Pastel Promises

Pastels; even the word itself is light and comfortably rolls off the tongue. When done right, it can be a pleasing sight, a pure delight to look at. Questionable to the unfamiliar eye, but respected by the professionals in the industry. Like many things delicate, precious, and popular, it comes with its fair share of baggage. These colors are sensitive and hormonal. Specific shampoos and conditioners are required for its upkeep, along with more frequent salon visits. It has taken me up until recently in my career to realize that being great at one thing is more beneficial than being decent at many things. Although I do love a good challenge, I no longer make, what I call, “Pastel Promises”.  A Pastel Promise is when someone books an appointment with a new hairdresser, sits down exploding with excitement (so eager to show their hair dresser a picture of Kylie Jenner’s blush, powdery, baby pink, pastel hair) and says “So, this is what I want.” The hairdresser is quick to respond with “Okay, I'll go mix up”. 

WRONG!!! This is a front row seat to Pastel Promises on Broadway. We haven't even talked about what the client's current hair looks like. Is she brunette? Is she a red head? Maybe a natural red head or box color red? Right off the batt you were promised with out being fully consulted and analyzed. Now, in some situations we are blessed with those few clients with pillowy, light blonde hair and all goes as planned, if not better. Both the stylist and client walk away chests to the sky, and kickin ass! However, most situations do not come this easy. Let me make myself very clear, these God gifted situations happen very RARELY. In general, most of our society has medium-to-dark, or previously colored hair, making each service customized and unique. A good stylist will take on the challenge with honesty and caution. A full, if not hyper consulted, consultation is desperately necessary in these situations. 

Now, the client. I have witnessed two types of clients who request pastel colors. The first client is someone with dark brown, almost black (okay just say black) colored hair. Maybe it's a box color? Either way, we are all in for a real treat! This client is happy wearing little to no makeup and only does minimal styling with a blow dryer or flat iron. Lets name this client, Client A. Oh, and I almost forgot, Client A washes their hair every day because they work out, have kids, have dogs, have cats, have lifestyles that make them need to wash every single day (if you are my client already, you know how I feel about this. If not, stay tuned for a blog about this in the near future). Client B is eccentric, fashion forward, styles with a blow dryer, flat iron, or curling iron every single day (maybe twice a day) along with a full face of make-up. Of course. Client B washes their hair one to two times per week with drugstore shampoo. Also Client B is on a strict budget, like real strict, like college student budget, like probably should not be spending their grant money on their hair kinda budget (but oh what the hell mama wants to look good)!

Let's start with Client A and the pastel promise they are about to encounter. Given that the pastel look is unnatural, one would automatically agree that it must take hard work in order to achieve such a look. No one is born with lilac or rose pink hair; therefore, that person must have spent hours in the salon to have created this precious look. It does not make sense to me when clients, like Client A want to rock this expensive and time invested look, but don't have 5 minutes for mascara! (Not to mention these appointments may take up to 6 hours at a time and you might need multiple appointments.) So by trying taking short cuts to try and avoid these appointments will not help the outcome you were promised. In this brunette’s case, no less than two appointments, easily. If your stylist does not share this with you during the consultation, you've found yourself in the center of pastel promise land. In addition, as a stylist and an honest beautician, the look is incomplete, with a dash of laziness, when makeup gets shunned from the picture. Make-up is a must with this look. A little mascara and bronzer never hurt any body. Without any make-up at all, Client A screams “look at me, but don't look too close”. I understand make-up isn't for everybody, and neither am I. What I do understand is you are sitting in my chair seeking professional advice and this is it. These are things I address during the consultation and this is when our agreements are made and our trust is established. 

Now let’s continue onto Client B. This is someone I can relate to personally. I love styling my hair, but I hate washing it. I love makeup, but I am also on too strict of a budget. This is when priorities are made. 

Is having pastel hair a lifestyle you are willing to take on? Your decision. Will your boss question your state of mind a month after the color washes out and you look like a washed up middle age crisis? You tell me. 

Are you able to get by with drugstore makeup so you can allow room to splurge on hair care? OF COURSE YOU ARE! Boom, Client B, problem solved! 

Now, let's start the appointment. Pastel Promises, when all appears calm, the excitement is growing inside of you and your hairdresser is now carrying your hopes and dreams on his or her shoulders. Can you feel the anticipation yet? Have you ever walked into a grocery store, grabbed a basket instead of a cart, to then soon find yourself in the back corner of the store with that basket banging against your knees, over flowing and heavy as all hell? Well, it can kind of feel something like that as hairdresser after making a pastel promise to a client. You've taken on more than you can carry, and it's getting a embarrassing. Now, I can honestly say that I have never been one of these clients, but my guess is this is what's going on through their minds. I could very much argue that this is exactly what is going through their minds (since it is written across their face) but here is what I’m guessing:

 “What the hell did I get myself into? Why did Tina tell me to try this stylist, I've never even heard of this salon. Has Tina ever even been to this person? Wait a minute, no wonder why she told me to come! This lady/guy is crazy! How much longer do I have to sit like this? Wait, where did my stylist go? Is this supposed to itch? SHIT, DON'T ITCH THAT MAKES IT WORSE! Okay, just ignore it, it should go away. I'm going to look so good tonight when Chad and I go out, this will all be worth it. Don't itch, don't itch! I hope i'm not being charged every time they mix a new bowl, that would be crazy! I want pink hair and the stuff she/he is putting on my hair is blue! WTF! I showed them the picture right? I should have asked how much this would be. I'm starving, screw how much this is going to cost, how much longer am I trapped here, my hanger is showing?! Postmates? Is that to weird? Did that client get here after me and is leaving before me? UGGHH! Another hour and i'm about to eat this tea packet. My butt is so numb. QUIT ITCHING DAMNIT!”

Let's fast forward to a few hours after your stylist went and “mixed up” that first bowl of lightener. A bead of sweat might be running down your face, or a supportive half laugh might be the only thing that comes out of the stylist. The question of the hour is, how does it turn out? The real answer is, your stylist's process will tell you how it turns out.

If the consultation was under 5 minutes your hair color will probably look like it took 5 minutes. Poor, unfortunate thing. You better make up some quick excuse to get out of that chair, or else you're in for a good ol’ pastel promise. If your consultation was filled with questions, concerns, shampoos, conditioners and the type of commitment you're willing to have with the salon, you're headed in the right direction — far, far away from a pastel promise. Congratulations! You must have done your research and this stylist nows their stuff. In some cases you still might not leave that day with rose pink hair. Instead you were educated and you now know what it will take to conquer that unicorn pink, delicious lavender, or sea foam green pastel color. (Be aware that once you have reached that eye catching color, everywhere you go you will be showered with “oh my gosh I love your hair”.  And if you're a good client, you will have plenty of business cards to hand out, or an instagram account name to share when they ask you “who does your hair?”. )

Overall, these are my key things to look for when booking or looking for the honored stylist to take this journey with. 

1. SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION ONLY APPOINTMENT

These appointments are a minimum of 15 minutes that can almost guarantee you won't be screwed over (key word being: almost). A consultation appointment is allowing your stylist to analyze your current color situation. This gives your new stylist time to plan their course of action as well as inform you the possibilities of what can or may happen. They might say “This is a project (aka a color correction) and will take three visits to achieve this look. This might be the moment when your heart drops, breathing becomes shallow. “THREE APPOINTMENTS!?”  The fact that your stylist is being completely honest with you is a gift! (Take the advice, we always mean it. Three visits isn't that long anyways, if you want to keep the majority of your hair.)

2. DON’T BE CHEAP.

 As I mentioned earlier, this look LOOKS expensive, because it is expensive. Along with the appointment cost, at home products and maintenance routines need to be discussed and purchased immediately. The delicateness of the pastel colors fade extremely easy and if you want to ride out the color as long as possible, there are shampoos and conditioners that you need to use in order to benefit as long as possible from. Tons of new products have been created to help the new generation of mermicorns. Some brands that I am a fan of are Overtone Color, Goldwell, Framesi, and Joico. 

3. DO YOUR RESEARCH!

 Research your local salons, call and ask which stylist takes these type of clients. The salon will know who to refer you to, or tell you they do not have anyone specializing in fashion/pastel colors. Once you have made contact with that stylist, don't be ashamed to ask for photos of their work. We are artists and often have some type of portfolio, even if it is only Instagram or Facebook. By doing this you are seeing (and yes, judging)what they are capable of. This might be the most important tip of them all — when you see a person with color similar to the color you want, you better chase that person down and get their stylist’s phone number! That phone number will be your golden ticket. 

In closing, I want to remind everyone taking the time reading this, that these are only my opinions and experiences. Fellow hairdressers, you might choose to be a pastel promiser or raise yourself above. My heart goes out to you either way, and let’s continue to grow together. Future pastel clients of mine or anyone else's, do your research, plan accordingly and rock that awesome pastel hair!