What do you do at a color consultation?
Sarah Smith
Published Jan 09, 2026
A color consultation is an appointment with a hair stylist in which the client explores hair dye options. During a color consultation, the stylist shows his or her client swatches of dyed hair or pictures to help decide what color is best.
What questions do you ask during a color consultation?
Below are some sample question you can ask during the consultation:
- What type of job does she have?
- Does she do a lot of socializing?
- What are her morning hair rituals?
- Is she savvy at styling her own hair?
- Does she use tools and styling products?
- What does she like about her hair?
How do I prepare for a color appointment?
Wash you hair 1-2 days before. Hair should not be excessively dirty, sweaty or oily. Dirty hair does not “grab color better” *see next slide. However, you want there to be a natural protective oil layer on your scalp to act as a barrier against the chemicals in the hair dye.
Do you tip for a free color consultation?
No. You do not tip during a free consultation. You tip when actual services are rendered and received to your satisfaction, and that tip is based on a percentage of the charges.
What can I expect at a salon consultation?
A perfect salon consultation is not easy, the team member needs to analyze a lot of information quickly, they need to listen, they need to understand the requirements and they need to confirm back in detail what they are planning to do. They need to use pictures.
39 related questions foundHow do I do a consultation?
Steps to the best client consultation experience
- Understand your goals. ...
- Start with a consultation form. ...
- Be aware of your body language. ...
- Approach the consultation as a conversation. ...
- Ask the right questions. ...
- Frame the conversation as if the potential customer has signed on. ...
- Be prepared with all of your information. ...
- Be confident.
What are 10 consultation questions you need to ask every client?
Regardless of age, here are 10 questions you should be asking every client during a consultation:
- What type of job do you have?
- Do you do a lot of socializing?
- What are your morning hair rituals?
- How experienced are you at styling your own hair?
- Do you use tools and styling products?
- What do you like about your hair?
How much do you tip for a $100 hair color?
If your hair color service is $100? A $20 tip is standard. And remember: Salon assistants (rather than your actual hairstylist) usually shampoo and condition your hair and/or apply your gloss or glaze, so ask the receptionist how tips are divided to make sure the assistants are getting a cut.
How much do you tip for $200 hair color?
How much should you tip on a $200 hair service? You should start at a 20% tip as a fair baseline. And if the service and the result are exceptional, you should tip 25%.
How much do you tip for a $150 hair color?
Remember the golden rule: "You should tip 20 percent on the entire service cost, not per individual," says Schweitzer. So if your haircut and blow-dry cost $40 total, and your color was $60, your total service cost comes to $100. That means you should tip $20 divided between the colorist and stylist.
What should you not do before a hair appointment?
#1: Thou Shalt NOT Shampoo
A good rule of thumb is to shampoo your hair at least 24 to 48 hours before your coloring session, unless otherwise directed. The idea is that you want there to be a natural protective oil layer on your scalp to act as a barrier against the chemicals in the hair dye.
How do I prepare for my first hair color appointment?
Prepping Your Hair to be Dyed in a Salon
- Get Rid of Build Up and Clarify Your Hair. About a week before your hair color appointment, take some time to put a clarifying treatment on your hair. ...
- Got Damage? Just Add Protein and a Haircut. ...
- Deep Condition Your Hair. ...
- The Last Shampoo. ...
- Bring Photos. ...
- Honesty is the Best Policy. ...
- of 07.
Should I deep condition my hair before coloring?
"A good thing to do the day before coloring is to use a clarifying shampoo to remove any product buildup, and to help even the hair's porosity so color takes evenly," says White. "You should follow that with a deep conditioner to replace any moisture that may be lost during coloring."
What happens at a hair color consultation?
During a color consultation, the stylist shows his or her client swatches of dyed hair or pictures to help decide what color is best. The stylist and client may also discuss pricing, the amount of time needed to perform the dye job, and the best time to make the appointment.
Should I wash my hair before a consultation?
Wash Hair Before Your Appointment
If you're getting your hair colored, clean hair helps the hair color be applied evenly and thoroughly; if you're getting a haircut, dirty hair can be bogged down with product and dry shampoo, as well as look a tad too greasy to get a good pre-wash consultation.
How long does hair consultation take?
Typically, a hair consultation takes about 15 to 30 minutes depending on how dramatic a change you want to achieve with your new hairstyle. Quite often, a hair consultation is done at the beginning of your initial appointment.
How much do you tip a $350 hairdresser?
The usual gratuity for your stylist or colorist (yes, even if they are the owner) should be 15 to 20 percent of the service fee. And while assistants are sometimes tipped out by their stylists, it's still a nice gesture to pass a little something their way.
How much should you give your hairdresser for Christmas?
How much should I tip my hairstylist during the holidays? The general rule is to double the 15 to 20 percent you usually give, says colorist Sharon Dorram-Krause of Sharon Dorram Color at Sally Hershberger Uptown salon in New York City.
How much do you tip a $20 hairdresser?
$20 haircut - $4 tip.
How much do you tip your hairdresser at Christmas 2021?
If you don't regularly visit your salon or barbershop throughout the year, you may prefer to give about $20 as a tip during your December visit.
How do you say thank you to your hairdresser?
General Thank You Notes for Hairdressers
Thank you so much for everything you do – you're a truly talented stylist and I always enjoy my appointments. Please accept this gift card and get yourself some well deserved coffees on me. I'm already looking forward to my next appointment.
Do I tip the person who washes my hair?
A general rule offered by both Waldman and Gottsman is to tip anyone who touches your hair. So, no need to tip the salon coordinator who checked you into the appointment. But if you can, give about $3 to $5 to the assistant who shampoos your hair or rinses color from it.
How do you give a good client consultation?
The key to a great consultation is understanding the client's needs and expectations, which are then recorded and signed off by the client and the stylist or therapist. That way, you can both move forward together, and you are both accountable for the end results.
What is a consultation and why is it important?
Consultation involves employers actively seeking and then taking account the views of workers before making a decision. It involves two-way communication with employers providing information and workers taking on the responsibility of actively participating in the process.
What is a consultation question?
Consulting questions are questions you can ask prospective clients during a consultant interview. Asking the right consulting questions can help you learn more about the client and determine how you can serve them.