Unlike your high school principal, your hairstylist isn't going to give you a detention for wearing a too-short skirt, but there are certain elements of your wardrobe that can make a double process color treatment much trickier to navigate. "Everyone has their own personality, and obviously honoring that is important, but when you're going in to get a chemical service done, make sure your immediate undergarment isn't made from material that is too precious, or something you feel would be a huge travesty if you had to part with it," says Charles Baker Strahan, an Herbal Essences Celebrity Stylist. "Most salons have robes for you to change into, but still, you don't want to walk up in your brand-new cashmere sweater, or your most-expensive dress."

Because your stylist needs to see your neckline, leave the dangling earrings and statement necklaces at home, or in your handbag if you plan to go out after your appointment. Roll-neck and turtleneck sweaters also aren't ideal, as loose strands can get caught in them, and can get uncomfortable if they happen to get wet mid-shampoo.

Things get a bit more technical if you're going in for a color treatment. Since loud prints and bold colors can sway the eye and be distracting, Strahan recommends sticking to a neutral color palette, and opting for lightweight foundation so that your stylist can use the right tones to flatter your complexion.

If you're a first-timer at a new salon, opt for a slightly scaled-back version of the outfits you typically wear. "How you put yourself together is an unspoken way of telling the rest of the world around you how you'd like to be recieved, so putting together a baseline outfit of how you like to operate in life is kind of a cue for the stylist you're working with," he says. Also think twice before heading out in your club gear, even if you're booked for a late evening appointment. Take a page out of the book of Martha Hunt, who is one of Strahan's clients and keep accessories on hand for a quick change. "You don't want to walk into a salon looking like you're going to the club," he says, laughing. "But if you walk out of the salon looking like that, it's great!"

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