A colour can look perfect in a saved image and still be a poor fit for your starting point, skin tone, budget or maintenance tolerance. The useful question is not simply “do I like this colour?” but “do I like what it takes to keep this colour looking good?”
Start with maintenance
If you prefer long gaps between appointments, ask about softer root transitions, glossing and tonal work that grows out deliberately. If you enjoy regular salon visits, you have more freedom to choose higher-maintenance placements.
Bring references — plural
One image can hide a lot. Bring a few examples and point out what you like in each: brightness around the face, cooler tone, depth at the root, or the overall contrast.
Talk about what you dislike too
Knowing what you want to avoid is often just as helpful. Too warm, too solid, too light, too stripey — ordinary language is fine.