c/hairdressers

Just had a client in Dallas bring in a photo of a 'glass hair' cut they saw online

I was sure it was a filter, but after checking the stylist's tagged work for 30 minutes, the technique is real and involves a specific razor-over-comb method. Has anyone actually tried this or know a good tutorial?

Can we talk about that viral 'cold perm' technique?

I followed a tutorial from a stylist in Austin and used a specific brand of foam rods on a client's fine hair, expecting soft waves. It came out way too tight, almost like a 90s spiral perm. I had to do a corrective treatment the same day to relax it. What's the biggest perm fail you've had to fix?

PSA: I keep seeing stylists use a 1-inch iron on super short pixies

I watched a girl in my salon try to curl a client's inch-long hair with a big barrel and it just flattened everything out. The heat distribution is wrong for that length and you lose all the texture. What's your go-to tool for adding movement to really short cuts without frying it?

Found a better way to handle those super fine flyaways

For years, I'd just grab a can of hairspray and a comb, trying to plaster those tiny flyaways down. It never looked right, felt sticky, and the client would be back to messy hair in an hour. About six months ago, I was doing a bridal updo and the bride had this halo of baby hairs that wouldn't cooperate. I remembered an old trick my mentor mentioned but never tried: a tiny bit of edge control gel, the kind for natural hair, on a toothbrush. I used a pea-sized amount of the Eco Style gel, sprayed the toothbrush with a little water, and gently smoothed the hairs. It held all day through pictures and dancing without any crunch or flaking. Now I keep a cheap pack of toothbrushes and that specific gel in my kit. It's a game changer for sleek finishes. What's your go-to trick for taming flyaways on super fine hair?

I finally gave up on that viral hair wax stick after wasting $35

Saw a ton of stylists on social media using this wax stick for textured looks. Bought one for $35 plus shipping. Used it on three clients last week and it just made their hair look greasy and clumpy, not piecey. Had to wash and redo each style, which cost me about an hour and a half of my day. The product is now sitting in my drawer. Has anyone found a good alternative for that separated, matte texture without the grease?

Color correction win after a rough patch

Client walked in with orange ends from a bad home job. Tried a new blue toner mix and it actually worked this time. What's your move for stubborn brass?

Update: My client's 'inspiration photo' was from a cartoon character.

A regular came in with a printout of Marge Simpson's hair and insisted I copy it exactly. I had to explain that blue hair and a foot-tall beehive might not work in real life. She got upset and said her cousin did it for her wedding last year, which I highly doubt. Ended up compromising with a subtle bouffant and some temporary color spray, and she left happy but I still feel weird about it.

Tbh, I'm pretty chuffed that my fringe cuts are looking crisp lately, but honestly, why do some fringes just refuse to sit flat no matter what?

My neighbor asked for a free haircut at a backyard BBQ.

How do you handle friends expecting discounts?

Pro tip from a local barber shop collab

I saw a barber and stylist team up at a street fair in my area. They were doing quick cuts for a charity event. The way they shared tools and space was so smooth. I picked up a few time-saving moves just by watching. It's inspired me to reach out to other shops nearby.

Beauty school credentials mean nothing on the job, fight me.

I'd hire a keen apprentice over a graduate any day because real skill comes from doing, not studying. My shop's top cutter learned everything from washing bowls up. When did books ever teach you to calm a nervous client?

Looking back at how we handled thick hair before texturizing razors

When I first trained, we just thinned out bulk with scissors and a lot of comb work. It took forever and the results could be hit or miss. Now razors are everywhere for instant texture. I'm not against new tools, but I do wonder if we lost some precision along the way. That hands-on approach felt like real craft.

Curtain bangs are everywhere in my neighborhood these days.

I was totally wrong about pre-cut conditioning

I used to think it made cutting harder. After seeing how it reduces damage, I always use it now. The difference in hair health is clear.

Client brought in a picture of her dog for a haircut reference

So this lady walks into the salon with a printed photo of her poodle. She points to the fluffy top and says she wants her bangs just like that. I had to keep a straight face while explaining human hair doesn't quite work that way. We ended up making some soft layers around her face. The funny thing is, she loved it and now tells all her friends about her 'poodle bangs'. It taught me to always ask more questions about what clients see in their inspiration photos. That way, I can give them something that works for their hair. Sometimes the weirdest requests lead to the best results.

Update: Just returned from a hair styling workshop in Barcelona

Flew out there for a few days of learning. Back then, we passed around physical photo books for inspiration. These days, everyone pulls looks up on tablets right at the chair. I do miss flipping through those old pages. Still, the new methods are pretty efficient.

Never realized how long some blondes take to lift

I mean, I had to check the clock so many times during processing. Idk, maybe it's just me but it's a test of patience.

A weekly team meeting fixed our salon's supply drama

We kept having fights over who used the last of the developer or forgot to clean the bowls. It was getting really bad, and the mood in the salon was tense. I thought about it and realized we never shared our needs or schedules. So, I suggested we start a quick ten minute meeting every Monday morning. In that meeting, we each say what big color jobs we have that week and if we need any special supplies. We also use a whiteboard to note when we plan to deep clean the back area. Since we started doing this, the arguments have almost stopped. It sounds simple, but just planning together ahead of time improved things a lot.

Rant: A customer's friend jumped in with haircut tips yesterday

I was cutting this woman's hair when her friend started pointing out how I should layer it. It put me on the spot, but I took a breath and asked the customer what she really wanted. We had a quick chat, and I adjusted my plan based on her input. The friend backed off once she saw I was listening. After the cut, the customer was thrilled and said it was exactly what she had in mind. Handling that pressure without losing my cool felt like a real win for me.

Why arguing over the bathroom mirror prepared me for salon work

I used to clash with my sibling every morning for mirror time. This habit pushed me to get quick without messing up my own hair. Now, when a client runs late, I just shift my schedule on the fly. Those crowded mornings gave me a sense for keeping things moving. I see now that home chaos builds tough skin for busy days. It's wild how a simple bathroom fight can help in a salon. Do you have home stories that shape your chair side manner?

Showerthought: Hand layering hair taught me more than any tool

I began cutting hair when we did all layering by hand. We used simple shears and a comb, nothing else. I remember a client with curly hair that needed careful work. Doing it slowly helped me understand how hair moves. Now, electric trimmers are common and speed things up. But that old method gave me a feel for texture I still use. It's nice to see some young stylists trying it again.

Warning: Razor cutting thick hair left it frizzy and unmanageable.

What's the best way to salvage hair after a razor cut goes wrong?

My unconventional fix for stubborn gray coverage that bucks the usual formulas

I'm probably going against the grain here, but I've never been fully on board with the standard high-lift color approach for covering resistant grays. (You know, the one everyone preaches in seminars.) After dealing with clients whose hair would still show through after multiple applications, I decided to ditch the conventional wisdom. I started mixing a demi-permanent shade with a specific bond builder into my formula, applying it on dry hair instead of damp, which everyone says is a no-no. It took three months of careful note-taking and client feedback to perfect the timing and ratio, but now I get seamless coverage in one session without compromising hair integrity. My clients are thrilled because the color lasts longer and fades more evenly, unlike the patchy results we often see. Yes, it requires extra precision during application, but the payoff in client satisfaction is worth every minute. I've had to defend this method to peers who swear by the traditional route, but the proof is in the pudding, or rather, in the mirror.

My sister and I used to practice cuts on each other before school

Looking back, those messy bangs taught us more about trust than technique. Nowadays, kids just watch tutorials online, missing that hands-on bond.