Salon Etiquette — a Crash Course

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TIP: Create your look online at the Seventeen Salon, then print it out for your stylist!

Hairstylist Jude Santiago from Orbit Salon in Chicago has styled for quinceañeras and knows her stuff! She was even named one of the 25 Best Hairstylists by Latina magazine. Here are her quick tips for a smooth salon experience.

1. First stop: The drive-thru window!

Jude says: Eat something before you come to the salon. You want a beautiful head of hair, not a headache!

2. Arrive on time. Traffic can be a real downer, so plan ahead.

Jude says: Salons usually have people booked after you, so if you’re late, the stylist might be rushing through your appointment.

3. Come with inspiration.

Jude says: You should have a general idea of the look you want. Bring in some pictures from magazines, or test out your ’do virtually in the Seventeen Salon. Ask your stylist for advice — she’ll know if your look is good for your hair type. If you can splurge, Jude suggests doing a trial run to test out your ideas. But FYI — it’s just as pricey as the real thing!

4. Don’t wear that old T-shirt!

Jude says: Always wear a button-down shirt. If you don’t, you’ll end up having to cut your shirt off to save your hairstyle. Make sure you shower beforehand too. You don’t want your stylist’s hard work (and your money!) to go down the drain.

5. Remember that drastic changes to your hair take more time.

Jude says: If coloring your hair, do so two or three days before your party. Whether you go darker or lighter, you’ll get stains on your skin that won’t come out immediately. (They’ll wear off naturally when you sweat.) And if you’re unhappy with the result, at least you’ll have some time to fix it!

If you want extensions, that process can take up to six hours to complete. You won’t feel like going to your quinceañera afterward! Do extensions a few days beforehand. Or try clip-in extensions. Jude says those can be done on the same day as your quinceañera and removed later on that night.

6. Expect to pay a little more than you would for a regular haircut.

Jude says: If you’re getting the works (eyebrows: $15; makeup: $50; and a fancy hairdo: $75), expect to pay around $200, including tips. Hairstylists usually get a 15 percent tip, but Jude says they’ll bounce off the walls if they get 20 percent! If someone shampoos your hair, waxes your eyebrows, or applies your makeup, tip them individually.

GO: Test out different hairstyles and makeup at the Seventeen Salon!

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