Feel really bad..was I wrong in asking hairdresser this ?

[C.Ann]

Eh - I don't know. I went to an Aveda salon in Texas when I lived there and when I moved my girl wrote out my formula so I could take it with me. I didn't even ask her, she just did it.

I don't think you were wrong to ask. You asked. She said no. End of story. I don't think there was anything inherently wrong by asking. I'm going to guess that your hairdresser didn't buy that you actually had a friend 1.5 hours away you were asking for.

I agree - and if I were the stylist, I would have given it to you.. I wouldn't have even cared if she lived in the same area.. Not everyone can afford salon prices (or may have issues why they can't go to a salon) which leaves them in the position of having to make do at home.. I would have been more than happy to share..

 

[Buckalew11]

One can go to Sally Beauty Supply and buy the cemicals needed to color hair. Yes, they come in little tubes with their matching bases/numbers/etc/whatever goes into a formula. I know a lady who colors her own hair, buying all of the stuff to mix at Sally (not Clairol in a box). Money got tight for her to keep doing color, so her stylist gave her a formula to use. She's also learned how to do some mixing herself when she wants a change.

This is correct--Sally will sell you haircolor and the different developers. years ago they would not sell any chemicals w/o a license but nowadays they will.
However, one cannot by Redken, Paul Mitchell, etc. there. I've never bought haircolor for my clients at "Sally's."

 

[luvmylittleboy2003]

I agree - and if I were the stylist, I would have given it to you.. I wouldn't have even cared if she lived in the same area.. Not everyone can afford salon prices (or may have issues why they can't go to a salon) which leaves them in the position of having to make do at home.. I would have been more than happy to share..

Great point

 

[design_mom]

I don't get this line of thinking but whatever . . .

It's not like she can walk into a beauty supplier and get this without being a beautician and showing her license.

I don't know. I know of at least three women who have licenses and can shop at those places -- none of whom is currently working as a hairdresser -- who would likely buy hair color for me if I asked them to. I wouldn't trust myself to color my own hair, but I don't think access to the chemicals would be the biggest hurdle.

 

[Imzadi]

I can see both sides of this.

I understand the stylist coveting the formula; however, this other woman is 1.5 hours away AND she is also using an Aveda salon. Now, I realize that Aveda salons are not set up just like Subway franchises. Each one is individually owned but they do all fall under Aveda guidelines and rules. I think Aveda would want to perpetuate happiness at all of their salons. So if one client wanted to try something their friend gets in another town, I think Aveda would encourage it.

I don't see why the stylist who has the formula couldn't talk to the other stylist and explain what she does.

While Aveda may want to perpetuate happiness at all of their salons, stylists aren't all cookie cutter, assembly line stylists. You go to the $8 haircut, chop shops for that. They learn cutting on mannequin heads, who all have synthetic hair embedded in the same exact way, same synthetic silky texture, and all cut & styled using ONE generic cut per style. They do NOT cut the hair grows in, (like I have a cowlick and it grows forward, falling in front of my face,) nor do they cut to a person's hair texture. Some style just will NOT work on my hair. My hairdresser lets me know that.

THAT"S why they are $8 haircuts, need 3 hands just to style it in the salon, and never looks as good afterward, because it requires all that manipulating to get one's hair to conform to the cut - instead of getting a well designed cut to fall & flow with the way the hair behaves naturally.

I've never had my hair colored. I'm dreading when enough grey grows in that I have to. But, having my hair cut at the posh salons, I do see there is some artistry to getting a great, natural color.

Even within the same salon, at a GOOD salon, not all hairdressers will be paid the same rate. There are senior stylist and junior stylists and interns. The senior stylists are paid for their experience & expertise. That is something they bring WITH them.

If Aveda is a good salon, they know that. They wouldn't expect a junior stylist to be able to reproduce the same results as a senior stylist who has been cutting hair for 15 years. I would also think they wouldn't expect the senior stylists to simply handout their color recipes either. I think that just goes with the territory.

 

[Buckalew11]

I agree - and if I were the stylist, I would have given it to you.. I wouldn't have even cared if she lived in the same area.. Not everyone can afford salon prices (or may have issues why they can't go to a salon) which leaves them in the position of having to make do at home.. I would have been more than happy to share..

I think you might think differently if you were the stylist. When someone moves away, I give it gladly--I love my clients and want them to be happy with their hair wherever they live & if they love what I do, I will glad pass that formula along to them.

But to a friend who can't afford to come in or whatever, not so much. But really, I'm pretty darn cheap with my prices because I do NOT think your hair should be a major budget item--so there isn't anyone out there who can't afford my prices. Everyone should be so lucky!

 

[luvmylittleboy2003]

I think you might think differently if you were the stylist. When someone moves away, I give it gladly--I love my clients and want them to be happy with their hair wherever they live & if they love what I do, I will glad pass that formula along to them.

But to a friend who can't afford to come in or whatever, not so much. But really, I'm pretty darn cheap with my prices because I do think your hair should be a major budget item--so there isn't anyone out there who can't afford my prices. Everyone should be so lucky!

Wished you lived closer

 

[C.Ann]

I think you might think differently if you were the stylist. When someone moves away, I give it gladly--I love my clients and want them to be happy with their hair wherever they live & if they love what I do, I will glad pass that formula along to them.

But to a friend who can't afford to come in or whatever, not so much. But really, I'm pretty darn cheap with my prices because I do think your hair should be a major budget item--so there isn't anyone out there who can't afford my prices. Everyone should be so lucky!

I haven't stepped foot in a salon since at least 2007 - maybe earlier - for health reasons.. I can't breathe due to being bombarded with so many chemicals all at once.. (Hair coloring; bleaching; perms; etc.) I also can't breathe under the dryer - causes too much humidity in close proximity to my face.. I wouldn't last 5 minutes in there..

So - I've been cutting my own hair - and the last time I highlighted it (at least a few years ago) I did it here at DD's - in the kitchen - with all the windows open; cieling fan on; and the big sliding glass doors wide open.. The odor of the chemicals was still a bit much, but nothing compared to multiple people being in the same room..

I have since stopped coloring it completely - due to the chemicals - and just keep hacking away at it myself.. I've got the "Weed Whacker" style down to a science..

I'm sure I'm not the only person who can't step foot in a salon, so I guess that's why I'm sympathetic to the situation..

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

I think you might think differently if you were the stylist. When someone moves away, I give it gladly--I love my clients and want them to be happy with their hair wherever they live & if they love what I do, I will glad pass that formula along to them.

But to a friend who can't afford to come in or whatever, not so much. But really, I'm pretty darn cheap with my prices because I do think your hair should be a major budget item--so there isn't anyone out there who can't afford my prices. Everyone should be so lucky!

Isn't this where I say "If I had moved to..."? Maybe what I can save on the services can go towards flights to your place!

I haven't stepped foot in a salon since at least 2007 - maybe earlier - for health reasons.. I can't breathe due to being bombarded with so many chemicals all at once.. (Hair coloring; bleaching; perms; etc.) I also can't breathe under the dryer - causes too much humidity in close proximity to my face.. I wouldn't last 5 minutes in there..

So - I've been cutting my own hair - and the last time I highlighted it (at least a few years ago) I did it here at DD's - in the kitchen - with all the windows open; cieling fan on; and the big sliding glass doors wide open.. The odor of the chemicals was still a bit much, but nothing compared to multiple people being in the same room..

I have since stopped coloring it completely - due to the chemicals - and just keep hacking away at it myself.. I've got the "Weed Whacker" style down to a science..

I'm sure I'm not the only person who can't step foot in a salon, so I guess that's why I'm sympathetic to the situation..

I think this is an example of why not to share the chemical recipe (besides all the other valid reasons)...not being in control of who is going to use it. I'm guessing (could be wrong...I'm not a hairdresser) that the box of color you can buy at Target is specifically made to be used at home by haircoloring novices, vs what a hairdresser uses. I don't think I'd want to be responsible for what might happen to someone who is this sensitive to chemicals.

You really cut your own hair? Surely there's someone who can do it for you at your house, no? I can't imagine cutting my own. I used to drive (before kids) about 200 miles to a hairdresser (cousin's DD) to get my hair cut, and one time, in between appts, I trimmed some spots, and as she went to cut it again, she frowned and said "I didn't do this, did I??" I thought she wouldn't notice.

 

[Imzadi]

really, How do you know what to get? Usually they are mixed If you could buy them at a beauty supply store they would be no need to mix items LOL LOL

not sure I understand what you are saying.

I think Happygirl was saying that the hairdresser mixes up the colors. If the OP could just buy Aveda brown #23, there would be no need for the hairdresser.

I think most people think hair color mixing is similar to fingerpaints. You mix red & blue together and get a purple. Add white, you get a light lavender. That's it.

When I took my BFF, who had the Jello green hair, to Vidal Sassoon, the colorist knew immediately what happened. They explained it to her. She had bleached her hair blonde so many times, that the process stripped away any RED color in her hair.

Her cheapo, inexperienced hairdresser didn't know you can't go directly from bleached blonde back to brown in one process. Since her hair was missing natural red, when the brown haircolor mixed with her hair, it had no red to grab onto. The opposite of red is GREEN, and that tint is what ended up in her hair. It was still blondish with a Jello green tint, like she had rinsed her hair in green Jello.

At Vidal Sassoon, the colorist told her they had to do two steps on her. The had to color her hair bright red first, red like Ronald McDonald red. he said it had to be that color first as, when he later added the brown dye on, it would grab onto the red and mix together properly, creating a wonderfully natural auburn red brown, matching her real hair color.

While I never had my hair colored, that certainly made me appreciate that haircoloring, in the right experienced hands is an art. He had to know which color red and which mix of brown to mix together in 2 steps to get the right final color.

 

[Buckalew11]

I haven't stepped foot in a salon since at least 2007 - maybe earlier - for health reasons.. I can't breathe due to being bombarded with so many chemicals all at once.. (Hair coloring; bleaching; perms; etc.) I also can't breathe under the dryer - causes too much humidity in close proximity to my face.. I wouldn't last 5 minutes in there..

So - I've been cutting my own hair - and the last time I highlighted it (at least a few years ago) I did it here at DD's - in the kitchen - with all the windows open; cieling fan on; and the big sliding glass doors wide open.. The odor of the chemicals was still a bit much, but nothing compared to multiple people being in the same room..

I have since stopped coloring it completely - due to the chemicals - and just keep hacking away at it myself.. I've got the "Weed Whacker" style down to a science..

I'm sure I'm not the only person who can't step foot in a salon, so I guess that's why I'm sympathetic to the situation..

Seriously, this is why you'd be a good candidate to come to someone like me who works out of their house w/o 10 chemical services at one going on.

It really is best that you stopped coloring/highlighting when you are so sensitive to the chemicals. Maybe if I get that sensitive I can retire, no?

Isn't this where I say "If I had moved to..."? Maybe what I can save on the services can go towards flights to your place! I think this is an example of why not to share the chemical recipe (besides all the other valid reasons)...not being in control of who is going to use it. I'm guessing (could be wrong...I'm not a hairdresser) that the box of color you can buy at Target is specifically made to be used at home by haircoloring novices, vs what a hairdresser uses. I don't think I'd want to be responsible for what might happen to someone who is this sensitive to chemicals.

You really cut your own hair? Surely there's someone who can do it for you at your house, no? I can't imagine cutting my own. I used to drive (before kids) about 200 miles to a hairdresser (cousin's DD) to get my hair cut, and one time, in between appts, I trimmed some spots, and as she went to cut it again, she frowned and said "I didn't do this, did I??" I thought she wouldn't notice.

Yes, this is where "If only you had moved to..." would be said. And yes, you could probably save enough to fly down. The airport is 15 minutes away and I'll feed you and we'll stay up all night gabbing too.

I think Happygirl was saying that the hairdresser mixes up the colors. If the OP could just buy Aveda brown #23, there would be no need for the hairdresser.

I think most people think hair color mixing is similar to fingerpaints. You mix red & blue together and get a purple. Add white, you get a light lavender. That's it.

When I took my BFF, who had the Jello green hair, to Vidal Sassoon, the colorist knew immediately what happened. They explained it to her. She had bleached her hair blonde so many times, that the process stripped away any RED color in her hair.

Her cheapo, inexperienced hairdresser didn't know you can't go directly from bleached blonde back to brown in one process. Since her hair was missing natural red, when the brown haircolor mixed with her hair, it had no red to grab onto. The opposite of red is GREEN, and that tint is what ended up in her hair. It was still blondish with a Jello green tint, like she had rinsed her hair in green Jello.

At Vidal Sassoon, the colorist told her they had to do two steps on her. The had to color her hair bright red first, red like Ronald McDonald red. he said it had to be that color first as, when he later added the brown dye on, it would grab onto the red and mix together properly, creating a wonderfully natural auburn red brown, matching her real hair color.

While I never had my hair colored, that certainly made me appreciate that haircoloring, in the right experienced hands is an art. He had to know which color red and which mix of brown to mix together in 2 steps to get the right final color.

One must always "fill" to the extreme so one does not look like one has seaweed on one's head! Great post.

 

[Octoberbride03]

Methinks you don't know as much about hair color as you think you do. If it were that easy to duplicate, the friend could just show her own hairdresser a picture of the OP and say "Here, I want this color." My own color is a custom mixture. I showed a picture my stylist and said "This is what color my hair was, nautrally, 10 years ago. I want this color back." And it took 3 or 4 tries to really get it exactly right.



Apples and oranges. Chefs sell their recipes or use them to promote themselves. The OP's hairdresser is being asked to give away something she came up with, but it will not promote her in any way.

Oh you should have my hair dresser. First time in her chair she proceeded to tell me exactly what color my hair was a a child. Nailed it so well I about fell out of her chair. She told me whenever you're ready I can take you back. So when my budget was ready so was I. Only took her 1 try to get it right. I was 33-34 first time we met. Took 3 years to find a decent person for haircuts after I moved down here and OMG i will not be giving her up.

As for formulas I never even asked about it. I imagine if I "HAVE" to move too far away she'll give it to me. But boy would i cry if that happened

She laughs and tells me I can do stuff with my hair. I tell her nope, really can't. The only hair talent I have is dragging a brush/comb through it and pulling it in a tail. There's a reason i pay her

 

[C.Ann]

You really cut your own hair? Surely there's someone who can do it for you at your house, no? I can't imagine cutting my own.

Yes - I do.. Watched a video on YouTube - when it had gotten so long I just couldn't stand it a minute longer (I'm used to very, very short hair - even shorter than what it is now) and it worked out great! Once I got it to where it was just about touching my shoulders, from that point on I continued with the same method and it's worked out pretty well.. (Although I would LOVE to go back to the days of super short hair..) Right now I can't think of a single relative or friend I would let near my hair with a pair of scissors and even though I was joking around with the "Weed Whacker" comment, it looks fine.. Just not as short as I would like it..

Seriously, this is why you'd be a good candidate to come to someone like me who works out of their house w/o 10 chemical services at one going on. .

I wish I could - that would be ideal! I can't find anyone around here who works out of their home though and every hairdresser I have talked to has said they can't come here due to license regulations or something..
That doesn't make sense to me - because I'm sure there are very elderly people who need this type of care in their homes, so how do they get it?

I'm in upstate NY - so if anyone knows how I can get someone to come here, I would REALLY appreciate that info.. I want my hair super short again! So much easier for me to take care of..

The coloring really doesn't matter to me anymore.. I can live without that..

 

[Nancy]

I don't get this line of thinking but whatever . . .

It's not like she can walk into a beauty supplier and get this without being a beautician and showing her license.

Sure you can. I go to Sallie all the time and buy the stuff and I'm not licensed, haven't been in over 20 years.

 

[C.Ann]

Sure you can. I go to Sallie all the time and buy the stuff and I'm not licensed, haven't been in over 20 years.

Very true.. Back in the days when I highlighted my own hair, I had an experience where I messed up really bad.. DD called her hairdresser, she told her what I needed, I went to Sallie and got everything I needed - and I've never had a license..

 

[DeluxePrincess]

I can understand your stylist not wishing to give out her secrets, but her reply was very snotty and unprofessional. She could have simply said, "I'm flattered that your friend likes my work, but I never share my secrets. Sorry that I can't be of more help." Says the same thing in a much nicer tone.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I think you might think differently if you were the stylist. When someone moves away, I give it gladly--I love my clients and want them to be happy with their hair wherever they live & if they love what I do, I will glad pass that formula along to them.

But to a friend who can't afford to come in or whatever, not so much. But really, I'm pretty darn cheap with my prices because I do NOT think your hair should be a major budget item--so there isn't anyone out there who can't afford my prices. Everyone should be so lucky!

How I wish I was w/in driving distance. I sure would go to you. I cut & color my own hair, and been doing that for years.

 

[Pooh Girl 71]

Just my two cents, I think there is a huge difference in quality with products from Sally's and places like CosmoProf (only licensed professionals can shop there).

 

[tasha99]

Sure you can. I go to Sallie all the time and buy the stuff and I'm not licensed, haven't been in over 20 years.

Yup. I used to dye my own hair, and until we moved, dyed DD19's hair all the time (and wild colors, too--from bright blue to magenta).

I can understand your stylist not wishing to give out her secrets, but her reply was very snotty and unprofessional. She could have simply said, "I'm flattered that your friend likes my work, but I never share my secrets. Sorry that I can't be of more help." Says the same thing in a much nicer tone.

I agree, though I couldn't tell if the stylist was being snotty or just lacks class.

 

[tlbwriter]

Sure you can. I go to Sallie all the time and buy the stuff and I'm not licensed, haven't been in over 20 years.

Sally doesn't sell the same products.