16 tips for a visit to the hairdresser from HairGott Munich
1. How Do I Find the Right Hairdresser?
Have you spotted an impressive hairstyle on the subway? Has your neighbour suddenly appeared with a sun-kissed hair colour or a short haircut that suits her perfectly?
Then simply ask. Which hairdresser created the look? A personal recommendation can be especially valuable because you have already seen the result with your own eyes.
Just as with art, people respond emotionally to hairstyles and instinctively recognise what appeals to them.
2. Book a Hair Consultation
If you are considering a completely new look, you do not have to make a final decision straight away. It can often be useful to book a consultation first.
This gives you time to discuss your wishes, what is realistically possible, your hair structure, maintenance requirements and costs. You can then think through the planned change and get to know the hairdresser who may be creating your new look.
3. Check Instagram and Facebook
Take a look at the salon’s Instagram or Facebook page. You will often find photographs of real clients taken directly after their salon visit.
These images usually provide a more realistic impression than professionally staged photographs of models or celebrities, which often involve hours of preparation and styling.
Pay attention to whether you like the cuts, colours and overall styles shown, and whether the work appears precise and professionally executed.
4. Dress Like Yourself
Going to the hairdresser in an oversized sweatshirt because you are on holiday? Of course you can – provided that this genuinely reflects your personal style.
Your hairdresser should be able to understand what kind of person you are and how you usually dress. Try not to arrive unusually casual or overly styled, but simply as yourself.
Turtlenecks are generally less practical when having your hair cut. The proportions of your neck, head and shoulders also play an important role when deciding on the right hair length.
5. Let Your Hairdresser See Who You Are
Before the cape is put on, your hairdresser should ideally see you at least once in your normal clothing. This gives them a better impression of your style, proportions and personality.
If the cape is put on immediately, you can politely ask to speak briefly with your hairdresser first. After all, a hairstyle should never be considered in isolation, but as part of your overall appearance.
6. Be Yourself
Do you need to arrive at the salon perfectly styled? No. An experienced hairdresser can recognise how your hair naturally falls, what its texture is like and how you usually wear it, even without elaborate styling.
If you regularly wear make-up in everyday life, however, you may wish to wear it to your appointment. This can help your hairdresser coordinate the haircut or colour with your overall look.
Avoid unusually elaborate styling immediately before your appointment if it does not reflect the way you normally wear your hair.
7. Explain Your Styling Routine
How much time are you willing and able to spend styling your hair every day? Your hairdresser should know this as precisely as possible.
For example, you might say:
“I would like a hairstyle that I can style in no more than ten minutes in the morning.”
A good haircut should not only look impressive after professional salon styling. It should also work at home with a realistic amount of effort.
8. Talk About Your Lifestyle
A new hairstyle should not only look good immediately after your salon visit. It should also suit your everyday life and your personality. That is why it helps if your hairdresser knows something about your habits and daily routine.
Do you exercise regularly? Do you need to tie your hair back at work? Do you have a lot of customer contact, or very little time for styling in the morning? Explain what matters to you and how much time you want to spend on your hair each day.
Ask your hairdresser to show you how to style your new haircut yourself for work, everyday family life or sport. Ideally, the hairstyle should also be easy to adapt for the evening or for special occasions.
This is how you create a look that suits you and works in real life.
9. Say What You Do Not Want
Do not only explain what you want. Also say clearly what you definitely do not want.
You would like highlights, but without a strong contrast? You want a fringe, but not too short or too textured? These details are just as important during the consultation as your actual wishes.
The more precisely you explain what you like and what you do not like, the better your hairdresser can understand your expectations and develop the right look for you.
10. Pictures Often Say More Than 1,000 Words
There is nothing silly about bringing a photograph of a model or celebrity with you – quite the opposite. Search Google, Instagram or Pinterest for hairstyles that appeal to you.
Even individual details such as highlights, a fringe, the shape of a haircut or a particular colour gradient can provide a valuable basis for the consultation. Images help your hairdresser understand what you like and can prevent misunderstandings.
However, you should not expect the final result to look exactly like the reference image. Everyone has a different hair texture, hair density, starting colour, head shape and face shape. The desired hairstyle should therefore always be adapted individually to your own features.
11. The Small Details Matter
A good hairdresser does not only look at your face from the front. They also consider your profile, head shape and the natural movement of your hair. A haircut should work from every angle while still reflecting your personality.
Details such as the hairline, cowlicks, natural growth direction, neck length and hair texture also play an important role.
Only when all of these factors are taken into account can an individual haircut be created that not only looks good in the salon, but also works for you in everyday life.
12. Choose the Right Time
Major changes should be properly prepared, especially if the hair is going to be lightened from brown to blonde. For this kind of colour transformation, the hair should ideally be healthy, strong and resilient.
If your hair is currently very dry, brittle or already heavily stressed, it may be better to postpone the lightening process. The hair should first be intensively conditioned at home for several weeks, for example with regular hair treatments and a rich intensive mask.
Before a lightening appointment, it can be helpful not to wash the hair for one or two days. This allows the scalp’s natural protective oils to remain in place and may provide additional protection during the treatment. Immediately before the appointment, you should also avoid dry shampoo, hair oil and strong styling products.
This creates a good basis for the desired colour transformation and helps protect both the hair and scalp as much as possible during the process.
13. Find the Right Colour Tone
A hint of gold or already too reddish? People can perceive hair colours very differently – including clients and hairdressers.
That is why the desired colour should be discussed as precisely as possible before the treatment begins. A colour chart, reference photographs or already-coloured hair swatches can help establish a shared understanding of colour, brightness and tone.
This helps avoid misunderstandings and makes it easier to choose a shade that works with your starting colour, skin tone and personality.
14. Take It Step by Step
You want to go significantly darker, but your hairdresser recommends starting with only one or two shades? Trust their professional assessment.
The transition from blonde to brown in particular should be planned carefully. Lightened hair often absorbs darker pigments differently, which can quickly make the result appear too dark, uneven or artificial.
A gradual transformation allows the colour to be built up carefully and gives you the opportunity to assess after each appointment how comfortable you feel with the change. This can create a more natural result that suits your skin tone and personal style.
15. Agree on the Right Hair Length
Do you really want only the ends trimmed, or can a little more be taken off? Expressions such as “just a little” or “only the ends” can mean very different things to different people. For you, it may mean one centimetre; to someone else, several centimetres.
It is therefore best to show directly on your hair how much may be cut off. If you want to keep your current length and simply restore more shape to the hairstyle, say so clearly.
This creates a shared understanding and ensures that only the amount of length agreed beforehand is removed.
16. Who Is Behind These Tips?
These tips are based on the many years of experience of the stylists, colour experts and educators at HairGott Friseure Munich. Since 1994, they have been advising and working with people with a wide variety of hair textures, wishes and styling routines.