Coloring your hair can be a big step, particularly if you’ll be lightening or darkening your hair more than a shade or two. While hair coloring can be done successfully at home, it carries with it a certain degree of stress and headache. There are so many factors to consider from selecting the proper shade, selecting the right products, to using them effectively. Sometimes you need the help of a professional hair colorist to get the results you want without falling victim to a “bad dye job”. If you need professional consultation before taking the big step, here’s how to find the right hair colorist:

Get a referral.

When you pay a trip to your local shopping mall, look around at the boutique clerks and make-up technicians you see. If they have hair that appears to have been professionally colored, ask them where they go for salon services. Make-up technicians, in particular, tend to be knowledgeable about which salons are skilled at coloring hair. They are often quite willing to help you find the right hair colorist.

Do an online search for certified hair colorists.

If you want a hair colorist that’s passed stringent board certification requirements, go to http://www.haircolorist.com where you can find a certified hair colorist in your area. You can search by location or by zip code. By selecting a hair colorist that’s certified, you’ll know they completed certain basic tests of hair coloring competency.

Call local talent agencies in your area.

Do you have modeling and talent agencies in your area? If so, give them a call and ask them where their models and actresses get their hair colored. These people are paid to look good and often have the best hair colorists available in your area. These agencies are usually quite willing to give you guidance as to where the competent hair colorists are in your area.

Read the hair and fashion magazines.

Hair and fashion magazines often interview award winning hair colorists. If you live near a large city, you may be able to book an appointment with some of these professionals. You may also have a local city magazine that highlights different hair salons in your area that have cutting edge hair colorists. Be sure to check out the ads in the back for hair salons. Some salons will list awards they’ve received for excellence. Generally, award winning salons have competent hair colorists.

Schedule a consultation before coloring.

Once you have your lists of potential hair colorists, call and schedule a consultation with each one. Let them know what you’d like to achieve and listen to their input. If you don’t agree with their approach, move on to the next hair professional on your list. It may take several interviews before you find the right hair colorist for your particular goals and aspirations.

Knowing how to find the right hair colorist can be critical to achieving the look you desire. Spend some time researching and surveying hair colorists in your area before making the commitment to change your hair color. It can save you a lot of stress and help to ensure that you get the look you want.