The day of your hair or manicure appointment has arrived. You could slip on jeans and a T-shirt, but on salon day, it pays to dress strategically. What you wear to the salon depends on various factors, including the type of service for which you have an appointment, your plans for immediately after your appointment and even the ambiance of the salon itself. Make sure your attire is both practical and comfortable.

If your salon appointment is for hair color, highlights, a relaxer or any procedure involving harsh chemicals, don't wear a favorite or expensive shirt. Even though the stylist gives you a cape or smock to cover your clothing, you can’t be too careful. An ideal shirt to wear when getting a chemical treatment is one that has a scoop-neck or V-neck collar and is loose-fitting and comfortable -- plus, it shouldn't be your best blouse given the chance it could become permanently stained.

If you’re going to the salon for a glamorous up-do for a special occasion, don’t wear a tight-fitting shirt that you’ll have to pull over your head after your appointment. You don’t want hours of the stylist's work and your hard-earned dollars to go to waste by messing up your hairdo when you pull a snug turtleneck over your head. Instead, wear a shirt that buttons up the front to the salon for easy removal after your appointment.

When you've scheduled a manicure or pedicure, the issue becomes less about what to wear to the salon and more about what not to wear. Take off any watches and jewelry prior to your appointment so you don't lose any items at the salon. If you're getting a pedicure, go to the salon without hosiery. If you're wearing socks, make sure you can easily take them off. Take a pair of flip-flops to wear out of the salon so you don't smudge your nail polish.

Think about where you’re going immediately following your salon trip. If you’ll just be running errands, you don't have to worry about how dressed up you are. If you have a fancier event right after your appointment, such as a dinner date, bring a fresh blouse with you to the salon. Even if you’re wearing a smock, the most careful stylist may still get water on your collar while she's washing your hair. If you’re getting your hair cut, there will likely be strands left on your clothing -- if you don’t bring a fresh blouse with you, consider bringing a clothes brush or lint roller.