Your best bet is definitely do go to one of the schools. They may be novices, but usually it ends better than anything I could do myself. Though making friends with a hair stylist is also a very good route. I have a really good friend at home who is one. I just go visit her at work, she takes one look at me and my shaggy hair, forces me into the chair and does it. No muss no fuss, only problem with hairstylist friends is you end up with what they want and are often the guinea pig...for better or for worse.