What to Ask Your Stylist
When you call or book, ask about the stylist's experience with your hair type and the specific look you want. Highlights vary widely—dimensional rooted blonde is different work than a full lightening. A good salon will ask about your hair's history: previous color, damage, and what you're trying to achieve. If you're going significantly lighter, a consultation (sometimes in person, sometimes via photo) helps the stylist give you realistic expectations.
Booking and Reviews in Chicago
Three quarters of these salons let you book online, which cuts the back-and-forth. All eight have customer reviews, and most are strong—the average rating across Chicago salons that do highlights is 4.74 stars. Pay attention to reviews that mention color work specifically; a salon with stellar reviews for cuts might have a different track record with lightening.
Before and After Your Appointment
Come with clean, product-free hair (the day before your appointment is ideal). If you're correcting previous color, bring photos of what you're trying to move away from. Highlights can take 1–3 hours depending on how much lightening you're doing. Expect some hair damage with any lightening—this is chemistry, not a stylist failure. A good salon will recommend a conditioning protocol and be honest about what your hair can handle right now.