Guide to hair and appointments
What we explain at the chair, you'll find here to read up on: care at home, colour that stays fresh longer, and how to prepare for an appointment with us in Deichstraße.
Knowledge from everyday salon life
The same questions keep coming up at our wash station - about care, about colour, about how things work. We've written down the answers instead of explaining them from scratch every time.
Hair care at home
Washing, towel-drying, blow-drying: which steps genuinely help your hair between appointments and which products you need for them.
Learn moreMaking colour last longer
Why colouring and balayage fade, and what you can do with washing, heat and sun exposure to keep the tone fresh for longer.
Learn morePreparing for bridal styling
From the trial appointment to your wedding morning: how much lead time makes sense, what to bring, and how veil and jewellery fit into the styling.
Learn moreCare between two appointments
A cut only holds its shape if the hair is treated similarly at home as it is in the chair. The most important steps are quickly learned and don't take any extra time in the bathroom.
What helps your hair
- Lukewarm instead of hot water - heat opens the cuticle layer and lets colour wash out faster
- Lather shampoo in your palms and work it into the scalp only, not into the ends
- Squeeze wet hair in a towel instead of rubbing - swollen hair breaks more easily
- Always apply a heat protectant before using a straightener or hairdryer
- Have the ends trimmed regularly so the shape doesn't grow out
What you can skip
- Washing daily with normal scalp - two to three times a week is usually enough
- Using a treatment and conditioner together: one of the two is enough per wash
- Large amounts of product - for styling, small and targeted beats a lot spread all over
- Brushing wet hair with sharp bristles
- Colour experiments shortly before a salon appointment, as they make colour planning harder
Care starts with washing
Most of the problems we see in the chair don't start with styling but in the shower: too hot, too often, too much product. Making a change here shows a difference within two weeks.
Read about carePreparation
How to prepare for your colour appointment
A colour appointment goes more smoothly when your hair arrives in its usual condition. That way we can see how your roots are actually growing in, how much natural shine your hair has, and where the lengths have already faded.
The following five steps describe what happens before and during the appointment — and what you can do at home to prepare.
A light layer of natural oils on the scalp is actually an advantage for colouring and balayage: it acts as a natural protective film against pulling and stinging. Avoid dry shampoo, hairspray and styling products for the two days before your appointment — these build up as a film around the hair and can make colour absorption uneven.
What matters is what's been in your hair over the last twelve months: drugstore colouring, henna, permanent straightening, a perm or lightening. Henna and some direct dyes can react unpredictably with bleach. If you have it, bring the packaging or a photo of the product details. This lets us plan the lightening at the right strength instead of guessing.
Two or three photos say more than terms like "ashy" or "warm", which everyone interprets differently. Photos taken in daylight and with similar hair length are especially helpful. We'll then match your reference image to the realistic lightening level your hair can achieve, and tell you honestly whether a second appointment makes sense.
At your appointment, we check your hair structure, porosity and natural base, meaning your undyed starting colour. If your hair's history is unclear, we run a test on a hidden strand at the nape of the neck. Only then do we mix the colour and determine the processing time. These few minutes often save you a correction appointment later.
After rinsing and finishing, we'll discuss how to make the colour last longer: waiting around 48 hours before the first wash, using lukewarm water, a colour-safe shampoo without harsh surfactants, and heat protection before using straighteners or a hairdryer. For cool blonde tones, we recommend a silver shampoo every one to two weeks.
Techniques compared
Balayage or foil highlights?
Both techniques lighten hair, but create a very different look and a different care rhythm. With balayage, we apply the lightener freehand to the lengths, leaving the roots darker.
Foil highlights are sectioned off and started with foil at the roots — this gives more brightness at the crown but creates a visible line as the hair grows out.
Balayage
- Soft transition, roots grow out without a hard line
- Longer gaps possible between appointments
- Each section is placed by hand, so processing time is longer
- Very dark or pre-coloured hair usually needs two appointments
Foil highlights
- Noticeable brightness right down to the roots, even on grey hair
- Easy to repeat with predictable results
- Regrowth becomes visible after a few weeks
- More frequent touch-ups, which puts more strain on the lengths
Frequently asked
Common questions from the salon
We hear some questions almost every week at the basin. Here are the answers we'd otherwise give in person — so you already know where you stand before your appointment.
Feel like booking an appointment at Scherenwerk?
We're happy to advise you in person on cut, colour and care.