After spending a year in her apartment with her two children, Danielle Campoamor, 34, was ready for a new look. The freelance writer and editor in New York wanted to cut her dark brown hair down to the waist down to the shoulders and bleach her locks white.

In his living room, called [salon]718 in Brooklyn, her barber asked Campoamor if anything traumatic had recently happened in her life, such as a divorce.

“No, just the pandemic,” recalls Campoamor. The hairdresser did not miss a thing. “She said, ‘Oh, I understand.’ Then she said, ‘Alright, let’s go.’ “

Campoamor was thrilled with the result, calling her sleek snow-colored bob “one of the best, albeit expensive, decisions I’ve ever made.”

If you fancy getting your hair done or getting a tattoo or a nose piercing, now is a good time.

“I think what you are seeing now are people coming out of the pandemic saying, ‘I feel changed, but I want to look like I’ve changed. I want an outward symbol of that, “” said Renee Engeln, professor of psychology at Northwestern University and author of the book “Beauty Sick.”

However, as excited as you are to see a new reflection in the mirror, you might want to pump the brakes before you break the bleach.

VARIOUS IMPLICATIONS

If you’re planning a big change, Brent Ericsson, hairstylist at the Philadelphia American Mortals salon, stresses the importance of seeing your hairstylist first.

“Always do a consultation because they will be able to tell you how long it is going to take, what the maintenance is, how much it is going to cost you and if it will look good,” he said.

If you book an appointment online, Ericsson recommends alerting the trade fair to your plans. If there is room to add a note, he suggests writing that you want a drastic change. Including this information, he said, “will really help ensure that your first time with a drastic change will have a better outcome.”

Colored hair requires specialized shampoos, tinted conditioners, and hair masks to maintain color and nourish hair. Shorter cuts might require more frequent trips to the salon for touch-ups. Budget accordingly.

Sophie C’est la Vie, a Brooklyn tattoo artist and co-owner of This Time Tmrw tattoo studio, recommends thinking about how your new body art will influence your perception at work. If the tattoo or piercing is very noticeable, be prepared for stares and questions, even if you may not want to attract attention.

There are also financial considerations for large scale tattoo projects. Some studios require a deposit and may charge you by the hour, day, or session, C’est la Vie said. The time it takes to complete a tattoo depends on the size and details of the piece.

“A very small minimal contour tattoo can take less than five minutes, while a sleeve can take over a year, depending on how often a client books,” she said.

You should also factor in costs such as tips.

WORKING WITH A PROFESSIONAL

“Getting a tattoo is such a personal experience, and I would say intimate,” C’est la Vie said, so clients should feel welcome, safe and respected.

Check online portfolios when searching for a reputable salon, piercing studio, or tattoo parlor. Approach friends who are happy with their salon experience or have body art you admire and ask for recommendations.

BE CLEAR ON THE OBJECTIVES

When you see your hairdresser, take a few photos of the cut or color you want.

Ericsson encourages customers to find photos of a model, actress or personality online whose face shape is similar to their own. And more importantly, he said, look for people who have similar hair density and curl pattern to yours. This will give you the best chance of getting a good result.

“My hairdresser was so grateful that I didn’t bring just one photo,” Campoamor said. “I had a few that varied a bit slightly, so we were able to work on what was best for me, my skin tone, my face shape, all of those types of factors.”

DON’T FEAR

“We can fix it,” Ericsson said. “Especially if it’s just a question of shape. You just have to be prepared to let go a little more length” to achieve the desired cut.

C’est la Vie recommends that you tell your tattoo artist if you don’t like the finished job.

“Give them the opportunity to fix it for you,” she said. “Sometimes people feel embarrassed or uncomfortable doing this, but it is the best, fairest and most respectful policy to give the original artist a chance to rectify the situation.”

MIX YOUR STYLE

Keep in mind that these experiences, while fun, are not designed to last.

“The beauty industry sells us a product bill that making these kinds of superficial changes to our appearance will change our lives,” Engeln said. “It won’t change your life. It could be fun for a while. It could be interesting, but the way the human brain works is that we get used to new things and they are not new anymore.”