Trials and Triumphs of Haircuts and Haircolor Abroad
One of the lesser-discussed challenges that many full-time women travelers face is navigating the unpredictable world of hair salons while on the move. Oh, the stories I could tell about my hair experiences during my travels! I’ve ended up with orange hair, too short hair, unexpected layers, and hair that was way too dark. While language differences create one barrier, there also are differences in cosmetology terminology, formula methods, and the confidence and skill of the colorist. While Google Translate can help with some things, words like “toner,” “brassiness,” “gloss,” and “dimension” can take on a wide assortment of meanings depending on where you are being serviced. I’ve learned to approach each salon with a mix of optimism and patience, but I have learned a few tricks along the way.
Before leaving the U.S., I relied on Aveda salons for my hair care. Though they tended to be pricier, their consistency and use of quality products gave me peace of mind. My colorist gave me a formula for the mix, so we both assumed that it would be a simple process to replicate, but in Athens, I learned that was totally not the case. It worked out, but I learned immediately that things are not the same everywhere. Her suggestion to find Aveda salons that would have consistent coloring is often a challenge when you’re spending time outside of major cities and in countries where the brand doesn’t have a presence. I jumped on the Aveda salon I found in Chiang Mai, but I left with sticker shock from the $225 bill, which is an outrageous price in that part of the world. One of my best coping strategies is to be flexible and treat each visit as an adventure.
Navigating the salon scene
Matching your desired hair color to a swatch can be tricky
In Scotland I encountered a unique situation: I had to undergo a swatch test 24 hours before they would color my hair. They ended up doing a great job, but it was the most meticulous and time-consuming service I had ever received. In France, the language barrier made communication difficult, coupled with a stylist who lacked confidence in her skills to make a suggestion on how to match my hair color. Please don’t look to me to understand how that tiny swatch of hair is supposed to match the hair on my head. If you’ve spent years learning about hair color, you understand the process much better than I do, especially since what that swatch looks like won’t necessarily look the same when it gets applied to my head!
A stylist in Cyprus provided some questionable advice, and another in Poland misunderstood my request to ensure that what she was doing would give my hair dimension versus a flat color, which she took to mean I wanted highlights, despite me specifically saying that I did not want the orange highlights I ended up receiving. She colored over them, but that brassiness haunted me for months. Fortunately, my stylist in Serbia spent four hours fixing my hair color, including two hours after closing. She spoke great English, especially as it related to hair coloring. Humorously, a young guy came in with his girlfriend to get his hair cut and afterward they both stayed around chatting with us for at least two hours after his cut was done just because they were enjoying the conversation!
Boxed color differs from salon formulas
Japan had a completely different coloring system so my formula was nowhere near the same as in Europe, but the treatments they provided were next level. And I cannot forget Fes, Morocco! The salon I booked in the medina only had boxed hair color that you could buy in any grocery store, but a professional would apply it. I wasn’t sure that I fully understood that was the case, but after a brief consultation, the stylist left the shop to hunt it down. Fortunately for me another customer came in with her own boxed hair color (Garnier, L’Oreal) and spoke English. She let me know that the salons only used box color and if I wanted a formulation that the colorist would mix up, I needed to leave the medina and go to the New Town. The hairdresser came back to say that he couldn’t find my hair color, so he took the pins out of my hair and I was free to book elsewhere, which I happily did! Let’s just say it’s been a mixed bag!
For those who don’t color their hair, navigating hair care will be much easier, but getting the cut you want can still be a little tricky. Some places cut your hair wet, some dry, and some think they know what you want and get started before you can even blink or ensure you’re on the same page. And there are even places like a salon in Palermo that cut hair using a sombrero!
Tips for quality hair appointments
Being a Silver Fox means never having to navigate hair color! Kevin’s debonair cut and style in Cairo, Egypt
So what have I learned through more than 26 different salon appointments? There are a lot of factors to consider and I no longer make assumptions about the quality of service I’ll get in one country versus another. I’ve had positive experiences with hair coloring in Serbia, Saigon, Egypt, Cambodia, Chiang Mai, Scotland, and Buenos Aires. My biggest mistake was not fully understanding the different hair processes in each country. Trying to correct a previous mishap often led to new challenges in the next location. I recommend being assertive about your desires once you’re in the chair; it’s crucial for the stylist to fully understand what you’re asking for. You can read more about our experiences in Egypt in this blog post, Cairo Travel Woes and Haircut Adventures.
Research your salon
I start by searching online for a nearby top-rated salon, ideally using brand products that I’m familiar with, such as L'Oréal Professionnel, Schwarzkopf, Redken, and Paul Mitchell, which all typically require standardized training and high-quality hair products. I’m looking for a salon with a 4.7 or above rating and read through several reviews. While I might be slightly more preferential towards a salon that boasts that they cater to English-speaking clients, I’ve learned that’s not always the case. My Polish stylist was supposed to speak English, but that didn’t ensure we were on the same page! On at least a few occasions, it only meant that they knew how to use a translator app.
Of course, it’s a completely different ballgame for a man. Kevin doesn't get his hair cut as often as do, but he's only had two not-great cuts. He’s not coloring his hair, and his cut is fairly straightforward, which helps! But again, he looks for highly rated shops and typically is able to show up and get his hair cut straight away without waiting.
Strategies for booking an appointment
We share our top tips for communicating in countries when we don’t speak the language
One of the most unnerving things to do is to book an appointment over the phone. That’s why my preferred method is to go to the salon in person if they aren’t too far away. Typically I can easily convey that I want a root touchup because they can see by looking at my hair what I need. Gesturing is a universal language! Otherwise, I try to book through WhatsApp, directly on the salon’s website, through a Google page, or by connecting with them through Instagram or Facebook at a last resort versus having to call and possibly face language barriers. For more information about how to navigate foreign languages while traveling, we have an entire video that discusses the various translation methods we use.
To bridge communication gaps, I use Google Translate to clarify my requests. I prefer to book appointments through WhatsApp, directly on the salon’s website, through a Google page, Google page, or connect with them through Instagram or Facebook as a last resort versus having to call and possibly face language barriers, especially since many of these apps can auto-translate or are easy for you to translate without having to communicate verbally. If I can, I visit the salon in person to make an appointment, as it’s easier to gesture what I want and avoid misunderstandings.
Translator apps are your friend
I always try to use Google Translate to ensure that I’m conveying key points. They can speak into the translator and you can read or dictate and go back and forth to ensure everyone is aligned. Sometimes a salon will want to provide an extra service. Rather than just going along with it, I ask what it is and how much it will cost. On those occasions I’ve found that certain stylists can get flustered and back off about the request thinking that you don’t want it. But oftentimes I actually do want the treatment, especially a deep conditioner or hydration pack, so take the time to find out what they are proposing. Don’t let them be scared off!
Know thyself, and carry photos
One of the most proactive things you can do is have a few photos of you wearing your preferred hairstyle and hair color. That has helped more than almost anything else. And although it will be imperfect, ask your favorite colorist for your formula and ideally have them adjust it for other brands if they can provide it. If the colorist has worked for a variety of brands, they may be willing to take a few extra minutes to write down the info that will give you at least a little bit of a leg up in the next place. And it should go without saying that if you are staying longer in a place and can use the same salon more than once, it makes sense to do so if you were happy with their services. Sometimes I’m even willing to squeeze together my appointments so that can work out (e.g., appointments 3.5 weeks apart versus 4).
Overcommunicate
Always advocate for what you want. Don’t make assumptions or go with the flow when you’re uncertain about something. Some salons don’t take the time to give you a consultation or else they look at your hair, think they understand what type of color service you want, but then head off to mix up a color to match your current hair color. But that color may not be what you want this time around, so you need to stop them and make sure they understand what you want and that they confirm that they understand..
Stylists at Busan’s The Hair by Na
It never hurts to punctuate your desire for something and ensure that the stylist is doing what you want. My typical service is to color my roots but then also color the rest of my hair with a toner or semi or demi-permanent color near the end of the processing time. I’ve learned to explicitly follow up before they wash my hair just to ensure that this additional process doesn’t get skipped, since each salon has its own method for this.
And as I mentioned earlier, don’t allow anyone to do anything with scissors without explaining fully what you want ahead of time! I was unprepared for the haircutter who asked how much I wanted taken off and literally started chopping before I could fully explain what I wanted and who then continued to cut beyond the length we originally started to discuss. Some people will automatically start adding layers, which is great if you want them, but less great if you don’t. So take your time and repeat your requests as many times as you need to in order to ensure that you both understand each other.
Final result, Tirana, Albania
This is especially important because one person, typically more senior, often is the translator and someone else is the person applying color or cutting your hair. Despite my best efforts recently, I didn’t receive the gloss treatment I expected, and the stylist wasn’t attentive enough to listen fully when I expressed how I wanted my hair to be cut, which resulted in too many layers. These hiccups are the tradeoff of full-time travel, and while they can be disappointing at times, hair grows back, color can be corrected, and nothing is forever.
Conclusion
Hair care while traveling can be a wild ride, but with the right approach and mindset, it can also lead to success. Navigating the world of hair salons as a traveler involves a learning curve, but with preparation, patience, and a little assertiveness, you can ensure your hair looks great while you explore the world. Happy travels and happy hair days!
