The Edit

Hair guides, honestly written

Plain-English advice for choosing a salon, a colorist and the right service. No sponsored opinions, ever.

Female stylist in an apron working on a client's long dark hair in a bright, airy salon

4 min readHow to Choose a Hair Salon You'll Want to Go Back To

Finding a salon is easy. Finding the right one takes a little homework. Here is a simple plan for comparing salons near you, asking good questions and booking your first visit with confidence.

Colorist in blue gloves brushing color onto a foil section of a smiling woman's brown hair

4 min readHow to Choose a Hair Colorist

Hair color is part chemistry, part art, and harder to undo than a haircut. Here is how to find a colorist whose work fits your hair, your goals and the time you want to spend on upkeep.

Young woman with long blonde balayage blending from darker roots to golden ends, gray background

4 min readBalayage vs. Highlights: How to Choose

Both add lighter pieces to your hair, but they are placed differently, grow out differently and need different upkeep. Here is how to tell them apart and decide which one suits your hair and your schedule.

4 min readWhat to Know Before a Big Hair Color Change

Going from dark to blonde, or blonde to red, is exciting. It also takes planning. Here is what to think about, what to tell your colorist and how to care for your hair once the new color is in.

Middle-aged Asian woman with long, sleek silver hair in a cream blouse, looking down serenely

5 min readGray Blending: A Guide to Softer, Easier Gray

Gray blending softens the line between your gray and your natural color instead of hiding every strand. It can mean gentler grow-out and fewer appointments. Here is how it works and how to talk to your colorist about it.

Woman with natural brown curls having her curls shaped by a stylist in a bright salon

4 min readHow to Find a Curly Hair Salon That Understands Your Curls

Curly, coily and wavy hair need a stylist who sees how each curl falls, plans for shrinkage and doesn't reach straight for the flat iron. Here is how to find that person and get ready for your visit.

Smiling Asian client in a salon chair talking with her stylist through the mirror

4 min readThe Salon Consultation: How to Get the Hair You Want

A good consultation is the difference between the hair you pictured and the hair you got. Here is when to book one, what to bring, what to share and the questions that lead to clear answers.

4 min readCorrective Color: What to Do When Hair Color Goes Wrong

Brassy, patchy, too dark or striped, color that misses the mark is upsetting. The good news is that many color problems can be improved with a careful plan. Here is what to do first and what to expect from a fix.

4 min readSalon Prices Explained: What Changes the Cost

Two salons on the same street can charge very differently for what sounds like the same service. Here is what actually changes a price and how to ask for a clear quote, so there are no surprises at checkout.

Back view of a bride's low chignon updo with a pearl and crystal hairpiece and lace gown

4 min readWedding and Event Hair: How to Plan It Without the Stress

Great event hair starts weeks before the big day. Here is how to find a stylist, make the most of a hair trial, plan a realistic timeline and ask the right questions if your stylist comes to you.

4 min readWhat a Cosmetology License Means, and What It Doesn't

Most states license the people who do hair, and many also license the salons where they work. Here is what those licenses tell you, what they don't, and how this directory shows license information.

4 min readHow to Check a Salon or Stylist License

Checking a license takes a few minutes and costs nothing. Here is what to have ready, where to search in several states, how to read the result and what to do when a record doesn't show up.