If a woman’s hair is her crowning beauty, why do so many women give it so little attention?
When we meet someone, either a friend or new acquaintance, our eye first goes to her hair. Unfortunately, it seems that many women treat their hair as an inconvenience and give it the least attention. Grocery stores are filled with young women wearing workout clothes; their long hair pulled back into a ponytail and pulled through the opening at the back of their baseball cap. Long hair, properly groomed, is beautiful but it requires more care than shorter hair.
How do you choose a hairstyle that works for you and your lifestyle?
First I would suggest seeing a good hair stylist. This can be a challenge. Top stylists can be very expensive. Well known stylists like Ted Gibson and Nick Arrojo of What Not to Wear fame, can cost $500 to $1000 for a cut, not to mention the trip to New York for the appointment. That’s not an option for most of us. However, for all of you who ever watched that program, I’m sure you agree that the haircut was the defining step in transforming women from “before” to “after”.
Good hairdressers understand your hair type and what will be the best cut for you. They also are trained to look at your facial shape and features to determine how to style your hair. I have a client with beautiful long, softly curled hair. It frames her rounded facial features and is truly her crowing beauty. However, one time I met her at her hairdresser’s when she had impulsively asked to have her hair straightened, resembling Jennifer Aniston. This straight line simply didn’t work with her soft features and diminished her beauty.
It is up to you to tell your hairdresser your time restraints and your level of expertise in working with your hair. An expert hairdresser can then choose a style that works for your hair type, your facial structure and one that you can keep up on a daily basis.
There are several ways you can find a good hairdresser. First, when you see someone with a great hairstyle, that you think would work for you, ask her who does her hair. Most women will be flattered that you asked and will gladly share the information.
Secondly, when you are researching a new hairdresser, look at the type of training they have had. Some training schools stress styling while others focus on cuts. I have very straight, fine hair requiring a superb cut, almost like a sculpture. My questions always focus on cutting expertise.
If the hairdresser is a little over your budget but you really like the cut, have him or her do the initial cut and ask for a recommendation for someone in the salon who is less expensive but can replicate the cut. Most high-end hairdressers recognize there are budget constraints and are happy to make referrals within the salon. If they are offended by such a request, you probably don’t want to deal with their ego anyway.
Next week, we will discuss how more mature woman can choose the perfect style for a youthful and stylish appearance.
