Shape.com

October 19th. 2015

9 Ways to Guarantee You'll Leave the Salon Loving Your Haircut

6 of 10| Go to the Appointment Au Natural

It's always tempting to skip shampooing when you have a hair appointment on the books, but resist the urge if you're going in for color. "Greasy or oily hair can appear much darker than it really is, making it harder for your colorist to formulate your true base color," explains Ryan. Not to mention that it can also affect the efficancy of the dye: "Many of the new ammonia-free formulas can't penetrate through oil and product residue," says May Post, colorist at Maxine Salon in Chicago.). For the best end result, wash your hair no more than 24 hours pre-color. (P.S. Are you guilty of these 8 Hair-Washing Mistakes?)

And now is not the time to load up on product: "It's super important for your stylist to see your natural texture. It can be varied in different areas of your head, so they may have to cut accordingly," explains Townsend. Show up sporting your go-to-sytle. "If you normally let your hair air dry and pull it into a ponytail, go with that. If you blow it out smooth every day, do the same," says Chicago stylist Michael Nunziato. "This gives your stylist a better sense as to what is realistic for you on a day-to-day basis and how much time and effort you're willing to put in, so that they can cut accordingly." (It's also important for colorists to see your daily 'do, as it can directly impact color placement, adds Post.