When it comes to personal appearance, many will spare no expense to look absolutely flawless. While some won’t spend more than $20 at the barber, others won’t even bat an eye when their salon bill comes out to upwards of $100. As the old adage goes, “you get what you pay for,” sometimes, it’s worth it to spend the extra cash for a flattering new hairstyle. But cost isn’t the only factor to consider when searching for the ideal hair stylist or colorist.

When choosing the best salon for your needs, consider the overall value (price, service, and quality) you’ll be getting before, during and after your visit. It’s nearly impossible for any business to have the highest quality and best service for the cheapest price.

Think twice about the price tag

Never base your choice of a hair stylist off of price alone. If you really treasure those locks of yours, take your time in evaluating a few salons, rather than just head to the nearest salon on your street.

Stylists whose prices are generally cheap tend to indicate that they don’t often stand behind their work if there is a mistake. While they might have a license to practice, the lower price tag often indicates that they are less experienced and have little to no real-world skills.

Additionally, the lower the price is, chances are they’ll be using cheaper products on your hair as well, simply because a stylist who offers the lowest price will need to compensate quantity over quality. In the end, you get what you pay for.

As for the higher-priced hair stylists, you can always expect them to stand by their work. After all, they’re getting paid more for a reason, and you can usually expect them to use more top-of-the-line products.

What do you expect?

Always keep in mind that no two stylists are the same. Each one has something different to offer to their clients: different unique talents, different services, and different specialties. Believe it or not, the list of responsibilities of a hair stylist involves much more than solely cutting hair.

When you have a stylist in mind, don’t hesitate to ask them about their services. Find out what kind of experience and training he/she has, as well as how much time the stylist plans to personally spend with you before the appointment. Any qualified hair stylist should also have a portfolio of their work and testimonials from their past clients, both of which can give you a clearer idea of what to expect.

Remember that the stylist you ultimately end up choosing will be there to meet your needs as best as they can, and they should be willing to do almost anything to keep you as a returning client. If they’re not willing to do that, then it’s quite obvious that you need to take your money elsewhere.

Stay loyal and be honest

The moment you find a preferred stylist, it’s crucial to stay loyal. If you stay committed to one stylist, the more willing they will be to bend over backward for you to make you happy. However, if you’re having a difficult time in choosing one over the other, scheduling an appointment at each one might be worth your time. They don’t necessarily have to be full-color treatments– a simple trim or highlights should be enough to narrow down your choices to one.

Not every salon will have what it takes to impress each client, and if they don’t impress you, don’t be afraid to provide them with honest feedback, and don’t stop looking. There are plenty of salons out there and the last thing you will want to do is settle, especially when it comes to looking fabulous!