The Reality Check of “Unicorn” Hair

2016 brought “Unicorn” hair, or “Rainbow” hair, into the forefront. More and more fashionistas wanted it, and not many got the results they wanted.
 
But before you point your finger at your stylists, here are some realities…

1. This is a time commitment. Expect to spend a long time in the salon while your hair lightens, sometimes twice, you get treatments, the color processes, and then some possible tweaking afterwards. No joke, I tell my clients to bring a snack, or a meal, a book, and block the rest of the day.
2. This is a financial commitment. I cannot tell you how many clients I have coming into my chair, or messaging me from all over, reporting horrific results from salons, or, worse, their bathrooms. Instead of taking my advice, coming to me for a consultation, they choose to bid it out, find the least expensive salon with someone willing to do it, or, resorting to the dreaded box color. And then what happens is, instead of spending the money once and walking away, they spend almost the same amount of money I quoted, maybe a tad less, and either immediately or within the first shampoo or two, disaster strikes. Color bleeds, washes out, is patchy, hair is breaking or broken, feels like straw, uneven… you name it. And then, guess what? They end up in my chair, anyway, and have to pay just as much as they did the first time, only this time it is so that I can fix the damage, and, if they are lucky, give them the color they wanted. But there is a greater chance that the result will still not be what it could have been.
3. This is a commitment outside of the salon. You cannot escape the need for amazingly high quality, professional hair care and styling products. There is not a single product that you can buy outside of a salon that will be able to successfully maintain fashion color. I know, I know, we all have a friend who swears by whatever is on sale at your corner drug store. Here’s what you need to know - it’s a fluke. And that’s just for now. Your hair has been through the ringer, chemically. It is now “special needs.” Shampoo, conditioner and styling products that are made for the masses will not suffice. It may work at first, but the long term damage to the color is just a matter of time. You’ll have premature fading, your hair will dry out… it’s a ticking time bomb.
4. Don’t expect to wash your hair everyday. Not unless you literally want to wash your financial investment down the drain. Plus, it’s bad for your hair, even under the best of circumstances. Learn to wash your hair 1-3 times a week, maximum. It’s ok - your hair will adjust faster than your psyche to this. And it will thank you.
5. You must be embarrassingly honest with your hairdresser. Period. That includes the time you tried to go blonde by using Clorox liquid bleach on your head (and, yes, I had someone who lied about doing that and they paid the consequences), to using box color to mask that really bad idea you and your former hairstylist came up with to tie dye your hair. We won’t care. We will have heard it all. Or just about. (Ok. I’m not going to lie. We will judge you and laugh at you when you aren’t looking. But, let’s be real. You judged yourself and laughed at yourself, too.) And we might tease you now and again, or ask if we can use your exploits as cautionary tales to other wannabe unicorns, but we will still love and nurture you.
   
   BUT… if you are NOT painfully honest about EVERYTHING you have done to those little strands on top of your head, here is what can happen:​

• Your hair will break off. And exactly at the line where your worst hair transgression took place. You will be left with stumps. I’ve seen it happen, and after spending hours of careful work, weeks of coaching and consulting. It was devastating.
• Your hair will melt. This is terrifying. I once had someone come into my chair who, just misting her hair with water, caused melting. This will almost always, unless one is stupidly lucky and careful, lead to breaking as soon as the hair dries.
• Your hair will look like a sad, mottled, patchy blob of color. I’ve seen hair look like lichen on a rock. I’ve seen hair that looks blonde and mouldy. I’ve seen weird, pink splotches.
• You will look like Tammy Faye Baker’s eyelashes where a rainbow used to be. All the colors will melt into horrifying streams of muddy color.

So, the good news is this is what can go wrong. Here’s what can go right, especially when you work with me:

1. You are prepared. If we have the chance before your appointment, we will have an in-person, if not telephone, consultation. You will share your deepest, darkest hair secrets, and give me some history on your hair. I may even give you some homework, as in treatments you can do in advance of your appointment, how to take care of your hair, etc. You will also know to bring food. (This is not a joke.)
2. You won’t be surprised or shocked at the amount of time it requires. I work really hard to set expectations that are based in reality. I don’t want you upset because you were here 3x what you expected. That’s also one of the reasons I went independent - I can control my time a little bit better.
3. Sticker shock will wear off, especially since I explain what every charge is. And I will not take you by surprise.
4. If you are honest with me, then we shouldn’t have any surprises along the way. And, if I see something happening that wasn’t expected, I am honest with you. I will tell you when we need to stop a process, or if your color dreams aren’t achievable in one sitting, or until your hair recovers more. And I give you a backup plan.
5. You will go home with product that works for your hair. You won’t have to worry about what you need to get for yourself, or remember to write anything down. And if I don’t have it in stock, if you pay for it in advance, I can have it here to pick up within a day or two.
6. When it comes time to refresh, things will go smoother. Why? Because I will know what was in your hair, how it responds, and what my canvas is made of as we create more hair art.

Let's hope that 2017 brings healthy, happy, bouncy "Unicorn" hair into vogue. 

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