It’s happened to the most of us. You stroll into the salon, wave around your long, cascading locks and when you have taken up residence in the turning seat, all you ask for is an innocent trim, you know, ‘just a centimetre’. Of course, hairdressers have a way to become trigger happy and they think they know best for what you need and the next thing you know half of your mane has been chopped.
A trip to the hairdresser does not have to be a stress in your life, but walking around with an awkward haircut is no laughing matter, either (for other people, yes, but never for yourself).
It’s simple. Just be very clear about what you want. And I don’t mean you say ‘just a centimetre’ and the hairdresser knows exactly what to do. You need to stipulate exactly where you want that one centimetre to go off, where your hairdresser has all the freedom in the world to cut off two centimetres and why exactly you only want one centimetre. If you really want only one centimetre, then never, I mean, never say ‘cut off the ends or split ends’, because all they hear is ‘do what you want, my lady. Cut to your heart’s content. Give me the bop I’ve always wanted’.
Loosen your hair, finger comb it, pinch the end between your fingers and show them how much length you want to get rid of. Again, clarify that you do not want a whole new style – you just want the very tips of the hair to gently graze the edge of the blade. Watch them like a hawk while they cut. Do not get distracted by the ever-alluring chit-chat – eyes on the prize at all times. If you see a tip goes off that really did not need to, corner your hairdresser immediately and give her a piece of your mind…. politely. It’s your hair. You have the right to be a difficult customer when it comes to the semi-permanent alterations of your appearance. Dictate the operation like a movie director. Also, don’t be afraid to yell ‘cut!’ at the top of your lungs when things are starting to look south.
Okay, now you’ve done what you can to ensure the preservation of your mop. Now give your hairdresser the opportunity to state their case. If they say the life in your tips is sparser than rhinos in the KNP, maybe you should consider chopping a teensy bit more than you were initially prepared to. Remember, your beautiful mane is like a rosebush – you need to cut off the dead ends for the luscious new growth to protrude. It can only do you well.
