Have a hair appointment coming up and feeling stumped on what you want to do? Time to go on the hunt for some inspiration! As a hairstylist, I LOVE using photos and visuals to make sure I’m on the same page as my clients, especially first time visitors! Hair verbiage can be hard and sometimes you just can find the right words to ask for exactly what you want. ENTER INSPO PICS! Here’s how to find ones that aren’t only beautiful, but also realistic! Read on..

Where to look

I love using Pinterest to find inspiration. It’s so easy! The secret is to get really specific with your key words! Typing in “blonde” or “long layers” will give you a tsunami of photos to choose from, but narrowing is down is much more efficient. The first thing to do is make a Pinterest board JUST for hair OR, my preferred method is just to screenshot all possible options and save them to your camera roll. Another great tip is to use your stylists social media page! Instagram is a stylists portfolio, if you can’t find a photo of their work that you love, maybe ask yourself: are they really the right stylist for you?

Choose your haircut first

Before you search for color inspiration, make sure you’re looking at the correct length. If you’re planning a big chop, search for haircut photos first, then make sure your color inspiration falls around that same length! Showing a photo of blonde bob isn’t super helpful if your hair is down to your waist! Also try to pay attention to bangs, face framing, and layers!

Hair type

Is your hair thick or fine? Curly or straight? How do you style your hair? Look for inspiration photos and use keywords that match your hair type. Again, showing a photos of a gorgeous curly brunette isn’t helpful if your hair is stick straight. Color will appear different on everyone, so finding a photo of a model with similar hair as you will help you envision the end result better. Also keep in mind how you style your hair! If you only like photos that are curled in loose waves but you NEVER curl your own hair, try searching for straight photos instead!

The root of the issue

On your hunt for hair color inspo, look closely at the ROOT of the models hair. Is it similar in color to your natural shade? Going too much lighter or darker than your natural color WILL result is a harsher growout and for all my low-maintenance clients, this is a pivotal piece of the puzzle. It doesn’t have to be exact, just try to find ones that are close!

Get foody with it

Now that we’ve gotten through the basics, lets get to the good stuff! Color is SO subjective when is why consultation can be so tricky! Try using adjectives and keywords from food to help you decide what tones you’re drawn to! Everyone knows what colors honey, chocolate, caramel, mocha, and vanilla look like. This can help you narrow down if you like warm or cool tones so you can communicate that to your stylist more easily!

When in doubt…

If you’re struggling to find inspiration photos that you love, at the very least bring photos that you DON’T love. Showing a stylist things you dislike can be just as helpful when making a game plan! Again, verbiage can be hard. Pictures really are worth a thousand words!

Always remember

No two heads of hair are the same, and I always say, “Photos are for inspiration. NOT replication.” Just because you bring 20 perfect photos done’t mean you’ll automatically turn into Jennifer Aniston. It’s up to your stylist to share with you what is and isn’t realistic and using photos, I think, helps immensely!