Best Hair Salons in Birmingham, AL

FAQs

• Are home hair dyes as good as salon dye?

  While dye itself is often the same as home and salon dyes, the process that's involved in mixing the dye is far more intricate at the salon. Home dye kits contain standard amounts of dye and developer that need to be mixed prior to application. At the salon, stylists mix dyes and developers themselves and have more control over strength and color. This ensures the health of the hair can be protected, while the color of the hair is more suited to clients' preferences.

• What products do salons use?

  Hair salons normally use high-quality products, including colors and color correctors, shampoos, conditioners, and styling products. Some of the most common brands seen in salons across the U.S. include Redken, Matrix, Paul Mitchell, and Rusk. With hair tools, stylists may use scissors, shears, and razors to cut and shape hair and a variety of combs, brushes, and heat tools to style clients' fresh cuts.

• How much does hair coloring cost at a salon?

  The cost of hair coloring varies depending on several factors. Here are the national average costs for the most common hair coloring services:

  • Balayage: $150 to $200
  • Full-head highlights: $80 to $100
  • Half-head highlights: $45 to $55
  • Lowlights: $75 to $300 (depending on shades and volume)
  • Face frame highlights: $20 to $30
  • Single process: $50 to $100
  • Toner: $20 to $50

• How much do you tip a hairstylist and the salon staff?

  Tipping your hairstylist and salon staff is a great way to show your appreciation for their service. In most cases, a 20% tip is standard, but if a client is extremely pleased with the service, a larger tip is usually appreciated.
  

  
  

  Of course, in many salons, clients might encounter several staff members during a visit, including the stylist, salon owner, and shampooer. While the stylist’s tip is customary, it doesn’t hurt to supply a small tip for the shampooer, too. Most salon owners don't expect a tip if they don't provide the service.
  
  

• How much do hair extensions cost at the salon? 

  The cost of hair extensions typically varies depending on the type of extensions and the amount of hair needed to achieve the clients' desired look. Here are the average costs for different extensions:

  • Tape-in extensions: $200
  • Glue-in extensions: $300 to $500
  • Sew-in extensions: $275
  • Weave: $100 to $600
  • Fusion: $200 to $1,000

• Can all stylists do correctional hair coloring?

  Color-correction service is a long process that requires multiple salon visits. It's important that stylists undergo training specific to color correction, as corrective color solutions need to be customized to balance the color of hair and achieve desired results. Incorrectly performed color corrections can lead to severely damaged hair.

• How much does it cost to fix a bad dye job?

  The cost of color correction depends on the color applied to the hair and the amount of hair on the clients' head. Color correction is a long process that can take between five and seven hours and is usually spread out over several weeks. This is especially true where hair has been dyed a darker color and needs to be lifted and re-dyed to a blonde shade. On average, clients can expect to pay about $100 for each hour spent with the stylist.

• What is the best accounting/scheduling software for hair salons?

  The best accounting and scheduling software for salons includes extra features, such as inventory management, point of sale, and employee management. These programs should help salons track client profiles and view detailed reports of their sales and schedules. Some of the top software programs used by salons in the U.S. include Mindbody and Insight.

• What are the top hair salon chains in the world?

  According to Franchise Chatter magazine, the top chain hair salons include Great Clips, Supercuts, Sport Clips, and Merle Norman Cosmetics. Each of these chains offers affordable hair services, including coloring, cuts, and styles.

• What is aluminum foil used for at salons?

  At salons, aluminum foil is used when processing colors and other chemical treatments. It helps stylists hold the hair in place and keep it separate from other parts of the head, ensuring that dye and other chemicals don't spread to hair that don't need treatment.

• What is the average commission that stylists receive for their services? 

  The amount of commission a stylist receives varies depending on the salon and its commission structure. In some salons, stylists may receive a commission based on the services they provide, while others may only offer commission based on product sales. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), hairstylists earn an average salary of $13.74 per hour.
  

• Is there a difference between a hairstylist and a hairdresser?

  Often, these terms are used interchangeably, and according to Merriam-Webster, these are synonyms of each other. That being said, some industry professionals prefer the term hairstylist for those who perform professional services, such as coloring and cutting, while the term hairdresser is reserved for those who offer services such as shampooing and styling.

• As a hairstylist, what is the biggest mistake you see people with curly hair make?

  Most hairstylists who work with curly hair agree that there are several big mistakes commonly made by people who have curly hair, including shampooing too often, drying with terry cloth towels, and using brushes that aren't designed for curly hair. Additionally, not conditioning enough is a common mistake that leads to frizzy, damaged hair.

• How can you accurately explain the haircut or color that you\'d like to the hairstylist?

  When visiting the hair salon, the best way to convey the style or cut you'd like is to bring photos of the style you desire. Without photos, you may run the risk of having your stylist misunderstand the look you want, and in most cases, it can be difficult — or even impossible — to correct hair that's already been cut.

• What training is required to become a licensed hairstylist?

  Hairstylists need to successfully complete a hair styling or cosmetology program that's approved by their state's cosmetology board. Additionally, they're required to apply for licensing from this board and depending on the state's regulations, they may need to pass a licensing exam before their license is issued.