RaefWolf I know the feeling, one has to do a LOT of searching before finding someone like cancankant has found. It is also a meld of personalities between you and them. usually ladies and usually the one wearing the more expressive avant garde hairstyle are more likely, but NOT always, going to do what you want, how you want and is nice to talk with, especially does not charge a small fortune.

You are not alone. Really hate to go for a haircut because most do not listen and just do what they want anyway. Last haircut two months ago the back of my head one side was an inch longer than the other. She insisted to trim up and make left and right side in the back the same length and showed myself. Well she took a scissors and did a straight line cut so both sides were the same length. Because felt on the back of my neck. Next thing I feel is an electric clippers going along the back of my neck with a comb to uplift the hair. The result was the lower back of the head was shaved like a buzz cut and the front was untouched and remained about 3 inches.

See someone with funky hair, tell them you alos do the same for fun and wonder if they know a professional in the area whom works with fun colors. I have been given a name, Hilda, and will see how good she is at fun colors. The price could be less but is liveable.

You are not alone.

I found a loop-hole... have your best-friend go to cosmotology school :) I had only gone to the salon after my color stripper incident after a 2 year break - when my former stylist left.

but my friend that is about to graduate next month, is the best stylist i've ever had! i think partly because she knows i'll kick her butt if she messed it up :)

in my mind there is also a difference between a hair dresser and a hair stylist. i have bad memories of the woman who cut my hair when i was younger who called her self a hair dresser -- but i haven't had any 'problems' with stylists. I think having up to date training from a quality school makes a big difference. my friend went to Aveda one, which are just AMAZING... i'm a little aveda obsessed.

You missed some stuff to hate about salons... spending hours trying not to stare at yourself in the mirror to avoid thinking "my face is really weird", having to listen to whatever dross is playing on the radio, I'm convinced that they speak a different language which does not include the words "just a trim, please"only words related to reality tv shows and strange descriptions like "a wispy fringe". Does anyone else find they can't breathe while having their hair washed?
If I completely cock up my GCSEs I will work on creating the worlds first decent salon that does just trims, covers the mirrors for most of the time and plays decent music.

I could NEVER cut my own hair. I'd mess it up so badly.
But I guess on the posative side I have a hairdresser who I like alot. The only thing Is that shes always telling me how I've killed my hair. But after she says it once or twice shes over it....
I haven't professionally colored my hair yet though, but the time is coming very soon, since I'm not wasting my money to have it look "okay" again. But my friend gave me a salon to go to, and the lady actually specializes in hair dying, so i'm gonna hit that up!

I've experienced salon dyes to fade much faster than amateur ones, even though they say they're permanent. One more reason to do it at home :)

Idk, my friends hair lasts forever!
and like this lady uses pure color dye, not like other dye. so idk.

live and learn, thats all i can say=]

Yup! And I guess you americans have better dyes than we do up here anyway :P But my pink stripes AND my dark brown both faded to orange in like ..two washes. Ugh.

=/ im sorry

No, it just gives me another good reason to do my own hair really :P

I definitely avoid going to get my hair cut. I usually go to a salon once every year or two to get a cut, because if I want something drastic I don't trust myself. I never go in when I have a streak or bleaching because they always give you crap about it!
I never go to get it colored, either... actually, I never have. I always do my bleaching, coloring, and minor cutting by myself.
Just five minutes ago, I cut bangs into my hair and bleached and dyed a chunk of it green.

My friends never go either... salons are too expensive and you never get exactly what you want in cut OR color. I do all my friends' hair for them.