If you recently moved to a new city or you’re dealing with a bad haircut, you may be searching for a new hairstylist.

When vetting your stylists, be sure to consider your budget, their years of experience, the salon location, and the ease of communication between the two of you. You’re trusting this stylist with your hair, and open communication ensures all your wants and needs can be met. 

If you’re trying to figure out how to find a good hairstylist, this article discusses the ways to find a hairstylist and make sure they fit your needs. 

6 Ways to Find a Good Hairstylist

No matter if you’re looking for a change from your current stylist or simply seeking out a new hairstylist who understands your type of hair, we’ve developed six ways to find a great hairstylist for you.

1. Know Your Hair Type and the Style You Want

One of the most important parts of the process of finding a new hairdresser is knowing the type of hairstyle you want, so you can find a stylist that specializes in that kind of work, whether it be coloring, braiding, layers, or another service. 

You will also want a stylist that specializes in your hair type, as cutting curly hair isn’t the same as straight hair. Have an open, upfront conversation with a potential stylist to see if they will fit your needs. 

Don’t be afraid to list your specific requirements or ask to see samples of their work that matches what you’re looking for. That way you can narrow down your candidates. 

2. Ask Around

Word of mouth typically gives you a detailed picture of a stylist that goes beyond what you might read in an online review. If a friend or family member recently got a haircut, consider trying their hairstylist or pay attention when friends or coworkers discuss their experiences. 

Listen to how they talk about their stylist and the relationship they have — does the stylist consider their style ideas and what would work best for their hair type, or does the stylist always try to sell them needless products or upcharge them for additional services? 

It’s even better if you have similar hair as that friend or family member, so you can research their stylist. You find their website to learn more about them, the work they do, and how they address your hair needs.

3. Search Through Social Media

Social media like Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest give you a way to find stylists and view their work. You can also look through their comment sections to find insight into how the stylist interacts with clients.

Specifically with Instagram and Pinterest, you can use specific hashtags by combining your city and either “hair” or “hairstylist” to find a hair salon near you. 

For example, hashtags using keywords like #tulsahair or #tulsaoklahomahairstylist can help you find stylists in your city. You can also view the account’s tagged posts to see candid pics taken by the clients themselves. 

4. Check Multiple Review Sites

Using review sites like the StyleSeat app (or website) can help you search for stylists near you, read reviews, and book your appointment all in the same spot. Yelp is another option, giving you reviews to read before you book an appointment. Reviews are important as they can give you a sense of how the stylist treats their clients. 

Of course, some reviews can be fake. You can tell this easily by looking at the time frame, as a bunch of similar reviews made in one or two days may indicate that the views are from bots or a single disgruntled customer. You can also fact-check by looking at a reviewer’s activity on other sites to see if they wrote authentic reviews for other places too.

5. Get a Low-stakes Service

If you’re still uneasy, try getting a low-stakes service the first time like a blowout or deep conditioning. This gives you a chance to test your stylist and see how they handle your hair and treat you. 

Stylists should communicate what works best for your hair type, face, and your level of style management. Since these services are generally affordable, it gives you a good way to gauge your stylist without making any significant changes. 

6. Visit the Salon for a Consultation

Most salons should offer a consultation, which is a free service that allows you to figure out what to anticipate from your stylist, as well as allow them to learn more about your hair and its history. A good hairdresser will be attentive, try to get to know you and your hair, and have ideas to offer you.

So pay close attention to how the stylist treats you throughout this consultation. Notice if they rush through your hair, ask questions, and genuinely seem to care for your hair and its needs. 

Tips to prepare for a consultation:

• Know your hair goals. Consider if you want growth, coloring, or short hair so that you can effectively communicate your needs with your stylist. They can help you achieve the look as well as be honest when they know your hair won’t support it. 
• Save hairstyle inspiration ideas. Finding visual examples on social media platforms will help your hairstylist understand your vision and see if it’s attainable.
• Explain your hair history to the stylist. Inform your stylist about what you’ve liked and disliked about your past hair experiences.
• Discuss your typical styling routine. Make sure you mention your styling routine because if you want a new look that requires frequent styling but you prefer to wash and go, your stylist can help you find the right style to fit your routine.

Questions to Ask During a Consultation 

While getting your consultation at your new salon, you can ask these questions to gauge your stylist: 

• How’s the health of my hair? Any stylist should be able to tell you how healthy your hair is and what styles will work best with your hair health. For example, if you have damaged hair, a stylist may suggest you steer clear of coloring treatments until the health of your hair has been restored.
• What haircut would work best for my face shape? This question is good to ask your stylist if you don’t know what style you want yet. Additionally, a good stylist will explain how certain styles will or will not work for your face shape.
• What hair colors complement my skin and eye colors? If you would like to get your hair colored or think you should color your hair, this is good to ask. While you may have your heart set on a specific shade, a good stylist can help you find one you like that also looks best for your coloring.
• Does this style match my hair goals? For example, if you want to eliminate damage to your hair, then coloring may not be best, and your stylist should be able to recognize this and tell you. Your stylist can also offer advice on reaching your hair goals or making them more attainable.
• What products or tools will I need once I get this style? With some styles, you might need a certain shampoo or styling tool for your hair care. Your stylist can help you find those products. Good stylists explain why products work for your hair, they don’t just push products in your direction.
• What will maintaining this style look like? Hair services are never permanent. Regardless of the hairstyle you’re getting, you can find out how long the effect will last. You may need touch ups, special care, or additional styling time each day. So asking now helps you prepare for the time and/or money you need to invest to maintain your new look. 

Book Your New Stylist

Once you’ve decided on a hairstylist to move forward with, it’s important to book a consultation with them. Asking them specific questions during the consultation can help you decide if they are the best hairstylist for you. Use StyleSeat (either online or in the app) to book your new stylist by simply searching for them!