How to choose a hair salon you'll actually go back to

Start with your hair, not the salon's reputation

A salon can be excellent and still be the wrong place for you. Someone who does beautiful blonde work may not be the person you want for tight curls, and a busy barbershop may not be set up for long layered cuts.

Before you search, write down three things: your hair type and texture, what you've had done in the last year, and what you want to change. That short note makes every conversation that follows easier.

Look at real, recent work

Social media portfolios are useful when they show the stylist's own clients. Look for photos taken in the salon, in natural light, and on hair that resembles yours. Polished studio shots and heavily filtered images tell you less.

• Do they show curly, coily or fine hair if that's what you have?
• Do colour photos show before and after?
• Are the photos recent, or is the feed mostly reposted inspiration?

Questions worth asking before you book

• Do you offer a consultation, and is there a charge for it?
• Is the quoted price fixed, or does it change with length, density or product used?
• Does colour include toning and a blow dry?
• What is your policy if I'm not happy with the result?
• How much notice do you need to cancel or move an appointment?

What a good first appointment looks like

Expect questions before anything happens: how you style your hair day to day, how much time you want to spend on it, and what went wrong last time. A good stylist will also tell you when something isn't realistic in one visit, such as lifting dark colour to pale blonde.

If you're nervous, it's fine to start small with a trim or a gloss before committing to a big change.

Next steps

Read the hair service page to see what's involved, then submit a request with your city and what you're after. Evalynn shares it only with professionals who match, and only with your permission.