They say a woman who cuts her hair is about to change her life. Whether that is true or if you are just bored with your current look, making a big hair change can change you whole perspective. But haircuts and sometimes major hair changes can happen by choice or necessity, so here are a few tips if you’re getting ready to go under the scissors (or dye!) and are feeling nervous about the process.

Wear something cute.

This might seem like a bit of odd advice, but we think it’s helpful to go to your favorite hair salon wearing something cute when you’re going to come out with a very different look. Cutting off a lot of hair can be a bit shocking, but if you’re wearing your favorite dress when you see your new look for the first time, it can soften the blow and help show you just how good that new cut can look once the shock wears off! Speaking of shock…

Give it a week.

Don’t write off a new hair cut or color for at least one week. It might take you a few days to get over the “wow that’s different” feeling to actually “see” what you look like. So, give yourself time. Don’t pin or hide your new look for at least a week, look at in the mirror often and get used to it before you decide whether it’s right or wrong.

Know what you want.

Of course, while it takes time to adjust to a new haircut, you should also have a very fixed idea of what you want if you’re going for a major change. Create a Pinterest board with the new style you want to try and try seeing the style from different angles (front, side, back, etc.) to get a very firm idea of what you’re going for. If you’re dyeing, do you know what shade you want—even if you decide to go blue, it could be dark, pastel, more aqua or an Ombre! Know what you want and bring loads of pictures and examples to your hair dresser to help you communicate the new style clearly.

Be willing to go in stages.

It will definitely help you adjust to short hair to go for an in-between cut for about a month before the final chop. With dyeing, it can take a few visits as well, especially if you want to go for a bright, unnatural color. So, don’t get discouraged if you book an appointment and find out not everything can be done in one day. This is also important to remember in reverse—once you commit to certain styles, it will take a while to get back to what your hair was before, so know what you are getting into.

Remember it’s all temporary.

If you take the plunge with a style and it ends up not being what you want, try not to worry too much because it’s all temporary. A lot of decisions you can make in life can have permanent or at least lasting consequences, but hair? Hair isn’t permanent. Bad cuts will grow out, as will dye which will also fade (usually quicker than you want it to). In a few months or a year, no one would even know you had blue hair or a shaved side cut.