT and the color or bleach placed only at THAT root area and/or pulled through (color only) to replace the pigment back into the hair.

Unevenness of hair color only occurs when the Hair Stylist doing the foil retouch has NOT carefully, patiently and tediously selected and separated out all of the previously placed foil colors.

It may take twice as long to receive a touch up (on too short of regrowth) than did the original color placement procedure.

You need to have at least one half inch of regrowth to aid the Hair Stylist in the touching up process. I highly advise that you do not have freshly shampooed hair when receiving your touch-ups. The reason for this is that clean hair is much more difficult to weave through - especially, if it is fine and fly-a-way hair. I recommend that you allow the natural oils to be present. To achieve natural oils, do not shampoo for up to 5 days prior to your hair color appointment.

Talk to your Stylist and find out what hair color maintenance plan is best. You can always receive partial weaves for months in a row, and then a FULL hair color weave once your under-hair is grown out or faded.

Color placement can also play an important role as to how often you will need to arrive to the Hair Salon for color touch-ups. If you do not want to arrive every 6 - 8 weeks, then perhaps you do not need to have your lightest colors touching down to your part area. Perhaps you can ask for the lightest colors to peak out around the part area.

This is technical placement procedures that you can ask your Hair Stylist / Colorist about during your initial hair color consultation.



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