Behind the Chair with Deanna

Balayge (pronounced bah-lee-AHZGE) creates a lot of natural-looking shine and dimension, with the highlighting color fluidly appearing in sun-kissed ribbons instead of stripes or chunks of color. According to the lovely and talented stylist Deanna Dituri, this is a great look for brunettes and blondes. Deanna says, “I really hope this look sticks for a long time- it is absolutely beautiful! It almost gives the look you got as a kid playing in the sun all summer. The way someone will know the right color for them is to consult with your hair stylist to make sure that certain tones will go well with your skin and eyes. This is very important- just because it looks good on someone else doesn’t mean it’s going to match you.”

How to Get the Most Out of Your Appointment

Have realistic expectations

It’s hard to definitively say what’s trending in haircuts because as Deanna points out, the shape of our faces will determine how a haircut will look on us. That’s why it’s really important to talk with your stylist first. Be clear about the amount of time you have to maintain and do your hair each day and bring in pictures of haircuts you like. The one thing Deanna reported that she wished clients would understand is to have realistic expectations when bringing in pictures. Often, clients focus more on the beautiful face than the actual cut and style of the hair. Look at your face shape and skin tone- if you have a round face, that pretty picture of Reese Witherspoon will look vastly different on you. I’ve been guilty of bringing in pictures of Giselle or my blogging crush Julia Engel and feeling disappointed that I don’t look like them after- remember, you’re not undergoing transformative surgery, you’re changing your hair! Your stylist should talk to you about what you like from the pictures, will ask you questions about your hair routine, and will help you determine the best course of action.

Talk to your stylist

If your stylist isn’t consulting with you by asking you questions and talking about your hair goals before getting to work, get out of that chair! It’s extremely important for you to be on the same page with your stylist and to speak up during the appointment if you need to. You won’t hurt your stylist’s feelings. They want you to speak up so they can alter their plan before the appointment is over instead of you leaving, fighting back tears, only to come back in a few days for a corrective appointment. Feel free to ask questions and clarify what will happen in the appointment before getting started.

Deanna pointed out that some stylists like to keep their secrets, in terms of cut, color, or styling- but not her. I know first-hand that she likes her clients to be able to achieve what she did while in her chair at home every day- so don’t be shy, ask away. Deanna has suggested products for my somewhat frizzy hair, such as TIGI Bed Head After the Party Smoothing Cream, 3.4 Ounce, and showed me how to use it. If your stylist doesn’t reveal too much, there are tons of reliable vloggers on Youtube to show you step-by-step videos of how to achieve certain looks.

Now you tell me- what’s your favorite hair trend? How do you make sure to get the most out of your appointment? Have you been a victim of a bad hair appointment and left the salon in tears? Share your stories!

Deanna works at Icon Salon

Contact

335 S Ardmore Ave, Villa Park, IL 60181

(630) 834-6006