Do you have clients that ask why their hair doesn’t look like the others? The way you answer these types of questions can make or break your business. To successfully answer the questions, have your brain wired to quickly assess the customer when she walks through the door to your work stool. Keep the answer simple and short to show the client your expertise and confidence.

Remember to always ask open ended questions such as what do you like or not like about your hair color or cut, what did you have in mind, and the likes. And make sure to watch and listen to the body language as this speaks volumes about the client. Once you get a fix on their perceptions and thoughts, take what they say into consideration and create an on the spot spin of what you see based on all the variables, their concerns and desires included.

Here is how to keep the consultation simple and clear while answering questions in different areas of hairstyling.

Use dialog and verbiage to purposely speak differently from other stylists around town

Strive to offer different methods, ideas and alternatives your clients have not heard of before. You should be committed to not repeating the same old stuff every other stylist is doing around the town. Let coming to your salon be an experience like no other. The ultimate goal is to gain the customer’s trust by showing off your skills. Once you prove yourself, the clients will be open to the journey you want to take her hair on.

• Before styling the hair: When it comes to hair styling, there are a number of variables such as density, color and texture to consider. Add these to the impacts on client’s hair due to stress, environment, flat ironing, blow-drying, medications and genetics. All of these affect the hair differently on different people.

• People’s age: Age changes the texture, color and density of the hair. A woman’s hair for example changes a number of times in her life- during childbirth, puberty, menopause and so forth. Stress and great illness also make the hair to change. Add the skin’s tone and eye color to the mix and you get different hair colors. These all affect the result of your overall image, look and hair color.

Facts about the color

When answering questions related to the hair, the following variables should also be put into consideration and need to be second nature in your professional character.

• It is easier to lighten hair for people with lighter shade of hair.

• Finer hair with less density also comes with less volume.

• Darker haired people have higher concentration of orange and red in their hair. Getting the right tone can be a daunting task with this group of people. Conditional stress on the hair becomes a reality with these people.

• Coarse straight haired people with lots of density have a harder time holding a curl.

• Fine haired people lighten faster than coarser haired people.

Due to influx of relaxers, coloring products, perms, highlighters and straighteners in the hair treatment market, as well rise in keratin treatments, people often are altering their hair texture and structure in pursuit of the ultimate looks. The use of the wrong product or style will add years to your look.

Spending more than ten minutes on a consult trying to explain why a client’s hair looks or doesn’t look is likely to result in a miscommunication and an unhappy client. Your expertise and trust must be gained as fast as possible as failure to do so will create doubt in a client’s mind or her being unable to commit. You don’t want this to happen, do you?

People over 40 years of age

Hair thins as we age and this is very noticeable on people over 40 years of age. Women over 40 years of age should go for mid-length bob that is no longer than their collarbone. It should be given some strong color and texture with subtle highlights to accent the cut lines.

Forget Botox and go for bangs

Bangs hide fine lines on the forehead and play up customer’s eyes, drawing attention to the cheek bones, giving her a new look. However, opt for point cut bangs just below the brow to create texture. Heavy straight bangs should be avoided at all costs.

Stick to color rules

If your client is a brunette, then take note not to lighten more than one shade. If the client is a blonde, then darken one shade more. Golden highlights will bring a youthful complexion whether the client is a brunette or blonde. The rule of thumb when it comes to highlighting is less is more. Full head highlighting makes people to look older. And dramatic contrast and colors often clash with ones skin. Gray haired people look better darker or in their natural color. However, if the hair becomes too dark, then the skin turn out looking pale and if too light, the look gets too washed out.