Hair tips I’m repeating behind the chair constantly
If you've sat in my chair before, you've probably heard all of these come out of my mouth at some point.
I say these things so often that I figured... why not just write it all down. Consider this your cheat sheet for everything I'm thinking about your hair even when you're not in my chair.
Double cleanse every single wash
This is the one I will die on a hill for. Clarifying shampoo first, then follow with what I like to call your "prescriptive" shampoo second... whatever that is for you. Moisture, volume, shine, smoothing, purple, whatever your hair needs that wash.
I always say that your clarifying shampoo is like your make up wipe and your second shampoo is like your face wash. You wouldnt start by washing your face with a full face of make up… you take your make up off first and then you wash your face. Same rules apply for haircare.
Here's why: if you skip the clarify step, you're layering your good product on top of buildup from yesterday's dry shampoo, sweat, pollutants, hard water minerals, whatever. Your prescriptive shampoo can't do its job if it's fighting through a film of stuff that's already sitting there. Clarify first, then let your actual shampoo work the way it's supposed to. You’ll be surprised how much you like your shampoo and what it does for your hair when you’re actually letting it work properly for you.
I won’t tell you how often to purple shampoo
Everyone asks me this. "How often should I be using my purple shampoo?" And if I just say "every second wash," I could be telling you to totally under-use it or over-use it for what your hair actually needs.
So instead of a set schedule, ask yourself one question every wash day: am I happy with the current tone right now? If yes, skip the purple. If no, use it. That's it. That's the whole system.
My own purple shampoo cycle might look like: wash 3 times without it, wash once with it, wash twice without, wash twice with, wash 5 times without... it's not a formula, it's a check-in. Let your hair tell you what it needs instead of following a rule that was never written for your specific head.
Scalp health is not optional anymore
If you're trying to grow your hair out, or you're trying to build a strong, healthy follicle from the actual source, your scalp needs to be treated like the priority it is. This isn't an "extra" step. Everything your hair is or isn't doing starts at the scalp. Feed it, don't ignore it.
There's no magic number of weeks for your colour
If I tell you your toner or colour will last 6-8 washes, that number means something completely different depending on how often you wash. Every day or every second day washer? That's 1-2 weeks, not 6-8 weeks. Your colour longevity is measured in washes and how you’re treating it with heat and products, not the calendar, so factor in your own habits before you panic that your toner "faded fast."
Adjustments vs. a second process — knowing the difference
We offer a 2 week adjustment period on all colour services, and adjustments are always complimentary. A second process is not, and here's what I mean by that.
This 2 week time frame is to give you enough time to sit with your new colour and have the ability for us to make any necessary adjustments at no cost.
If your adjustment concern is about relightening areas that your hair physically couldn't achieve in the first lightening session... that's not an adjustment, that's just round two! Lightening is a process. Some hair needs more than one appointment to get where you're going, and that's expected, not a freebie.
BUT — if you're not loving the tone, the blend, or the placement of something we did in that original service, I want nothing more than to fix it for you at no charge. That's on us to get right, and I take that very seriously.
A few more I say just as often
Heat protectant is not a suggestion. Every single time, before every single tool. I don't care if it's "just a quick touch up," your hair doesn't know the difference when it comes to heat damage.
Sleep on it, don't fight it. A silk or satin pillowcase (or a loose braid/bun before bed) will save you so much breakage and frizz over time. Cotton pillowcases are basically sandpaper for your ends while you sleep.
Brush your extensions before bed. Every night. No exceptions. Loose bond, sew-in, tape-in, doesn't matter — tangled extensions overnight is how you end up with matting at the root that's genuinely heartbreaking to deal with. A loop brush and 30 seconds is all it takes.
Blondes and pools/sun are not friends without a plan. Chlorine and UV will pull warmth and brassiness out of your tone faster than anything else. If you're a summer pool person, we should be talking about your toner schedule differently than someone who isn't.
Trims aren't about losing length, they're about maintaining it. Especially with extensions — regular moveups and trims keep everything blending and looking intentional instead of grown out and awkward. Skipping them to "save length" usually backfires.
Treatments aren’t a luxury add-on, it's damage control. If you're lightening, colouring, or extending regularly, your hair is going through a lot. A treatment in your at-home routine (or added into your service) is one of the easiest ways to keep your hair actually healthy instead of just looking healthy in the mirror under salon lighting.
Basically... your hair routine is a conversation, not a script. Ask it questions, actually look at it, and don't just follow a rule someone gave you without knowing your hair specifically. That's what we’re here for, hopefully this helps a little in between visits!
