c/hairdressers

Tried a new texturizing paste on a client's fine hair and it went totally flat

I had a client with super fine, straight hair who wanted a piecey, messy look. I grabbed a new 'strong hold' texturizing paste from a brand I hadn't tried before. I worked it through her damp hair, then diffused it like I always do. After about 20 minutes, her hair just fell completely flat and felt weirdly sticky. I think the paste was too heavy for her hair type and the formula just didn't dry right. Anyone have a good texturizing product for fine hair that actually holds without weighing it down?

Tried a $40 pair of thinning shears from the beauty supply store for a few months, then switched to a $120 pair from a real salon brand. The difference in how they cut and hold up is huge.

Found out the average client spends $700 a year on hair services

Honestly, I was looking at some industry reports online last night and saw this number from a survey by Salon Today. Tbh, it made me stop and think about how we price things. On one side, maybe we should raise rates if people are already spending that much. On the other, maybe we need more affordable options so it's not just for people with big budgets. What do you all think, is that number about right for your chair?

Question about using a razor comb versus thinning shears on thick hair

I had a client yesterday with super dense hair who wanted a softer shape, so I had to choose between my trusty thinning shears and a razor comb I've been trying out. I went with the razor comb and it gave a much more blended, natural texture without any harsh lines. Has anyone else found the razor comb works better for certain hair types?

A client in Portland told me she wanted a 'mom cut' and it made me think

I was doing a simple trim for a regular named Lisa last Tuesday, and she just casually said she wanted something easy, a 'mom cut'. It wasn't about the style she described, but the way she said it, like her identity was just being a parent now. I realized we hear that kind of thing all the time, 'mom hair', 'corporate cut', and it's more than just hair. How do you guys handle clients who define their cut by a life role instead of what they actually want?

So I finally tried that 'cold water only' shampoo thing on a client

For years, I thought it was just a silly internet trend. I mean, who washes hair with cold water? It sounds awful. But this regular, Mrs. Ellis, kept asking about it after her color faded fast. She said her daughter in Miami swore by it. I was skeptical, but I tried it last week on her fresh balayage. I used the same brand of color-safe shampoo, just with the coldest water I could stand. Her hair felt smoother when I rinsed, and the shine was crazy good. She came back yesterday, and the color really did look like it held better than usual. Maybe there's something to it after all, or was it just a good week? Has anyone else actually seen a real difference with cold rinses, or is it all hype?

A wedding in Austin made me stop using thinning shears on fine hair

I was doing a bridal party last spring, and the maid of honor had super fine, straight hair. I gave her my usual face-framing layers with thinning shears to soften it. By the time the ceremony started two hours later, her hair looked flat and stringy in the humidity. The bride pulled me aside and said, 'Her hair looks thinner than when she got here.' I felt awful. Now I only use regular shears and point cut on fine textures. Has anyone else had a humidity disaster change their technique?

I tried a new way to mix color and it turned out way darker than I planned

Last week, I was doing a root touch-up and decided to mix my developer with a 7N and a 6G, aiming for a neutral beige. I used a 20 volume developer, but the color came out looking more like a level 5, almost muddy. I think the warmth from the 6G reacted differently than I expected with the base. Has anyone else had a color shift like this when combining those two tones?

Vent: A client's 'dusty rose' turned into a vibrant pink in under ten minutes

I was doing a color correction in my chair yesterday, and the demi-permanent toner I mixed for her level 9 blonde went way too warm, way too fast. Has anyone else had a formula from a new line act completely different than expected? What's your go-to for correcting an overly warm pink tone without stripping?

A client in Portland asked for a 'mushroom brown' and I used a dash of copper direct dye in my mix.

It gave this incredible, subtle warmth under certain lights that she loved, but it faded way faster than I expected (like, after two washes). Has anyone found a good way to lock in that kind of tone without making it too permanent?

Appreciation post: My old shears versus the new Japanese ones I got last month

The difference in how they cut through thick hair is night and day... the new ones just glide. Has anyone else made a switch that felt this huge?

Rant: A client in her 70s told me she's been using the same $3.99 shampoo for 50 years and her hair is perfect.

It made me question all the expensive products we push and wonder if technique and consistency matter more than the bottle's price tag, so what's the most basic product you've seen work wonders?

I finally looked up the real numbers on chemical burns from relaxers

I was cleaning up after a client last week and found an old bottle of relaxer in the back of my cabinet. It got me wondering about the actual risk, so I did a quick search on my phone. I found a study from the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology that said chemical relaxers send over 13,000 kids to the ER every single year. That number floored me. I've been doing hair for eight years and I've seen a few minor scalp irritations, but I never thought it was that common. It made me really look at the consent forms we use at the shop in Phoenix. They don't say much beyond the basics. Now I'm thinking we need to have a much longer, more serious talk with every single client, especially parents, before we even open the kit. How do you all handle the safety talk for chemical services?

Visited a salon in Boise that only uses shears for men's cuts

I was in Boise for a family thing and popped into a high-end barbershop to check out the vibe. The head stylist told me point blank, 'Clippers are for amateurs, we only use shears here.' I watched them do a classic taper fade entirely with thinning shears and a comb, which took about 45 minutes. In my experience, that's an inefficient hill to die on when modern clippers with guards exist for a reason. Has anyone else seen a shop take a hardline stance like this against clippers?

Heads up about that new 'quick set' color line from the convention in Chicago

After a client's hair turned a weird green shade (and I mean actual moss green) during a routine root touch-up last Thursday, I found out the developer they sent with the kit was mislabeled as 20 volume when it was actually 40, so check your bottles twice before you mix anything.

Found a way to stop those tiny hair clippings from sticking to client's necks

Tried a tiny bit of talc-free baby powder on a neck strip before the cape. The clippings just brush right off. Anyone else have a trick for keeping the cleanup quick?

Question about stubborn gray coverage on a client with very dark hair

Had a client yesterday with almost black hair and resistant grays that just wouldn't take color, even with a 40 volume developer. I tried mixing a tiny bit of a warmer, red-based level 5 into her usual cool level 4 formula and it covered perfectly on the first pass. Has anyone else found that adding a bit of warmth helps grab those tough grays?

I used to cut all my pixies with a 4 guard, but a client in Seattle last month asked for something softer and now I'm using a 2 and blending way more.

My cordless clipper battery gave out mid-fade this morning

Honestly, I was halfway through a tight skin fade on a regular when my main clipper just died. No warning buzz, no slow down, just full power to nothing. The client was super cool about it, but I had to scramble to grab my backup pair, which were only half charged because I forgot to plug them in last night. Took me a good ten minutes to get them warmed up and match the guide line, totally threw off my rhythm. This is the second time this brand's battery has failed on me in under a year. I'm starting to think the promised 5-hour run time is a total myth. What cordless clippers are you all using that actually hold a charge through a full day of back-to-backs?

Showerthought: A wedding party in Tulsa made me rethink my whole approach to curly hair

I was doing hair for a big wedding last spring, and the bride had six bridesmaids, all with different types of curls. I thought my usual method would work fine, but halfway through the third girl, her hair just went totally limp and frizzy. The room was so humid from all the showers running that my normal products were useless. I had to stop everything, run to a store, and grab a stronger gel I'd never tried before. It saved the day, but I was sweating for a solid hour. Now I always check the weather AND the indoor humidity before I even pack my kit for an event. Has anyone else had a humidity disaster that forced you to change your whole product lineup?

I used to cut wet hair for every single client, but a class in Portland last year made me switch. Now I dry cut about 70% of the time.

I bought a fancy new color mixing bowl that was a total waste

Spent $75 on this 'no-drip' silicone bowl that was supposed to make my life easier. It actually holds onto more color than my old plastic ones, so I'm losing product. Has anyone found a good bowl that doesn't waste your mix?

The day I accidentally gave a client a perm with a broken timer

I was at my station in the old shop on Maple Avenue, and my ancient perm timer decided to die halfway through processing. The client's hair was already wrapped, and I had to guess the remaining 12 minutes by watching the wall clock. It came out way too tight and frizzy, and I spent the next hour doing a deep conditioning treatment to try and save it. Has anyone else had a crucial tool fail mid-service like that?

Had to choose between a classic bob or a textured shag for a nervous client last week

She came in with a photo of a blunt cut but kept touching her hair like she wanted more movement, so I suggested adding some layers for a softer feel. I went with the textured shag, using my 40/60 texturizing shears, and she loved how much lighter it felt. What's your go-to move when a client seems unsure between two very different styles?

Had to pick between a razor cut or shears for a thick, curly bob

Client wanted a ton of movement but her hair was super dense. Went with the razor for texture and it gave a perfect, piecey shape. Anyone have a go-to technique for blending razored layers with sheared sections?