Dear Rhonda,

I go to the salon on average once every 4 to 6 weeks for various things. Cut/color on one visit, color only on the second, cut/color/highlight on the third visit, and then just a bang trim. It seems that every time I go in the door, my colorist/stylist changes her prices! Is this how it’s generally done? Wake up one morning and decide to re-price everything? I love the job she does but it makes it really hard to budget my money. Any advice?

Dear Checkbook quandary,

This is a really great question, so thanks for asking it. Your stylist/colorist should have some set prices for various services. At times these prices may vary when prices for color supplies go up for the stylist/colorist. Like most retail stores, a beauty supplier does not send out anything letting stylists know when they’re implementing an increase. Color supplies have become very expensive over the last six months. It might really surprise you to know how much one tube of color costs a colorist. Remember, it’s not just the tube of color you, the client, are paying for. It’s also the experience and knowledge of your stylist/colorist. That’s worth a million if you’ve ever suffered through a really bad color job!

If I were you, here’s what I’d do: Talk openly about your concern with your stylist. Let her know you’re trying to maintain a budget and need to stay within some pre-set boundaries. She’ll certainly appreciate your honesty and should give you a menu of pricing so you’ll know the least and the most you’ll be charged for individual services. I agree with you that it’s very frustrating to get that final charge and be slapped in the face with a whopping amount! But I also bet that when you look in the mirror and your hair looks great, you’ll think it’s worth it and so are you.

Rhonda Moulder is a mama to two beautiful daughters and is also a stylist at Blue Door & Co. in downtown Bentonville. E-mail her a hair question at mamas@nwaMotherlode.com or call for an appointment at the salon at 479-273-4433. Have a happy hair day.

Dear Rhonda,

My husband gets his hair cut every 2 to 3 weeks. Is this REALLY necessary? It seems a little obsessive-compulsive to me. He says it irritates him if he can feel the hair on his collar. How often should a man have his hair cut? What’s normal?

Dear To cut or not to cut,

Most men get a cut about every 3 to 4 weeks. Usually men’s hair is much shorter and requires more upkeep for it to look “cleaned up”. They also tend to have more hair growing on their neck, which probably does bother them when their collar rubs it.

Now about “normal”… I’m afraid you’ve come to the wrong person to answer this one. What is “normal” anyway? My theory is that perhaps the people who accuse others of not being “normal” are really the oddballs after all. Tune in next week for more “deep thoughts” from the mind of Rhonda, the hair mama.

Rhonda Moulder is a mama to two beautiful daughters and is also a stylist at Blue Door & Co. in downtown Bentonville. E-mail her a hair question at mamas@nwaMotherlode.com or call for an appointment at the salon at 479-273-4433. Have a happy hair day.

Dear Rhonda,

My hair is extremely curly and very difficult to manage. My stylist suggested I get a permanent. Really? A perm? That makes no sense at all to me. If my hair is already curly, why should I curl it more with a perm? Please explain.

Dear Curly Girly,

Your stylist is right! If your hair is curled so tight that you are having a mess to deal with, a permanent wave is the right answer. (A straightener can also be the right answer in some cases.) By rolling the hair on much larger rods, you’ll get a looser curl and one that’s much easier to manage.

The chemicals in the perm solution will literally “break down” the bonds or formation of the hair and “re-form” it to the size and shape of the rods. It’s really cool how this works. Think of it like “Spanks” for your hair – it gives you the shape you really want. It will literally cause your tight curls to soften and loosen up, thereby giving you more control. Sounds to me like you have a good stylist. Talk to her more about it and let her know your concerns.

Rhonda Moulder is a mama to two beautiful daughters and is also a stylist at Blue Door & Co. in downtown Bentonville. E-mail her a hair question at mamas@nwaMotherlode.com or call for an appointment at the salon at 479-273-4433. Have a happy hair day.

Dear Rhonda,

I recently went to a new stylist and got my hair highlighted with low lights. She used paper instead of foil. Is there a difference, and is one better than the other. I was told that paper is better but it seems like the highlights are already fading away from the root faster than when I had highlights with foil. Also, she used something after the process was completed to “tone down the highlights” so they would blend better, so could this cause the highlights to fade sooner?

I was very pleased with the results but now it seems I have streaks of blond that are more noticeable than I would like. What is the average wait between sessions, when should I normally go back for another highlight /lowlight?

Signed,

Jennifer in Bentonville

Dear Jennifer,

Wow! You question is one big present with lots of little ones inside! Where do I start? The difference between paper and foil for high/lowlights is a personal choice for the colorist. I prefer foil because it’s a better conductor of heat, allowing the bleach/color to work faster and more efficiently. That, of course, is my opinion. The fading you see could be from the type of color used for your lowlights. If your colorist used demi- or semi-permanent color, you would see fading with each shampoo. You should certainly let him/her know you’re not happy about the lightening you see.

Sometimes after a highlight is completed, the hair takes on a tone that’s too light. When this happens, it’s necessary to “tone” those pieces of hair. Normally, a semi or demi-permanent color is used for this also. When the hair is lightened, it becomes almost like a very absorbent sponge. A colorist has to be careful to mix light or dark to achieve what the client wants. That’s why it’s so important to have a hair consultation, being as specific as possible about the color you’re trying to get. Take photos from a magazine that show what you’re aiming for. What “blonde” means to you might mean something different to your colorist.

Now, next issue: Let’s tackle those blonde streaks you’re seeing. As you shampoo your hair, if a semi or demi-permanent color was used to “tone”, this color would lighten each time you shampoo your hair. The color may need to stay on a little longer so the “toning” will last longer for you. Talk openly with your colorist about your concerns, likes and dislikes about your hair. It is, after all, your hair and you deserve to be happy with it.

As to the length of time between color sessions, I normally advise about 6 to 8 weeks, depending on the length of your hair and how fast is grows. Highlights and lowlights closer to your natural color will allow you to go longer between sessions, which helps your pocketbook as well. Also, let your colorist know about any medications you may be taking or if you’re a “mother to be.” Hormones can play horrible tricks with chemical services!

Rhonda Moulder is a mama to two beautiful daughters and is also a stylist at Blue Door & Co. in downtown Bentonville. E-mail her a hair question at mamas@nwaMotherlode.com or call for an appointment at the salon at 479-273-4433. Have a happy hair day.