How to tell your stylist what you want

A few minutes of preparation is the difference between "I love it" and growing out a cut you didn't choose.

Before your appointment

• Save 2–3 photos of cuts you love — ideally on hair with a similar texture to yours.
• Save one photo of what you don't want. It's often the most useful picture you'll bring.
• Think about your mornings. How long will you spend styling? Air-dry or blow-dry? Hair up for work or the gym?

In the chair, before anything is cut

Use these phrases:

• Length in inches: "I'd like to keep it at my collarbone" or "take off 2 inches" — not "just a trim."
• Layers: "long layers starting below my chin" or "face-framing layers only."
• Texture: "please skip the thinning shears" if your hair is fine or curly. They’re behind many frizzy, flyaway results.
• Curls: "could you cut it dry?" A dry cut shows where each curl naturally sits.
• Upkeep: "How often will this need a trim to look like the photo?"

Then ask the most important question:

"Is this realistic for my hair?"

A good stylist will tell you honestly and suggest an adjustment.

Halfway through

It's completely fine to ask for a pause and a look in the mirror before the final length goes. Speaking up then is much easier than afterward.

If you're not happy

Many salons offer a complimentary adjustment within a week or two. Call, describe what feels off — "the layers feel too short around my face" — and ask if they can refine it.

Growing out a cut you didn't love

• Dust the ends every 8–10 weeks to keep the shape while length comes back.
• Shape as it grows: a too-short lob can pass through a soft shoulder-length cut on the way.
• Face-framing layers or curtain bangs can make an in-between length feel intentional.