Good/Trusted Hairdressers

Hi! I've been reading the boards for awhile, but this is my first post.

So anyway, this is my story. Once upon a time, I had waist-length hair. I basically had long hair my entire life up until age 15, when I cut it off to shoulder-length. Since then, I've had it various lengths from pretty short to a little below my shoulders (I'm 21 now, so this has been awhile).

I was happy with bobbed hair for a long time, but a couple years ago, I decided that I wanted to grow it back out. Once it got a couple inches below my shoulders, I got bored with it and decided to get a few long layers added. *Big* mistake, as my hair ended up totally butchered into layers that flipped out all over the place and couldn't be tamed. So I tried to just get a little cut off at a time to fix it, but ultimately got it chopped off into a bob again to get rid of the layers as soon as they'd grown out enough.

Well, once it got to a couple inches below my shoulders again, I got bored with it, and once again decided to add some long layers. This time I brought pictures of what I wanted from every possible angle, and *still* ended up with butchered hair that was very choppy from about chin length down. So I had my hair cut off to chin length (last June) and started over. I had it trimmed once more in September to get rid of the very last of the layers.

Both times that I had to have the layering cut off, I went to the same hairdresser (who was recommended by my mother, who also has been very happy with her). She always listened to me, never cut off a millimeter more than I wanted, and gave me deep conditioning treatments at no extra cost. I loved her (still do!).

But, I got married last November and moved to a different state (California to Washington). So, reason would say, I need to find somebody here to cut my hair. But really, the only person I truly trust with my hair (While I've learned my lesson not to get layers anymore, I constantly had people hack off way more than I wanted when I tried to get a trim in the past) is my hairdresser back in California.

I actually had her give me a trim when I was in California visiting my folks back in February. I have had one other person cut my hair here, to add a few bangs, a few months ago. And yet I still don't trust anyone but my old hairdresser to trim it, because I'm afraid of losing way more length than I want to.

I'm due for a trim now, but will likely be back in California visiting family a couple months from now. So I am tempted to wait until then to get it trimmed.

Does anyone else have just one person that they trust with their hair, so much that you'd go out of your way to see them?

And more importantly, does anyone have any tips for finding a new hairdresser who will listen to what I want regarding my hair and not cut off more than I ask them to?


Thanks!
Kim

Believe it or not, I found someone at our local beauty school! She's just a junior student, too! Someone here (or somewhere) used the word "microtrim." And that's exactly what she gave me! She didn't say anything about my age or damage, and seemed to be very supportive of my quest. I don't care if I have to travel for hours once she graduates! Basically, I've had pretty good luck with this place; I once made the comment "You always listen to me, and do what I want," and the response is always "That's what we're trained to do." So not only is it cheap, I like this attitude, too.

Jean

Hi Atrocia, welcome to the board!

My suggestion would be to wait until you return to California in a few months.

As for finding a new stylist in Washington, Jean and SuperGrover have good ideas.

I was fortunate to find a salon that specialized in long hair when I began my growth quest. It's critical that the stylist trim just a tiny bit from the ends, otherwise your hair won't get any longer (or will take forever to get much longer).

Good luck, and let us know what you decide.

I have something of an update! I went to Trade Secret recently for some Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Shampoo and Biolage Conditioning Balm...anywho, I asked the lady working there if she could recommend a good stylist in the area. She said there was one at Trade Secret who was great, and another at a different salon in the mall. So I got her to write down both their names for me. In addition to scoring some 75% off Redken So Long Heat Treat, I spoke to one of the stylists at the second salon...She's a short haired gal, but said something to the effect of "I feel your pain! A half an inch means a half an inch! No more!" So I got her card.