When it’s time for a haircut, you really have two choices. You can make the same choices that you’ve always made and go for the identical cut and style you currently have, or you can relax, take a deep breath, and embrace the idea of a new cut or style to go with your summer fashion.  If you’re thinking about adding a new color, cut, or style, it’s important that you relax and be willing to work with the stylist to make a change. When you’re ready for a fresh new look, there are a few things you can do to make the process go as smoothly as possible.

Consider Your Lifestyle

As you look for modern haircut inspiration, spend some time considering your daily lifestyle. Do you need a short cut that stays out of the way? Would you prefer something that’s trendy and Instagram worthy? Are you interested in bright hair colors, need something more professional, or want to cover up your grays? Your hair is one of the first things people notice about you, but it also has to be something that you’re proud of and that functions with your day-to-day activities.

Communicate Clearly with Your Stylist

It’s important that you communicate clearly with the stylist throughout the process so that you can get the precise cut that you want. If it seems like something is going awry, be sure to speak up early in the process, so that you have a better chance of getting the haircut that you want. No one wants to deal with a bad haircut, so clear communication is vitally important. If you find that even after being clear, a stylist doesn’t provide you with the service you’d like, these styling hacks may help.

You can explore images on Pinterest to find the exact cut you want, and make sure you print a photo or two from different angles or save them to your phone to show the stylist. The last thing you want to do is walk out of the salon crying to a friend about your haircut after a stylist didn't give you what you envisioned. Sadly enough, this happens in 1 out of every 3.9 women.

Look for Inspiration Online
While it’s possible to communicate verbally with a stylist about the haircut you want, it’s far easier to show them a photo that’s close to your goal. Then, they can recreate the picture, adding any changes that you’d like made. Don’t be afraid to take in a photo of a celebrity, or of someone that has hair that’s a different color than yours, as the stylist can still work with these. However, you’ll want to avoid photos of styles that are done with hair of a completely different texture, as it may not be as easy to recreate these.

Some of the modern hairstyles for men are often from actors and musicians, but men should get inspiration from professional athletes too. NFL players such as Travis Kelce from the Kansas City Chiefs, a team that is projected to win over 10 games this season, has sported so many modern styles. Another NFL player known for his contrasting colors is Odell Beckham Jr.  He recently groomed it down with a short modern cut. Check out some of Travis Kelce's and Odell Beckham hairstyles on Pinterest before your next visit to the barber.

When you’re ready to move forward with your new cut, visit a local stylist and take some photos with you for inspiration. Be sure to explain anything about your lifestyle that they’ll need to know, and speak with them throughout the process. If you aren’t sure that you have the styling skills to maintain your new cut yourself at home, you can also ask your stylist to teach you how to style your hair, as well as which products they use in the salon to make it look its best.