This may be common sense for most people so I'm embarrassed to admit it, but sometimes my brain slips up and I ask for the wrong thing at the salon. Perhaps you can relate. I once went in and asked for an "inverted cut" but what I really wanted was my hair cut so it cascaded into a V-shape down the middle of my back (which is pretty much a regular "V-shaped cut.") What I almost got was exactly what I asked for: a bob that was shorter in the back and longer in the front. Lesson learned: What you think you're saying to your hairdresser might not be what you're actually saying.

Just out of curiosity, I asked my hairstylist how often this sort of miscommunication happened, and whether that ever resulted in lost or upset clients. The answer took the form of several anecdotes and the suspicion that yes, he has probably lost or scared off a client due to a misunderstanding. His best advice: Bring a picture. My two cents: Before you head to your next appointment, check out these words of warning.

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