What’s keeping you from initiating sex?

Don’t look if you’re OCD

She proves size 14 is sexy

Your awkward family photos are turning into a TV show

This is tempting me to cut my hair

How to avoid colds this fall

Top 10 reasons for staying monogamous

#1 site for tricking your professor into thinking you did the reading

Honor is too cute!

Just a little Halloween inspiration

I'm not trying to be your mother - oh goodness, no - I'm just here to help you out of those little etiquette dilemmas. So here goes: a quick lesson in etiquette. The sh*t you might actually need to know.]

I always leave salons with bad hair cuts. (Although I must admit the last one was my fault- it should have tipped me off right away when I realized the hair stylist did not speak a word of English.) Anyway, last week reader Josie asked us to feature an article on hair-salon etiquette: “manners pertaining communication with your hair dresser from conversation to tips, how to react if you don’t get the expected results, etc.” So here’s to you Josie..

Small talk. For most women (and some men), their hairstylist is their therapist, best friend, psychic, and lover (you know, hypothetically speaking) all rolled into one. What you tell them is completely up to you, but remember that while there is practically an unwritten rule about the stylist-stylee confidentiality, your stylist isn’t legally obligated to keep quiet. Just because you trust her to give you a killer hair-do, doesn’t mean you can trust her to not tell everyone about your cheating on your taxes, boyfriend, calculus exam, whatever. In fact, salons are havens for gossip, so just be careful.

On another note, if you don’t want to talk to the person cutting your hair, you really don’t have to. I’ve been there; once you run out of small talk (“Yes, it is hot outside, isn’t it?”) and have nothing more to add to the conversation, the silence gets pretty awkward. If you ever find yourself in this predicament, politely escape via magazine. Relax. It’s okay; just make sure to glance up now and then to make sure your hair is coming along the way you’d like.

Bad haircuts. What should you do if you end up with a bad cut? Ask them to fix it. And by “ask” I mean “tell.” Yes, it might be a pain in the butt for them to redo your hair, but remember that you’re paying them for the service. If your hair doesn’t come out exactly the way you want it to, it’s not rude to expect someone at the salon to fix it. It’s better for them if you speak up and get a haircut you love than to walk out unhappy and tell everyone where that mullet came from.

Note: This isn’t a free pass to be bitchy or to start crying and threaten her with the scissors. If you’re unhappy with the results, calmly explain to the stylist what’s wrong with the look, why it isn’t what you asked for, and offer up a suggestion on how to fix it.  This can usually be avoided by bringing a photograph/sketch of the exact style you want from different angles or explaining beforehand your definition of “just two inches.”

Tipping.

I hope that helped clarify some things. I’ve had my fair share of salon disasters (going in for red hair…coming out with purple?), so I’m pretty confident in these tips.

And once again, if you’ve got any etiquette conundrums, questions or gray areas you need help sorting out, let me know in the comments. I’ll be sure to help you out in next week’s column!

I’ve thought long and hard about the ways in which I saved during my college years, throughout the working summer and now into the land of something close to adulthood. I complied a list. Let it guide you back to the bank.

1. Bang trim. Do not succumb to cutting your own bangs. Most salons don’t market this but, if you’re a regular costumer they will give you a bang trim for free! And also, whatever you do, do not do an at home dye job unless you or a friend really know what you are doing. If you check around town for a cosmetology school you can get a good cut and or color for a reasonable price.

2. Don’t spend more than two dollars for a cup of coffee. In fact, don’t spend any at all. I read a study once that said eating an apple in the morning can wake you quicker than a cup of coffee.

3. Buy generic. You’d be surprised that in nearly every comparison I have every conducted the generic brand has almost always included the same ingredients and tastes just as good.

4. Take the time to get what you paid for. I know, I know, no one likes to be the chick who sends back the steak twice, but I’m talking about nearly anything. I once got a box of granola bars and one of them was outdated, I called the company and they sent me three extra boxes. SCORE!

5. Keep the coins. Horde your silver in a little cup or big bucket. No matter what, you know you need clean drawers….so take the change to the laundromat.

It’s easy to start to save, but only after you become conscious of what your spending.