What To Bring To Your Hair Consultation
Updated 9 October 2026
You do not need to arrive at your hair consultation knowing which service to book.
A few reference photographs, details of previous services and an idea of your routine can help us discuss suitable options. If you are unsure what you want or cannot remember your full colour history, that is fine too.
Here is what is useful to bring.
A Quick Consultation Checklist
Save or note down:
- photographs showing colours or styles you like
- examples of results you would prefer to avoid
- previous colour and chemical services, with approximate dates
- product names or packaging photographs where available
- details of your usual washing and styling routine
- your budget and preferred appointment frequency
- questions or concerns you want to discuss
These can be on your phone. There is no need to print everything or buy anything before attending.
Reference Pictures—and What You Like About Them
Choose a few images that help explain your ideas.
You might like the tone, brightness, placement of highlights, haircut shape or overall finish. It is useful to identify those details, especially if your photographs show different looks.
Pictures of results you dislike can help too.
Lighting, styling and editing can change how hair appears in photographs. We use your references to understand your preferences, then discuss how they relate to your own hair.
Your Hair History
Tell us about previous salon and home services, including:
- permanent and semi-permanent colour
- toners, highlights and balayage
- bleach and colour removers
- perms, relaxers and smoothing treatments
- extensions and how they were fitted or removed
- any unexpected reactions or breakage during previous services
Approximate dates and where products were applied are helpful. Older services may still matter if the treated hair remains in your lengths.
Read more about why we ask about your hair history before your goal.
What If You Cannot Remember Everything?
Bring what you know and tell us where you are unsure.
Old photographs, product packaging or information from a previous salon may help, but a complete record is not required.
There is no need to feel embarrassed about home colour or a result you were unhappy with. The information helps us assess the starting point and decide whether testing is needed.
Details of Your Everyday Routine
A suitable colour or haircut should work with the way you live.
Think about:
- how often you wash your hair
- which products you regularly use
- whether you air-dry or use heated tools
- how much time you spend styling
- whether you swim regularly
- how frequently you want salon appointments
You can bring product names or photographs rather than carrying the bottles.
Tell us what is realistic for you. A routine you can maintain is more useful than one that does not fit your day.
Your Budget and Any Important Dates
Let us know your budget for the proposed service and what you are comfortable spending on ongoing maintenance.
If you are preparing for a holiday, wedding or another event, share the date. This helps us discuss timing without assuming that every change can be completed in one visit.
Ask what the quoted appointment includes and whether further services may be needed.
Concerns About Your Hair
Mention any changes you have noticed, such as increased tangling, breakage, roughness or differences between your roots and ends.
You do not need to diagnose the cause yourself.
We consider your observations alongside your history and assessment. Analysis or strand testing may be recommended before confirming a chemical service.
Read more about why healthy-looking hair isn’t always healthy.
Questions You Want Answered
It can help to save a short list before attending:
- What options would suit my hair and routine?
- What result is realistic?
- Is any testing needed?
- How long will the proposed appointment take?
- What will it cost?
- How often will it need maintaining?
- What are the alternatives if my first choice is unsuitable?
If a previous experience has left you nervous, tell us what would help you feel more comfortable during the discussion.
You Do Not Need a Finished Plan
Your consultation is the place to explore ideas and understand the options.
The recommendation may involve your original goal, an adapted result, further testing or time to consider the proposed approach.
For more about the appointment itself, read why a hair consultation is not just a quick chat.
Ready to Discuss Your Ideas?
Bring your references, the history you can recall and the questions that matter to you.
If you are still unsure, start there. We can help you understand the options and discuss an appropriate next step.
