A first appointment with a new colorist should start with a conversation, not a bowl of color. Here is how it goes.
The consultation comes first
Before anything is mixed, we talk. What you have now, what has been done to it, what you want, and how much time you actually spend on your hair in the morning. Bring photos. Bring the one you hate, too.
This is also when the realistic version of the plan gets set. Some transformations happen in one visit. Others take two or three sessions to get there without wrecking the integrity of your hair, and it is better to hear that at the start.
What to tell your colorist
- Every box color, henna, or home lightener, even years ago
- Keratin treatments or relaxers
- Any medication or condition affecting your hair or scalp
- Whether your water at home is hard
- How often you are realistically willing to come back
None of this is a test. It changes what the color will do on your hair.
How long to allow
A gloss or root touch-up is usually 90 minutes. Full highlights or balayage with a cut runs three to four hours. Color correction is quoted after a consultation because it depends entirely on what is in the hair.
After you leave
Wait at least 48 hours before the first wash so the cuticle can close and the color can settle. Use a color-safe shampoo from then on. If something does not sit right in the first week, say so. A tone adjustment is a small fix early and a bigger one later.
Written by Shawn Koot Abrahamian, colorist and certified hair loss practitioner at Chameleon Salon, Montrose.