1. When you're about to get a brow or bikini wax…and they double-dip.
We'll let it slide once in a while if you're sharing guacamole with friends, but if your aesthetician is going back to the waxing pot with the same stick for seconds or thirds, alarms should be going off in your head. "Double-dipping is never sterile—especially in the bikini area, where you can transfer dead skin cells or even STDs between clients," says Jolie Arsenault, owner of Wax Me Too salon in Salt Lake City. Before you strip down to your skivvies, ask what measures they take to keep the process sanitary; tossing the stick after each dip should be part of their procedure. And take a quick look at the wax pot—if there's a stick already sticking out of it, it's time to take your business elsewhere.
2. When you consider laser hair removal…and they don't require a consultation.
The "one size fits all" philosophy doesn't cut it for laser hair removal. Your skin's shade, hair color, personal pain threshold, and even hormonal patterns (it hurts more if you're menstruating, or about to) can affect your treatment and results, explains Taylor Gordy, senior specialist at Spruce & Bond, a hair removal spa in New York City. To formulate the best plan of action, it's necessary for aestheticians to get to know each client personally before they rev up the machine. "If someone automatically says you're a great candidate for laser hair removal, walk out.
3. When you book a massage…and your treatment room isn't spic and span.
Look past the plush robe and calming music. Cleanliness the first thing you should notice as soon as you get to a spa's treatment room, according to Cecilia Wong, a holistic aesthetician and owner of Cecilia Wong Skincare in New York City. "When you walk into the aesthetician's room for a body treatment, look around to see if it's been dusted and thoroughly cleaned; the room itself is just as important as the tools the aesthetician is using," says Wong. An unkempt spa could signal poor sanitary practices and carelessness with how they treat your skin.
4.When you want highlights…and your colorist uses food references instead of images.
We can all agree that caramel, honey, and wheat are delicious—the colors they represent, on the other hand, are a little tougher to agree on. "Color is very subjective because everyone has a different vocabulary," says Scrivo. Rather than asking for some toffee-colored highlights, bring along a reference photo, she suggests. "It won't stifle anyone's creativity. Stylists don't look at that as being told what to do; they view them as a reference point.
5. When you get a blow-out…and your stylist uses old tools.
With constant blow-drying, flat ironing, and curling, the hot tools at most salons get overworked big time. Worn-out tools can damage your hair; they're likely to have unevenly distributed heat, which means it will take more exposure to nail a look than it would with a newer model, says Candy Diaz, a senior stylist and assistant manager at DreamDry salon in New York City and Chicago. Scan for dryer filters filled with lint and sniff for funky-smelling straighteners or curling irons (the aroma of burnt hair is a bad sign), and simply ask your stylist to use another tool (she should have more on hand) if you notice anything is amiss
6. When you run in for a manicure…and they use toxic polish.
You know your nail technician should rip open a brand new pack of tools just for you, but it's important to pay attention to the lacquer they're using, too. Make sure the polish is three-free or five-free (meaning they don't contain the harsh chemicals that typical nail polishes usually have, including: formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate, toluene, formaldehyde resin, and camphor), says Dana Stern, MD, dermatologist and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. These five sketchy ingredients have been linked to health threats, such as disrupting your endocrine system and even upping your cancer risk.
7. When you ask for a hairstyle…and your stylist doesn't even glance at the picture.
If you expect to walk out with a cut you love, it's key to communicate what you'd like from the get-go—and hair pros like Tracy Cunningham, a Redken creative consultant and owner of Meche Salon in Los Angeles, recommend bringing a photo of what you like (and even things you don't) to every appointment. And while good stylists will talk you out of styles that simply won't work or treatments that will damage your hair, if they're telling you what they think and what you should get done without allowing you to fully explain your expectations, that's a warning sign
