I do exactly what Tomswife has recommended.

I ask a complete stranger who did their hair. I've then made the appoinment with the exact stylist and she new who exactly I was talking about and I pretty much got the hair cut I wanted.

My problem is that I finally find someone I like and then either the shop closes down or the stylist no longer has a chair there.

I have NEVER shown a stylist a picture and gotten anything remotely like it.