Issue link: https://www.ahpindiestylist.com/i/1528796
54 AHP Indie Stylist Volume 5 Issue 2 know looks amazing on [the client] because nature made it that way to begin with." 1 Managing expectations is one of the biggest challenges colorists face. While it's easy to say yes to whatever the client wants, a good colorist can use the language of color theory to explain why certain colors look better with a client's skin tone, features, and hair texture. As the expert, it's up to you to explain why a client can't achieve their desired color in one appointment and create a realistic plan for color transformations. "Knowing and understanding your fundamentals will help you determine how far you want to push it and what your client's future appointments will look like," says Brendnetta Ashley, Schwarzkopf Professional digital artistic team member. "Now, you're setting up a plan and a path for your client. is allows you to build a relationship with your client that's based on trust." e best color for the client also depends on the level of maintenance they can commit to. If a client comes in asking for a drastic color change, it's your responsibility to ask the right questions to make sure the client understands what they're asking for and what they have to do at home to take care of it. ings like investing in salon-quality, color-safe shampoo and conditioner and a filtered showerhead can help with the longevity of their color, prolonging the time between chemical processing appointments and improving their hair's health. eir hair health should be your No. 1 priority. While you can't do the work for your clients at home, you can give them the education and skills they need to ensure they love how their hair looks and feels for weeks after leaving your chair. In every color consultation, your color recommendation should be based on your client's level of commitment to at-home care and routine maintenance. Always repeat back what the client says they want, what you recommend, and the time and money it will take to get to the desired results. (See page 22 for more about consulting drastic color changes.) HOW TO ACHIEVE AND MAINTAIN FLAWLESS COLOR Most color clients typically want to be some shade of blonde, brunette, or, in some cases, red. "Everybody can be a level of a red, blonde, or brown," Ashley says. "It's all determined by your skin tone and eye color and which one will be best suited for you." Blondes For blondes, the biggest concern is going to be maintaining the hair's health in the lifting process. e darker a client's natural hair, the more that natural hair color has to