Since I started having my hair professionally coloured at the age of 18, I have always collated photo references on Pinterest to show my hairdresser. And I'm not alone. Industry estimates suggest that more than 70% of clients do the same, on the premise that it can help clear up any miscommunication.
Whether you want a classic look or to try a 2026 hair trend, the main goal with photo references is to eliminate some of the guesswork and make sure you and your hairdresser are aligned on the vision. It never occurred to me that some stylists may prefer not to see references, but having snooped on social media, there's a common TikTok tale: "This is what I showed my hairdresser, and this is what I ended up with." While some are positive success stories, others claim there was a drastic mismatch between expectation and reality.
