How to Prep for Your Hair Appointment (Please Don't Wash Your Hair First)

Every week, at least one client walks into my Oak Hill studio for a color appointment with squeaky-clean, blow-dried, perfect hair. And every week I have to gently explain that they actually would have gotten a better result if they had skipped the shower.

After 20 years behind the chair, here is the honest prep guide for every type of hair appointment. Some of these will surprise you.

For a Color Appointment: DO NOT Wash the Day Of

This is the biggest one. Your scalp produces natural oils (sebum) that act as a protective barrier against color chemicals, especially at the root. A clean, freshly-washed scalp is more sensitive to color and developer. You are more likely to have burning, itching, or irritation.

Beyond that, unwashed hair holds color better. Day-two or day-three hair has a slight coating of natural oils that help the color cuticle absorb pigment more evenly.

Ideal: 24 to 48 hours since your last wash for a color service. If you washed that morning, it is not a disaster, but a little grease is your friend here.

Exception: Clarifying wash

If you have heavy product buildup, a lot of dry shampoo in your hair, or you swim in chlorine regularly, I may clarify at the salon before we color. Do not try to "pre-clean" at home. We can do it better in the chair.

For Balayage or Highlights: Also Do NOT Wash

Same rules. Sebum protects your scalp and helps color lift evenly. I have had clients show up with rain-soaked hair because they walked in from the parking lot in an Austin thunderstorm, and I always have to reassure them that wet hair is actually fine. It is clean, stripped hair that is a problem.

For a Haircut: Come Clean

Opposite rule. For a cut, especially a dry cut or a razor cut, clean hair is important. Product buildup, natural oils, and dry shampoo change how the hair falls and reads on the mirror. I want to see your hair the way it naturally is.

If your appointment is just a cut, wash the morning of or the night before. No heavy product. Air dry or blow dry to your normal style.

For a Keratin Treatment: Wash Thoroughly, But Without Conditioner

Keratin treatments bond to the hair cuticle. Anything coating the cuticle (product, conditioner, oils, silicones) interferes with the treatment adhering properly.

For a keratin appointment, I actually do a clarifying shampoo in-chair to make sure the cuticle is completely open and clean. You do not need to do anything elaborate at home. Just know that if you coated your hair with leave-in conditioner that morning, we might need to shampoo three or four times before we can start.

For an Extension Install: Color-Matched Hair, Styled Normally

If we are installing hand-tied extensions, I need to see your hair in its natural styled state so I can place the wefts where they will hide best. Wash and style the way you normally would. Do not over-straighten or over-curl.

If you are getting color before the install, we handle that in the same appointment so the extensions can be toned to match.

Bring the Photos (And Be Realistic)

I love when clients bring inspiration photos. It gives me a visual to work with. But a 20-year tip: bring 3 to 5 photos, not 20. And understand that an inspiration photo is a conversation-starter, not a guarantee.

If you bring me a photo of a model with thick, waist-length, virgin hair, and you have fine, shoulder-length, color-treated hair, the result will look different. Not bad, just different. A good stylist will translate the inspiration into something realistic for your actual hair.

Also helpful to bring or describe:

• How much time you spend styling daily
• Whether you use heat tools
• Your shampoo and conditioner
• Any hair history I need to know about (box dye, previous services, perms, relaxers)

That last one is critical. If you box-dyed your hair black 6 years ago and forgot to tell me, and I try to lift you to a blonde, we are going to have a bad time. Full honesty in the consultation saves both of us.

Dress the Part

I provide a cape and robe, but hair services are messy. Color can splatter. Wet hair drips down your back. Extensions and cuts mean hair on your shirt.

• Wear dark, comfortable clothes
• Nothing with a tight collar or hood
• Avoid cashmere, silk, or anything precious
• Bring or wear a front-zip or button-up top if you are getting keratin (so you can take it off over your hair at the end)

Eat Beforehand

Color appointments can run 3 to 5 hours. I have watched clients get woozy from low blood sugar while sitting under the processing dryer. Eat a real meal before you come. I keep water and snacks in the studio, but a proper lunch or breakfast prevents problems.

Caffeine Is Fine, But...

A coffee is fine. But if you are on your third cold brew from a Bee Cave coffee shop before a 3-hour appointment, you might be vibrating in the chair. Just know yourself.

Don't Book Right After a Workout

If you are sweaty and salty from a Barton Creek hike or a Pure Barre class, that sweat is now mixed into your scalp and hair. Color and keratin products interact weirdly with sweat residue. If you work out, shower and let your scalp oils rebuild for 24 hours, or schedule your appointment for a non-workout day.

Give Yourself a Buffer

Austin traffic on Highway 71 and MoPac can be unpredictable, especially during peak hours or SXSW/ACL weekends. Leave yourself 20 minutes of buffer. Being 10 minutes late to a 3-hour color appointment can shift my entire day, and I have to sometimes reschedule clients who arrive more than 15 minutes late.

Have Your Payment Ready

I take cards, Apple Pay, and Venmo. Tipping 18 to 22 percent is standard for salon services. If you are unsure, ask. Nobody will judge you for asking, and most stylists appreciate the honesty.

Ask Questions

I would rather spend 10 extra minutes at the consult walking through concerns, than rush in and have you end up with something you hate. If you have never had balayage before, ask what to expect. If you are nervous about a big change, tell me. I will walk you through the process.

The One Thing to Avoid

Do not come in and say "just do whatever you think." I promise I have more fun when you give me direction. 20 years in and the appointments I love are the ones where we collaborate, not the ones where I am reading minds.

Book a Consultation

If you are prepping for your first appointment with me, consultations are always free and usually 15 to 20 minutes. Book a consultation or service here, or browse my full service list and learn more about me.

I am in Oak Hill at Marquise Salon Suites, easy access from Bee Cave, Lakeway, Westlake Hills, and anywhere in the Hill Country.