Imagine this scenario: you have booked an appointment for a much-needed haircut. But as you start prepping, you wonder, Should I wash my hair before my salon appointment. When’s the last time I shampooed.
It is a dilemma that plagues many before visiting their professional hairstylist. Wash it and risk altering your natural texture and oils. Or arrive with potential greasy hair and product buildup.
Fear not! This ultimate guide covers everything you need to know about proper hair preparation before a cut. We will look at recommendations for various hair types, haircut styles stylist preferences and salon policies.
You will get insights straight from hair experts on best practices for clean hair vs. second-day locks. Plus, tips on detangling, using a clarifying shampoo, arriving “stylist-ready,” and more.
By the end, you’ll be fully prepped to walk into your appointment with confidence. No more haircut disasters – just gorgeous, flawless results! Let’s dive in.
When You Should Wash Hair Before a Cut
In certain scenarios, shampooing right before your cut is highly recommended or even required. Here are the key situations when you’ll want to arrive with freshly washed, product-free clean hair.
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Dry Cuts or Styling Cuts on Straight Hair
If you’re getting a dry haircut (where your strands are cut sans water) or a precision styling cut on straight hair, clean hair is crucial. Your stylist needs to accurately assess your natural texture, length, and movement.
For any dry cut, I always ask clients to come in with freshly washed hair, advises Jenny Rhodes, master stylist at Ania Hair. Oily hair and heavy styling products prevent me from clearly seeing how the hair will move and fall into shape.
Textured or Curly Hair Requiring Dry Cutting
Similarly for those with curly, coily, or highly textured strands, shampooed hair allows your stylist to work with your hair’s true curl pattern and texture.
Curls stretched out or weighed down by oil won’t give an accurate read. Your stylist may end up overcutting or undercutting based on your hair’s appearance that day.
Adding Significant Layers or Face-Framing
When adding major layers, textured cuts, or fringe/bangs, a dry cut gives your stylist maximum visibility and precision. Unwashed hair can clump together and fall unnaturally.
Danielle Covino, stylist at LVLBOX salon, recommends coming in with very clean hair if you want perfect face-framing layers or bangs. It makes a huge difference in how I can shape them.
Cutting Hair for Donation
If you plan to donate hair to an organization like Locks of Love or Wigs for Kids, impeccably clean hair is a must. It prevents mildew and allows your donated ponytail to arrive in pristine condition.
Any grease, oil or product residue can degrade the quality of the hair making it unusable,” says Locks of Love. We require hair to be freshly washed, completely dry, and free of ANY hairspray or gels.
For Very Oily Hair/Scalp
Those with excessively oily hair or seborrheic dermatitis will want to shampoo the same day as their cut. Excess oil traps dirt/debris and can leave hair looking limp and greasy post haircut.
Greasy hair is my biggest haircut pet peeve, stylist Devin Toth confesses. It is so hard to cut cleanly through heavy oil and get an accurate sense of the hair’s movement.
With Significant Product Buildup
If you are someone who regularly uses a lot of heavy waxes, pomades, dry shampoo or other potent styling products, washing before your cut is wise.
Buildup causes hair to clump and piece oddly, obscuring your hair’s true integrity. “It becomes a battleground to try and cut through all that gunk,” warns stylist Kim Bauman.
Haircuts When Unwashed Hair Is A-OK
Now, for all the blessed low-maintenance folks out there – there are indeed times when you DON’T necessarily need to shampoo before a haircut.
In these scenarios, your hairdresser will likely wash your hair as part of the pre-cut prep:
- Wet haircuts removing significant length
- Simple blunt trims or low-maintenance styles
- Basic kids’ haircuts
- Salons that include a shampoo/style with every cut
If you are just getting a couple inches off for a blunt restyleing or low-key trim, there’s no need to arrive with freshly washed hair. As Nia Poole, stylist at Shampoo Avenue, says.
For my clients getting a basic trim, I don’t need their hair to be newly washed. I’ll just shampoo before the cut to remove any excess oil or light product. As long as it’s not super dirty or crunchy, we are good!
The same applies to salon kids’ cuts and most men’s clipper cuts. The stylist is factoring in a shampoo as part of their service flow.
However, it’s still considerate to avoid extremes like:
- Tangled, matted hair (makes detangling difficult)
- Scalps that haven’t been washed in over a week
- Hair drenched in heavy wax, pomade, or gels
For clients visiting budget salons that don’t include a haircut shampoo, clean-ish hair is ideal. As long as it doesn’t look or smell overtly dirty, your stylist can wet and cut as needed.
Other Important Haircut Prep Factors
Of course, washing (or not) isn’t the only factor in arriving “cut-ready” for your stylist. A few other important considerations:
Hair Color Appointments
For any salon service involving hair color, dye, highlights or balayage, you will want to shampoo within 24 hours of your appointment time.
Having very clean, dry hair allows your colorist to accurately see your current shade(s). It also prevents staining, overlapping, and other color mishaps.
I always recommend my clients wash their hair the night before a color appointment, advises senior colorist Alyssa Reid. Any buildup can cause the color to grab unevenly or stain areas it shouldn’t.
Hairstyling Appointments
For updos, wedding styling or formal event ‘dos, most stylists actually prefer second or third-day hair. The natural oil helps achieve better grip and hold.
That said, you’ll also want to avoid arriving with damp, dripping wet hair right out of the shower. This can create frizz and fly aways that are difficult to tame.
A good rule of thumb: shampoo 1-2 days before any major hairstyling appointment.
Individualized Stylist Preferences
At the end of the day, always defer to your individual stylist’s preferences. Some have very strong opinions about hair washing protocol before cuts.
Don’t be afraid to check in on their policies, especially if you’re a new client. That way, you can arrive fully prepped based on their standards.
Water Type Considerations
If you have hard water at home that leaves lots of mineral buildup, doing a quick rinse or clarifying wash before your cut can help.
Mineral deposits act similarly to product buildup by coating strands. A chelating shampoo can help remove that for a truer hair assessment.
Excessively Sweaty or Dirty Hair
Let’s be real – no one wants to roll up to a salon with hair that’s greasy, grimy or fresh from the gym. That crosses a line of courtesy for your stylist.
If you have been exercising, working outdoors, or otherwise accumulating lots of sweat and grime, take a moment to shampoo before your appointment. No sense subjecting your stylist to that!
By the same token, you don’t want to arrive with a bone dry, brittle scalp either. Maintaining basic scalp care with regular washes is ideal.
Insights from the Experts
Of course, the best advice often comes straight from the pros themselves. Here’s what some top hairstylists had to say on the wash/don’t wash haircut debate:
As a stylist, I far prefer when guests arrive with fresh, newly washed hair. It allows me to get a pristine look at their natural texture and distribute products evenly from a clean base.
Jessica Roberts, Master Stylist at Rainka Studio
There’ve been many times a client showed up with gunky product buildup and I had to sacrifice valuable appointment time doing things like scrubbing with a clarifying shampoo. Ideally, clients remove any heavy waxes or gels beforehand with a chelating shampoo.
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Jamal Edwards, Celebrity Stylist
“Greasy hair is my biggest haircut pet peeve. It’s so hard to cut cleanly through heavy oil and get an accurate sense of the hair’s movement. I always recommend clients shampoo no more than 24 hours before their appointment.”
– Devin Toth, Senior Stylist at 18|8 Salon
As these experts illustrate, arriving with clean, product-free hair allows stylists to maximize their time spent actively cutting and styling. Any extra time spent dealing with dirty hair is time taken away from perfecting your new look.
At the same time, those who get frequent trims or basic restyles don’t necessarily need a full shampoo right before. As Nia Poole of Shampoo Avenue noted, a simple rinse before the cut may suffice for light cleaning.
The bottom line? Communicating with your stylist about their preferences, your haircut goals, and your typical hair care routine pays off. That way, you can ensure you’re on the same page for proper hair prep.
How to Properly Wash Before a Cut
If your stylist does recommend washing your hair before an appointment, you’ll want to do it correctly for best results. Here are some tips:
Use a Clarifying or Chelating Shampoo
If you have hard water at home, use a chelating shampoo like this Ion Detoxifying Solution to remove all mineral buildup and product residue.
For those who use a lot of heavy stylers, Neutrogena’s Anti-Residue Shampoo deeply cleanses.
Thoroughly Brush Out Tangles/Knots
Before getting hair wet, use a wide-tooth comb or brush to gently remove any existing knots or matting. This detangles hair so shampoo can access the full strand.
Allow Hair to Fully Air Dry
Stylists universally agree – never arrive with wet or damp hair before a cut! Allow enough time for your hair to 100% air dry after washing.
Avoid Heavy Leave-In Products
Stay away from creams, oils or heavy conditioning products post-shampoo. You want hair to be as close to its natural, virgin state as possible.
Leave Hair Loose and Unrestricted
Don’t put freshly washed hair up in elastic bands, tight buns or braids. This can indent the cuticle and mislead your stylist about your curl pattern.
By properly preparing and shampooing before a haircut, you’re allowing your appointment time to be maximized on the actual cutting and styling. No time gets wasted dealing with dirty hair issues!
Frequently Asked Question
Is it rude to not shower before a haircut?
Yes, it is generally considered polite to shower before a haircut to ensure clean hair, making the stylist’s job easier and more pleasant.
What not to do before a haircut?
Avoid using heavy styling products like gels or mousses and don’t go with excessively tangled or dirty hair as it can make the haircutting process more difficult.
Is it okay to go to the hairdresser with greasy hair?
No, it’s better to avoid going with greasy hair as it can affect the haircut and make the stylist’s job harder, especially if they need to detangle or clean your hair first.
Is it better to cut hair wet or dry?
It depends on the haircut; wet cuts are common for precision, while dry cuts can be beneficial for certain styles and textures to see the natural fall and shape of the hair.
Should I bathe before or after a haircut?
It’s best to bathe before a haircut to ensure your hair is clean, making it easier for the stylist to work with and achieving better results.
Conclusion
Washing your hair before a haircut is generally advisable to ensure a smoother, more efficient, and pleasant experience for both you and your stylist. Clean hair is easier to work with, as it allows the stylist to see your hair’s natural texture, shape, and health without the interference of oils, dirt, or product buildup.
This not only helps in achieving a more precise and satisfactory cut but also respects the stylist’s time and tools, preventing unnecessary delays or complications. While many salons offer a wash as part of their service, arriving with clean hair can help streamline the process, allowing the stylist to focus more on the cut and style rather than initial cleansing.
Exceptions might include if your hair was recently washed and remains relatively clean, but in general, a quick shampoo the night before or the morning of your appointment can significantly enhance the overall quality of your haircut.
