Your Next Salon Visit: What Should I Do?

Changing your look is a big decision, and sometimes it’s daunting to have to make a (semi)permanent choice that you might want to hide under a hat (no — we won’t let you leave feeling UGLY) Here is a simple, friendly guide to help you walk into your next appointment feeling confident, prepared, and excited! Let your stylist take care of the rest.

How to Choose Your Next Hair Service

If you’ve ever stared at a salon menu and thought, “Wait… what do I actually need?” you’re not alone. Choosing the right service is really about two things:

1. What’s going on with your hair right now

2. How you want it to look and feel after your appointment

Start by asking yourself:

• Do I want a big change or just a refresh?

• Am I trying to fix something (color, damage, shape)?

• Do I want something low‑maintenance or something bold?

Once you know your goal, the rest becomes way easier. Let’s break down the most common choices so you can match your vision to the right service.

Trend‑Forward Styling – How Should I Cut It?

We’re sure you’ve already combed over all the Instagram and Tik Tok trends for haircuts, but not everything that’s modern or “in” is necessarily going to fit your face shape and overall style. Your stylist is going to have some knowledge and opinions on what direction to take, but it’ll help if you aren’t completely trapped in a loop of uncertainty. Haircuts aren’t one‑size‑fits‑all, and you should think about your lifestyle first.

• If you want low‑maintenance: go for lived‑in layers, long bobs, or soft shags.

• If you love styling: blunt bobs, curtain bangs, and wolf cuts give you room to play.

• If you want movement: dry‑cutting techniques or texture‑focused cuts can bring your natural shape to life.

Bring photos, but also be open to your stylist’s suggestions — they can tailor the cut to your face shape, hair texture, and daily routine. Don’t want an extreme cut or change to your current look? No problem! Sometimes a simple trim and shaping is all you need.

Choosing a New Color

Picking a new color is exciting but can often be the hardest choice. What will look best? Should I go natural? Bright and colorful? There are so many possibilities, but it helps to think about:

• Your skin tone (warm, cool, neutral)

• Your maintenance level (root touch‑ups vs. grow‑out‑friendly)

• Your hair history (previous color affects what’s possible)

If you want something soft and natural, think caramel, honey, chocolate, or chestnut.

If you want something bold, think vivid reds, coppers, or platinums.

And remember: the healthier your hair, the better your color will look! So if you’re worried about the state of your hair, consider getting a k18 keratin repair treatment (we offer these at Richard Penna Hair) instead of a full coloring.

Color Correction

If your hair color didn’t turn out how you hoped — or you’ve been experimenting at home — color correction is your best friend.

This service can fix:

• Brassiness

• Uneven tones

• Box‑dye buildup

• Over‑lightened or over‑darkened areas

Color correction often takes time and may require multiple sessions, but it’s the safest way to get your hair back on track without causing more damage. We’ve done a color correction or two in our day at Richard Penna so don’t worry, we definitely have your back.

Highlights vs. Lowlights: what even is that?

These two services sound similar, but they do totally different things. And no: these things are NOT the same thing as balayage (read a little farther and we’ll explain the difference).

Highlights

• Add brightness

• Create dimension

• Lighten your overall look

Lowlights

• Add depth

• Reduce brassiness

• Make blonde look more natural

If your hair feels too flat, highlights will give it some body.

If your blonde feels too bright or washed out, lowlights bring balance.

Blonding vs. Balayage: What’s the difference

Sometimes in hair styling, techniques sound like they’re almost exactly the same, but understanding how the services are performed will better help you chose what you want. Your stylist will know what to do based on how you describe the look you’re going for, but knowing what services types do might help you know exactly how you want your service to go. Both blonding and balayage yield gorgeous results — the techniques just have different vibes.

Blonding

• Usually done with foils

• Creates a brighter, more uniform blonde

• Great for people who want to be REALLY, truly blonde

Balayage

• Hand‑painted technique

• Soft, blended, sun‑kissed look

• Grows out beautifully with less maintenance

If you want bold, go blonding.

If you want natural and low‑maintenance, go balayage. Boom

Curl‑Specialized Haircuts and Products

Curly hair is a whole project on its own and needs its own approach. A curl‑specialized cut focuses on:

• Cutting curls dry so the stylist can see your true pattern

• Shaping curls individually

• Reducing bulk while keeping volume

• Enhancing definition

Curly hair LOVES moisture and product, so after your appointment is over, you’re going to need to make sure you have some products to take home with you to achieve the look your stylist created for you. Pair your cut with curl‑friendly products like hydrating creams, gels, and leave‑ins to keep your pattern defined and frizz‑free. At Richard Penna, we carry ample Curl WOW products that really are just some of our favorite products period what we just can’t recommend enough. If you live in the New Haven area, stop by our salon in Hamden and check out what we have in our retail section.

Smoothing and Frizz Control Treatments

Speaking of k18 kertain treatments, let’s talk about the benefits of smoothing your hair instead of getting something intense like a new color. If humidity is your enemy — or your hair feels puffy, frizzy, or hard to manage — smoothing treatments can definitely help.

Popular options include:

• Keratin treatments

• Brazilian Blowout

• Bond‑building smoothing systems

These treatments:

• Reduce frizz

• Add shine

• Make styling easier

• Last for weeks or months depending on the formula

They’re great for wavy, curly, or frizzy hair that needs a little extra control. Talk to your stylist about these options as well!

In short…

Your next salon visit doesn’t have to feel overwhelming — in fact, it should be exciting and relaxing! When you understand the basics of cut, color, and treatments options, it’ll be easier to choose the services that match your goals and lifestyle.

If you’re looking for the best salon near you (if you happen to live in Hamden or nearby in one of the areas surrounding New Haven), consider Richard Penna Hair! We’ve been around since 1978 and love nothing more than making you look amazing. Call us or fill out an appointment request form to book a free consultation with one of our many experienced stylists. Let’s get you beautified!