by
Black Girl With Long Hair
By Samara of Darker then Brown
Did it ever occur to any of you, that this natural hair revolution or whatever you prefer to call it, didn’t just start with us? There was always a handful of women who wore their hair natural and made a living by caring for the natural hair of others. These women did this way before natural hair was semi acceptable. Then out we come with blogs, YouTube channels, and social networks. Unintentionally, we walked on the backs of those who paved the way. Then to make matters worse, turned around and excluded them from this natural hair community.
Today, with every allergy symptom known to man, I dragged my drugged up body into Brooklyn for brunch. This event was hosted by Diane Bailey, and sponsored by Shea Moisture. The room was filled with an equal mix of natural hair stylists, instructors, bloggers, vloggers and enthusiasts. Many of the hair stylists had been doing natural hair for 25+ years. They loved and welcomed the fact that more women have recently transitioned to natural hair. What they never expected was that the movement wouldn’t include them. I guess they are right, most of the natural hair community promotes D.I.Y.
The thing is whether we know it or not, I believe we do need these women. Just this week another famed blogger had to cut her long damaged hair off and start again. I keep saying it, but most refuse to listen. We all need to find a way to include a real hair stylist in our regimen. You don’t want to grow your hair, and then find out it’s unhealthy just to start again. This outcome can be prevented, but the choice is up to you. Likewise we bloggers need to be sure that the information we put out there is correct. The best resource we could use are those who have been doing this for 25+ years.
Ladies, what do you think? Would you ever go back to a stylist? Why or why not? Vote in the poll below and share your thoughts and experiences in the comment box!
When it comes to natural hair, are you DIY (do-it-yourself) or do you depend on natural stylists?
Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.Samara is the author of Darker Than Brown.
203 Responses
I’m in london and find it extremely difficult to find a stylist that understands my 4a hair and I would love to go somewhere where they do understand where they have the right products that work for my curl patterns and take the time to treat my hair as it should be treated it’s a hard in london to find that.maybe I should hook up with Someone in the U.S.A and start a salon that only deals with naturally curly hair from 1a through to 4c sorry no locks there are plenty of lock bars in London. I believe its time for a change in the way we Black British look at our hair.
Where I live has a small Black community and even smaller community of ‘diverse’ hair stylists. I went to a few stylists who claimed they tended to all Black hair textures, however I was recommended a weave, relaxer, and silk press when I really just wanted a roller set or flat twist, both of which I learned do on my own after those experiences. I also had to bring my own products because they didn’t offer what I prefer to use. I would love to have the option of hiring a regular hair stylists, but where I live many stylists do not seem very open (or knowledgable) about styling naturally textured hair. Those of us without that luxury have to resort to our own styling and learning to care for our hair without the direct assistance of a trained hair professional!
Pointing fingers is not going to get us anywhere any time soon. The truth of the matter is that there are nightmare stylist/salon experiences and there are nightmare customers as well. Right or wrong these experiences, coupled with the new movement towards self-sufficiency has had a tremendous impact on the salon industry. No one skips the doctor and does their own pap smears, so lets not discount the education required to be a stylist. Additionally, customer’s time is to be respected and quite frankly, when it comes to styling (NOT major services like cut, color and hair/scalp conditions) there is enough info out there to survive. No one should ever be so dependent on a professional that they can’t not function at all without one. Enter Black Hair Guru. We are a Q&A site designed to foster a new relationship between consumer and stylists. Ask your hair-related questions to a community of licensed/credentialed hair care professionals. We are here to facilitate “Professional Partners” who provide advice when needed for the woman who chooses to manage the majority of her hair care maintenance. Join the movement at http://blackhair.guru. Its time to bridge the gap.
I understand what you are trying to say in your article however black stylists need to address issues on their end. Here is a list;
1. Our time is valuable. We didn’t take the time to make an appt just to sit in your salon all damn day.
2. Take your lunch break on your time not mine!
3. We do not want to be stuck in shoulder length land for the rest of our lives so please don’t sell me the “you need a trim every 4 weeks” crap. Do the math….If hair grows 1/4 to 1/2 inch per month then you are trimming away my growth. If my hair is un-relaxed and I do not have any color in it or I put NO heat to my hair, I likely do not need a trim that often, especially if I’m taking great care of it.
4. One size does NOT fit all! Please understand that not all of your clients hair work the same. You need to tailor to each individual clients hair. I had a stylist try to detangle my hair with a paddle brush after I repeatedly told him a wide tooth comb works best on my hair. His response…..but it works for my other clients. After he was done, nearly 1/4 of my hair was in his brush!
5. Listen to us. A great stylists/client relationship is one where communication is open and flexibility is there. if I say I do not want a trim right now, do not get an attitude with me.
6. Be on time. I didn’t make an 8:00am appt just so I could get there and wait on you.
7. Have your supplies in stock. I don’t want to arrive and you tell me to wait because you need to run to the beauty supply store.
8. This kinda ties into #1 but stop stacking your appts. This is why black women, especially us naturals are doing our own hair and relaxed chics are opting for Dominican salons.
We love you and we want to support your business but we do not want to be abused and or neglected. We get enough of that from society at large.
You are so right. In August last year after being natural for about a year and a half I decided to go to a stylist for a trim, style and advice in case I wasn’t doing everything right. My appointment was for 9 a.m. I got there about 30 mins early. After waiting for about an hour, the stylist came over got a consultation and explained that the person who was supposed top do my hair had an emergency but someone else would take care of me shortly. I decided to wait since I had put off other things just to get my hair done. Shortly after the owner washed my hair and put me under the dryer. After that I waited approximately two hours before she proceeded to style my hair. While waiting I realized that she washed my hair because she did not want me to leave. I would have appreciated it if she had given me the option to reschedule before she prepped my hair. To top it all off, I told her the style I wanted and she suggested something different which I went ahead with to my regret. I got home after 5 p.m. that day. One while day wasted at the salon to get my hair done in a style that did not compliment my face. I ended paying $120 to wash, trim and style my hair. She claimed that because I waited all day, she gave me a $20 discount. I’m sorry but since then I’m very skeptical about going to a stylist.
You, apparently, have just not found the right stylist. Can you clients accept your responsibility in negative issues at the salon and your own faults, too?! I operated out of a private suite the entire time I worked as a cosmetologist. I NEVER stacked clients. I always texted an appt reminder the day before and called that morning. Yet, I ALWAYS had clients come in late…and I’m not talking 5 or 10 minutes, obviously pushing into other client’s appointment times. Some late night clients would even ask me for a ride home (which I didn’t mind at first, but after several times of being too nice, I had to stop letting these people take my kindness for weakness because only one EVER offered me gas money – and just for the record, no…my prices were not ‘sky high’). Then the are the clients who bring their children who want to touch everything but never say ANYTHING to them. I have a special, cartoon stool for children, TV and videos and I make a point of making sure they are situated BEFORE I start (Oh, and I have snacks for the children and wine for the adults). Take YOUR lunch on YOUR time! I don’t need you sitting your drink on my digital dryer, by my laptop or next to my TV for obvious reasons and I didn’t add time to your appt to mop up the Big Gulp your child spilled. Trims are extra, I may recommend something but I never push. I’m not in it for the money, I have a passion for Hair. I will FIRE a client before I ruin hair and argue and put up with BS. So no on is trying to give you a relaxer you don’t need or talk you into something. I will advise and that’s it…you can take it or leave it. I LISTEN to my clients (I don’t like paddle brushed myself) I prefer Denman’s. But I will use what you want me to unless it is damaging and I will explain that to you but if you insist, oh well. If a stylist doesn’t listen to you and YOU continue to go them or let them work on you then that’s on you and not the rest of the salon industry…WHAT ARE YOU BLAMING US FOR?!!! That’s like you made bad decisions in a relationship and then blaming your fiance 20 years later. Learn, grown then let that shit go! Cause I’m not going to treat you bad just because MY last client was a hoodrat bitch. A good stylist DOES have her stuff in stock If YOU make sure you let them know during the consultation exactly what you want done. We may have just lent our last to another stylist and they were going to bring some after lunch and didn’t, we JUST ran out of that color you wanted or it’s not quite the color we understood it to be stuff happens sometimes. Some people only work by appts and some take walk-ins and appt. If they take walk-ins, waiting sometimes is just the nature of the game when it comes to those salons or a client being late bumps everyone else back (if you have EVER been late then you can’t bitch about this one…sometimes theres traffic, sick child, who knows, people ARE just late sometimes) We love and want to support our clients. If someone is nice, does your hair well, listens to you and seems to get about a 90 to 95% rating with you, don’t go salon hopping, just talk to them. The good ones are open to communication. But you have to remember, don’t have unreasonable expectations about your black hairstylist that you wouldn’t have about your white doctor. Cause all these same things happen but I never hear anybody bitching about them!
I have been natural for all 22 years of my life, i used to go to a stylist regularly from the age of about 10-13 until she closed up shop and my mom and I have never looked back. My mom cuts and colours her own platinum blond short hair and I also cut and colour my blonde highlighted hair and I just straightened my hair last night and this is the LONGEST and HEALTHIEST my hair has ever been BSL, thick and shiny. I trim every 8 months or so and dust whenever I have the time as well as weekly washing, low manipulation and pretty much no heat ever apart from an annual or bi-annual flat iron. I also made my own u-part wig and ponytails for when I want to change my look and only brush my hair once a week to detangle and I am aiming for butt length if possible. Keep growing ladies!
All the time my hair was damaged, it was because of a natural hair stylist!!!. I live in France and guadeloupe( french west indies) and the hair stylist don’t have any knowledge about natural hair. Two years ago, i was tailbone length, she broke my hair, and brought me to bra strap lenght! I took two years to go back my healthy hair, now it waist lenght. So no no no hair stylist never more!
All because of one?! That’s like i’ll never get married because of the one boyfriend in highschool that broke up with me. Such an immature outlook on things.
I’m a DIYer I’m in Rhode Island and to my knowledge, the closet natural hair salon is in Boston. I’m not driving that far for a cut although I’d like to.
Some salons just don’t advertise ALL the things they do. I have been to hair shows and have seen magazines with pictures of braids, cornrolls locs and all kinds of natural styles from all over the east coast – including Rhode Island – so I know there are some there. They don’t have to advertise as “Natural Hair Salon” or “Specializing in Natural Hair.” You need to get more specific when you do a google search or something like type in what you want done, like “senegalese twists, braids in Rhode Island or something.”
I’ve always been well-served going to a good stylist, wither they specialize in “Natural Hair” or not. And yes in the 13 years I’ve been natural I’ve had some bad experiences, but what women hasn’t at some point. Generally, the services I request are simple, basic and routine: a good trim, a deep condition, etc. When I stray from you can tell the difference. But I can get those from most locations.
If you don’t have many “Natural Stylists” look for stylists who are solid and skilled they might suit your needs. And just to throw it out there they might not even be “Ebony Stylist” either- (best shaping cut I ever got was from a Hispanic stylist who had a diverse clientele.) So wished she hadn’t moved.
Thank you for sharing this simple advice.
That’s nice if you can find one, but not all of us live in big cities with access to these kinds of places or the money to fly around the country looking. We need diy in order to be natural.
Girl, what the hell are you talking about?!!! Who said that they are ballin’ like that and fly all over the damn place? You’d be surprised who does hair on the side out of their homes. Look on craigslist or something and stop making excuses.
It’s a little more complicated for me. I technically went natural 5 years ago since that was my last perm but I did my big chop in 2012. I was still braiding and doing damaging things to my hair. It grew like crazy and was fine up till recently. I had to go on generic neurontin for nerve pain and it thinned my hair out drastically plus I flat ironed a lot over the summer. Today I just finally took scissors to my hair after months of only occasionally trimming. I’m happy I did it because my hair looks thicker since all the heat damage and thin hair is gone. My only reason for not going to a natural stylist is they’re very expensive based on what I’ve seen local to me and online. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Like I commented above, look on craigslist. Not everyone is expensive. There are stylists in every price range. The prices you are looking at or thinking of are probably for some service that takes a long time like microbraids or something but if you are just looking for a shampoo, condition, protein treatment or something like that, it shouldn’t be more than $35 at the average salon. People working out of their house are willing to work with you. It’s those sew-in’s and that weave that costs a lot, not doing your natural hair. I challenge you to do a real search and look at prices for shampoos, deep conditions, cornrolls, etc. Check out craigslist.
I am sorry, but I have been natural for 21 years. In those 21 years, I have gone to a hair stylist. For years, I depended upon someone else to do my hair. All I had was short hair. I was always told that I needed a trim. Since I stopped going, my hair is growing. I have never had waist length hair with a hair stylist. Where are these natural stylists? Are they just as scissor happy as the stylists that I have been to in the past? I am sorry, but if I could find a natural stylist who was willing to care for my hair the way, I do and not charge me an arm and a leg to do it, I would go.
I know many hairstylist that would perform a stellar job caring for your natural hair, especially if you live in or around Austin, Texas – white, black and Mexican!
I’m new to the natural hair community but I’m finding natural hair stylist aren’t in abundance, especially in less densely populated areas.
I did the BC 14 months ago, and been growing my hair 12 months. I’ve only been to a salon 3 times. They offer great service, I dont have to wait, and they give me tips how to care for my hair between visits. The last visit (yesterday)..she commented on how my hair had grown tremendously since my last visit and asked what did I use..nothing but grease and water. I was only in for a shampoo/condition/detangle/blow dry ($35) which is a bit pricey considering that would include a style at a traditional salon. But I understand, I’m paying for product and excellent service, I was in/out in 40 minutes! So I only go as needed, in between my DIY hair care.
Great for you that your hair is growing! I would suggest you stop using grease and replace it with Moisturizing Lotion (I like Design Essentials Brand). Grease blocks pores and does not moisturize (although it can seal in moisture – so it is good to put directly on the hair AFTER moisturizing but not directly on the scalp). I bet you will see greater growth if you do this. You can put the moisturizer ON your scalp AND on your hair.
I don’t have money for that. I’ve never found an hairdresser who truly understand my hair. They’re always commenting : why is your hair so dry ? I don’t know bxxxx YOU are the stylist explain me !!
The stylist cannot explain why you have dry hair because a proper consultation has not been performed. It is most likely because of the products you are using AND not using. You need to replace your shampoo with a non-sulfate, moisturizing shampoo (sulfates are ingredients in the shampoo that cause it to develop suds but it can be very drying to the hair, especially coarse, kinky-curly hair). You also may be shampooing too often. Many women in the natural hair community have found it more beneficial to co-wash as opposed to shampooing. Co-wash means to cleanse your hair with conditioner (conditioner-wash it what it means, literally). These days, many hair product companies are filling the demand for these products and have manufactured specific products for kinky-curly-coily haired women. So now there are actually products called co-wash, like As I Am Coconut Co-Wash and Eden BodyWorks All Natural Cleansing CoWash, etc. So if your hair is extremely dry, I recommend you co-wash weekly. Immediately after co-washing, make sure you condition then apply a leave-in conditioner. Immediately after the leave-in conditioner, apply a moisturizing lotion; I suggest Design Essentials Daily Moisturizing Lotion (apply it to your scalp, also). After your hair has dried, apply more moisturizer until you can run your fingers through your hair until your hair does not feel harsh or dry anywhere. If you are not going out, cover your head with a silk bonnet. One trick I also use on my daughter who suffers from dry scalp and dandruff is I put a little sweet almond oil in a color bottle with some of the moisturizing lotion and I squeeze that onto her scalp then massage it in all over. When it is time to shampoo (not co-wash), maybe once a month, make sure you use a moisturizing shampoo. i use Beautiful Textures Tangle Taming Shampoo (if your hair is not dirty, shampoo just one time). Always condition. On days when you shampoo, make sure you deep condition. I post tips and tricks on my salon facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/BackToBeautifulHair feel free to check it out or inbox me for help.
I would love to have a hair stylist to depend on, but for me it’s just not worth the risk anymore. The one time in 10 years I decided to get my hair flatironed by a professional, my hair in the back broke off all the way down to the scalp. I have a few other examples of salon horror stories. I have to spend almost a year repairing hair that was growing very well.. So no, I don’t see a need for me to visit a stylist. If you have someone who knows what they are doing, I would encourage you to do what’s best for your hair, but for me.. No.
When a hair stylist comments that your hair looks very healthy, there’s no need to visit them for basic hair care. I’m thinking of going to my local stylist for a trim, but I’m wary of stylists as they usually chop off whatever they deem necessary. Other than a trim/cut, I have no need to visit a stylist.
I haven’t been to a natural hairstylist as per say; however, my hairdresser is natural under her weave as she has been for years. One would think that she would be more gentle and/or provide natural hair care suggestions, but instead, whenever I take out my weave to wear my natural hair she’s asking me what I ‘plan’ on doing with my hair….annoying.
If you can afford regular salon visits, by all means, take advantage of it. Personally, I need to watch my pennies. I feel specialty services such as color, haircuts, flat ironing should be left to the professionals unless you ABSOLUTELY know what you’re doing. Basic hair care can be learned. Once you get the basics down, you can save yourself a lot of time and money.
I stopped relaxing my hair in 2008, wore weaves/braids for two years, and then started wearing my natural hair out in 2010. I had no clue how to take care of my hair, had no family/friends to guide me, purchased the wrong products, and used way too much heat on my hair. I also didn’t discover bloggers/YouTube until 2012. Fast forward to winter 2012, I decided to big chop because my hair was too damaged by that point to be repaired, even though I had started to take proper care of my hair because of the knowledge gained through social media. My very own cousin, Diane DaCosta, a natural hair stylist!!!! did my big chop, and was wondering why I never consulted her about my hair. I also wondered my I waited until my hair was ruined to make an appointment with her. I really appreciate all the knowledge I gained on YouTube, but in my opinion, you need a professional stylish to to cut/trim your hair every 4/6 months. I love the tapered twa cut my cous gave me, and I could never achieve such a precise cut on my own. With that being said, I love that women are choosing to go natural, but nothing looks better than a well shaped head of hair whether it be long, med, or short. I strongly believe women should visit a salon for trimming/shaping. We can def do the weekly maintenance (Shampoo, DC, steam treatments, etc.) at home though…sorry to be long winded, I’m very passionate about my hair, lol
I feel exactly the same way. I like the natural “look” of my hair, but it takes a trained professional to properly trim hair.
You keep it up now, understand? Really good to know.
Went to natural stylists twice. I knew more about natural hair care practices and products than they did. One stylists proceeded to use a cheap, silicone-laden crappy shampoo on my head. She also conditioned with something far too heavy for my fine hair. On another occasion, a different stylist let my hair dry up, frizz up, and shrink to my eyeballs before she styled it. She didn’t even spritz it with water, no moisturizer, or leave-in.
One of the reasons I went natural is to actually avoid stylists. I was tired of the breakage and then going to a salon only to end up right where I started or to pay money and have the stylist style your hair the way they want instead of they way you want. It was getting too expensive and frustrating. There a quite a few natural salons here in Atlanta, but they are alomst more expensive than salons that chemically treat hair, so I’m not going back to that. Sorry, but I’ll take YT and the natural hair blogs for $200 , Alex.
I would like to start off by saying that if a hairstylist wanted to learn how to do natural hair then they would. I currently live in Japan and get my natural hair washed and styled every month by JAPANESE stylist. I love going to their salon because they never overbook and they treat my hair so gentle it’s like getting a massage and they treat my hair like they would treat their own hair ( no pulling or yanking). I first started transitioning 4 years ago when I moved here and I had no clue how to do my hair. I went to the Japanese salon and they are the ones who taught me what products to use and how to take care of my hair. They do everything you can think of and they go to school to learn knew techniques all the time. I am dreading going back to the states because I have gotten spoiled over here and I I know I won’t find customer service like that ever again. I feel that stylist in the states think that no matter what, people will still come and get their hair done and pay crazy Amounts of money no matter how rude or lack of skills they have.
Do tell! What did they recommend as care and maintenance of your hair? I have fine, cozily hair. I’m struggling with growth and the “I don’t know what to do’s”!
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I would love to find a natural salon that worked with natural hair and extensions (for braided styles). I think it is starting grow because more women are going natural. But right now my choices are Afrikans to braid it with extensions, a salon that specializes in dreads that will braid using only your hair, and the natural salon that requires you to use their vitamins and products(ain’t nobody got time for that. I am stuck using the first two and DIYing it.
I stopped getting a relaxer in 2008. I wanted to stop using chemicals on my hair. I thought (to my dismay) that my hair would revert back to the way it was when I was little. NOT! I have shed much hair by menopause and from the crown back it’s “thicker and kinkier”, but from the crown forward, it’s straighter with more of a spiral curl. Fast forward to now, I know I need a good 2 to 4 inches whacked off due to just not wanting to be doing hair for hours. I plan to go back to the press and curl because doing my own hair is just too much work. What’s the point to growing it only to have to cut if off?
I grew up with old school press and curl and I had a few years of relaxing my hair. While growing out a relaxer with weaves, I met a licensed beautician who specializes in natural hair. She became a good friend and taught me many things. When she had a shop, I used her services regularly. Although my hair looked better when I had regular services, it always retained more length when I was on hiatus. So, in my experience, there is a certain shine and polished quality that it difficult to duplicate at home. But when it comes to length retention, nothing beats caring for your hair yourself.
I have been natural since the late 90’s. I went to a stylist then and continue to visit. I am not a DIY person. I still consult the professionals for trims, color, shampoo/condition & style. I didn’t return to my natural to avoid the salon. Hair still needs caring…by a professional whether relaxed or in it’s natural state.
Why does hair have to be taken care by a professional? Why can’t people learn to take care of their own hair? You can learn how to properly eat, shower, exercise, and take care of your skin by yourself. Why can’t you learn to take care of your hair by yourself?
Now, back to the post, the reason natural hair stylists weren’t really included is because most people don’t have one any where nearby and they weren’t doing anything that helped the larger community of naturals (at least not that I have seen, if someone knows otherwise please let me know). Where exactly are stylists that know how to properly care for natural hair? I need my hair shaped because it has developed into a triangle and I can’t find anyone who knows how to properly cut natural hair. I had a hard enough time finding stylists who could properly care for my relaxed hair and I don’t live in the middle of nowhere. This is a rather common story among naturals.
Now if a natural hair stylist started teaching how to cut your own hair and proper hair care on Youtube or in workshops, that would help a lot of people instead of just the few that can walk into their salon. That would get noticed and it would bring more people into their salon. Win-win. If a natural hair stylist started a school that teaches natural hair so that many more stylists had that knowledge, that would be huge and really get noticed. That one is lofty but there are things that hair stylists can do to be more involved.
This article makes sense, but the reason I went natural in the first place was because I moved to a place where finding stylists who know how to handle my hair is basically non-existent. I knew that one of the advantages of going natural was that I could take care of my hair all by myself (aside from the occasional hair trim). If I had qualified stylists near me I would definitely take advantage – there was such a learning curve for me and as my hair is growing I’m still learning about it. It would be wonderful to have someone who has seen it all guiding me through the process.
That’s too funny! When I saw the photos I was tnnkhiig ‘Wow, does this look like the 20s or what?’ and then I read your write-up! Haha beautiful photos! Looks like you had fun :)xo
I don’t know of any (black) salons where I live that style Afro-textured hair. Even with relaxed hair I had a hard enough time finding a place to give me highlights. Taking care of my hair was by default a DIY (or Get Mom To Do It) project, whether this was box braids, relaxers, flat ironing…So getting a stylist now is kind of unnecessary. And as with any other consumer product/service, if you can do it at home for the fraction of the cost then why would you spend money on it elsewhere??
I have been natural for about 9 months. I went to the shop to do my big chop and occasionally get my ends trimmed. Although I do miss going to the hair shop to get my hair done like I did when I had a perm. I unfortunately live in a country town (although we operate like a small city) where the knowledge of natural hair care just isn’t there. There have been a couple of instances where I did need professional hair care but I’m not a fan of being anybody’s genie pig; and somebody raking through my kinky curly hair without a spritz of water or moisturizer in sight was the end for me. So until I come across somebody who can really care for my natural hair in a way that I see fit, I will continue to learn how to care for my hair myself.
I’m lucky cause my stylist actually suggested I go natural & to stop weaving. She was very professional & more concerned with health over style. But in regards to this article, I agree with most of these comments. I have not been in a salon in nearly 2 years. When I think of the money I’ve spent…
I’m afraid to go to a stylist. I stooped going to the salon yearo while i was still relaxed and to save money, and avoid wasting an entire day under a dryer (lo po) then get inches cut off every time i go.. “trimmed” as its more popularly called.
I don’t want to go to any stylist to have them rip thru my hair, cut split ends which was probably created thru the ripping process, then charge me a whole paycheck..
I’ve thought of going to get micro braids put in for the winter, but I’m too nervous. I haven’t even trimmed my hair yet because i don’t want to lose any length lol. Anyway, a weave or cut are the only reasons I’d go. When i did my big chip i went to the barber at the beauty school so only costed 10bucks… In fact, i may go back there.
Wow!! Can’t believe people who care for there own hair and do well, honestly believe they know better than someone who has studied and also threw experience found proper and practical ways to care and nurture natural unprocessed hair. It’s great you’ve found your answer and process that works, however everyone is not so lucky. Don’t exclude the professional embrace them so that they can develop and market a plan for those not so savvy as you; who have mastered it. Many have not and threw my day to day meeting of young women, I speak to them about personal hair care and many do well but some even with YouTube and Blogs, still don’t get it. So there needs to be a place where people can go and trust that the professional cares and listens and is not just in it for the money. Because and educated consumer is the best customer for someone who is trying to make a difference in the professional hair industry.
“…. Don’t exclude the professional embrace them so that they can develop and market a plan… ”
But if they are professionals “who have studied” shouldn’t they already have developed a plan for caring for natural hair? Shouldn’t they have been employing this plan for years? Shouldn’t there have been tons of beautiful healthy natural heads out there long before now if these stylists have this great plan?
Also, if they have developed this plan “[through] experience” and “found proper and practical ways” what is stopping/discouraging the owner of the hair from doing the exact same thing especially as they spend the most time with it and have the most desire to see it “do well”. After all, it is their hair!
Perhaps if stylists had had more interest in natural hair as opposed to designing wigs and weaves, they would not have experienced a downturn in business.
Perhaps if (some) stylists had cared more about presenting a “professional” image in their salons by not triple booking clients, having little respect for their clients, and generally seeming put out by being asked to do their job if someone’s hair was too thick/long/short/damaged/whatever they didn’t want to deal with they wouldn’t be experiencing a downturn in business.
Perhaps if they had cared about healthy hair before they started to lose money, they would have taken an interest in the needs of the natural community long before now and not merely showed up to drop some poorly written condescending comment.
But what do I know? After all, I’m not a stylist, all I am is someone who cares for my own hair and sees it do well.
Wow, I only pay $12 for a cut without having to have heat or blow dried hair. I just make sure that my hair is clean and free of products. I only do this about every 4 months. The stylist is good but it’s not a so-called natural salon, never been to one.
i think the problem is that most hairstylist don’t know how to properly care for natural hair, at least this has been my experience. To be quite honest Im a little afraid to go back.
Yeah no, (snotty eye-roll), I’m a D.I.Y.’er. Have been keeping my eye out off and on for a quality natural hair beautician, and most of the time the people just do not know what the heck they’re doing. If they do, then they would have to reach out to me with a bit more advertising and good word-of-mouth experiences, because I can do what I want whenever I want to my hair and not deal with a wait, jealous woman or the hefty price tag that comes with it.
No offense to the established women who’ve made their mark, but the whole thing about being natural is being able to take proper care of your own hair and not rely on others.
vertmoot.blogspot.com
A lot of the salons are going out of business not because black women are beginning to return to their natural hair, but because they took it for granted that we would forever want to perm, color, cut and style. Opportunities come and go, but it pays to be prepared by thinking outside the box.
That is because a lot of shops have not been keeping pace with the times. There are a lot of naturalistas that would continue to go the the black salons if the prices weren’t so hard and the stylists took more care with black hair needs. The salons are a business and their primary concern is the bottomline, so they are not too interested in taking the time to properly care for black hair.
or that we would pay more money for natural hair than for permed!
i couldn’t believe my granny paid upwards of $100 for her hair to be done. I was mortified when I learned that they charge you for EVERYTHING they do to your hair. $$ for washing $$ for combing it out $$ for rolling $$ for blowing it out… $$$$$$$$$ it’s like Bills – Destiny Child’s song…. that’s why i didn’t go to a black stylist and only to spanish ones… i permed my own hur lol
I had a black stylist get overly familiar with a fony-pony once. she couldn’t believe i put it in on my own. lol
I have searched and looked for a natural stylists but I feel they are way to unrealustic with their practices and prices. For instance 2 of the salons here in Houston require you have a consultation before you make an appointment. Even for a trim!! You also have to pay before your visit and pay online. Then they charge you a min of $50 for a wash and style. No ma’am. There are other salons that can only cut hair while its straight. No ma’am again. I’m a firm believer of just give me what I ask for. If you feel my hair is damaged we can address that. But I should pay $65 for an updo that takes 10 min. I’m natural for conveince, not to be broke.
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YES! And your hair looks great!
This article is ridiculous. Are they really trying to guilt us into paying for something we don’t need? I call bull on this one lol part of going natural for most women is to learn their OWN hair. How can one as a woman learn her own hair when she keeps handing it over to the next person? We talk so much about taking time to learn, care, and love our natural hair but how are we suppose to do that if we leave the responsibility for someone else? I agree that there are certain things that could and should be left to professionals (i.e. annual trims and coloring) but I find it embarrassing if we have to go a salon every week to get our hair washed. When it comes to our bodies there are certain things we should learn to do on our own. I can brush my teeth myself, cook and feed myself, wash myself, AND wash and take care of my hair! Of course every once in a while we go to the dentist, go out to eat to at a fancy restaurant, and visit a dermatologist if our skin problems persist but it’s not necessary to do the above frequently. Honestly us as black women really need to get out of this mentality when it comes to dependency of our hair. We can’t continue to be ignorant and support a multibillion dollar industry (I’m not making this up) that is not benefitting our community. I honestly don’t feel bad for hairdressers because this whole time they were making money off our ignorance and now they’re upset because we’re doing okay without them? Um… ._.
It’s the same thing with relaxer companies. Idk if y’all know but they’re losing money FAST! Do I pity them? Lol no. My hair is looking fabulous without a perm and a hairdresser. That’s life.
Tell it!
Slow clap.
I think that a stylist would only be able to do one thing for me…style my hair. As for hair care and maintenance, no one will do a better job than I will. I think that the reason stylists have been excluded is the same reason why there has been a surge in naturalistas here lately…we’re trying to get to know our hair for ourselves. How can I trust that you are doing the right things for me, if I don’t even know what the right things are? Just because someone has been doing natural hair for upteen years, doesn’t mean they know good hair care. And I don’t know any stylist that would put up with my picky self because I have too many restrictions as far as heat, product ingredients, and tools (no combs).
Just noticed the “stylist” in the photo of this article should have a diffuser at the end of the blow dryer for curly hair…just saying
I was thinking the same thing lol
Um, I can only speak for myself in saying that, my first haircare practicioner was my mom. I grew up getting my hair braided, twisted, cornrowed, deep conditioned, pressed, etc. all at home. I highly respect professional stylists, but the fact of the matter is that culturally, the keepers of our beauty traditions have long been communal and informal. Add to that, most stylists instruction and care of natural hair is very individualized and they want to treat your hair the way they think is best, you will be left with a head full of breakage, tangles and damage if you catch the wrong one.
My beloved stylist just moved out of state (and she was the best), but I’m searching for a new one for when I want braids because I’m not very good at those.
I think more stylists need to focus on professionalism, time management, courtesy, managing health of hair along with their styling skills (yeah I know you can make it look cute, but can you actually give my hair some TLC, too?).
I went to get my hair done last week, and sat for 1 hour and 45 minutes, only to have the stylist tell me she didn’t know I was there (even though I was asked 3 times by other stylists who I was there to see). You mean to tell me she didn’t check her schedule book that morning? No, she probably let someone walk in (either a friend or someone off the street), and forgot.
That is one of the dozens of times I had to wait an hour or more for a stylist to get to get to me. I have also dealt with gossip, salon politics (e.g., stylists arguing over a customer), and stylists (at natural salons) raking through my hair with a too small comb. I don’t want to pay 65-150 to receive bad service.
I forgot to mention, I walked out of the salon because I wasn’t waiting any longer.
EXACTLY my problem!!!!
I have attempted many times to try and find a natural stylist and the prices are just too high. When I did my second big chop I thought I would go to a natural stylist in New York (where I currently live) so I could get a funky cool edgy style that I had seen so many natural rocking all over the city. But when it came down to it, the stylist that I google charged 75$ and up for a hair cut or maintenance of a hair cut. While salons all over New York offer the same sort of price range, some slightly lower, I was irritated because I refused to pay money for something I could do my self. Natural hairstyles are meant to roam free and they are often DIY because it is all about learning what is best for your hair. In my opinion going to see a stylist, that is as expensive as the ones I found, is the same as spending all sorts of crazy money on curl products. And as a person that ventures out and have tried many different products in the past to achieve healthier curls, I usually end up going back to my tried and true products, products that I discovered on my own because I know my hair. Over all if I found a salon that was affordable I would definitely try it out, until then I don’t see the point in paying that amount of money for things I can do on my own (unless its cutting hair lol)
I wouldn’t mind going to a salon, but don’t understand why a natural style costs $100 or more and my chemically processed hair style costs less. I am not very good at styling my hair and need help with that, but if i have to pay an arm and a leg to get my hair done I will keep trying to do it myself until I get better at it.
I totally agree with Genine’s statement. I would totally become a natural salon regular if it were not cost prohibitive. I cannot afford $85-$100 every two weeks for a wash, condition, blow out and an up-do that takes five minutes. That makes no sense to me! I will not return to non-natural salons because I’ve had nothing but bad experiences with them since being natural.
No kidding. I just checked out a well-known natural hair salon in NYC and had to laugh. I won’t say the name. Who pays $300 – $600 to get natural hair styled? Sorry. I’ll cut my hair short and wear a teenie fro fore I spend that kind of cash to get my hair done. That’s rent in some cities.
well if you don’t I will: Khamit Kinks, Oh and also the hair rules salon. smh, 300+ to put in some extensions.
Genine,
This is my main complaint. I can go to a dominican salon and pay $15-20 to get my hur did, but if i go to a naturalist, I GOTTA PAY AN ARM, LEG, WING AND A THIGH. In addition to that, worry about them putting a chemical in my conditioner to tame it.
I’m sorry that they are suffering, but if they came down on their prices maybe they’d get more customers “supply and demand.” supply good and inexpensive hair solutions and the naturals will come!!!
Yay Sandra you finally wear one of my cpnoamy prints that we produce for Zara! This specific print is made by one of my collegues…Well you shouldn’t know this but I’m so excited, I totally LOVE your styleThis time I’ll not sign but I swear I often comment on your blog!
I always find it fascinating that we’re (primarily) the only group of women who grew up going religiously to the salon. There’s so much more that I believe I can do with my time and money plus I love the feeling being independent and learning how to take care of my God given hair!
I went to my hairstylist throughout my transition from relaxed to natural hair, but I quickly noticed that our relationship changed as soon as she stopped religiously putting the white free on my hair. I got tired of her complaining and rough handling my hair (although she is also natural) and Im paying her money! Every since then I’ve been searching for the right natural hair stylist who I can potentially got to at least once a month. I think that it will be good to balance DIY with seeing a professional to make sure everything is looking well.
I think that what they are feeling most is the loss of money because a lot of women have went natural and prefer to DIY. I have several cosmetologists in my family and they have voiced their concern regarding losing business. I don’t think I owe it to anybody to give them money for something I can do well on my own. Regarding a blogger cutting her hair, if you are referring to BlackIzBeautuful, her hair was damaged as a result of styles, stylists put in her hair. I know of women who DIY and go to a stylist who experience setbacks in their journeys. We also can’t overlook the number of bloggers who achieve great lengths and are strictly DIY. I have been turned off from going to a stylist because 1) a lot of things that work on my hair are a concoction put together and many stylists I have considered going to we’re not willing to use my concoction of conditioner, olive oil and honey 2) most of the stylists were great at natural hair styles but wouldn’t practice the same level of care in handling my hair as I do 3) a lot of them promoted smoothing or keratin trearments to me, something that would assure them my frequent business. I know this is my experience and does not represent all stylists. My point is, I don’t feel like we are ” stepping on backs” of stylists by DIY. We have a right to do what works best for us , our lives, and pockets, especially if we are indeed thriving without them. I’m sorry their business is impacted, especially since as I said, I have stylists in my family. But they have done other things to supplement their careers to make up for this loss in business. Lots of professions have been impacted by changes in society, our country etc., I’m an attorney and our profession has experienced some setbacks with all this legal zoom DIY fill in the blank legal forms. I don’t feel like anybody owes it to me to seek my business. I make up for this loss with other business ventures. In 2013 you have to get creative in your career path. It’s rare now to experience success solely from a straight line career path.
Thank You!! I was going to say the exact same thing. The blogger who had to BC again lost her hair due to the install of a weave done by a professional stylists. I feel like I invest so much time and energy into my hair as a DIYer that I am not about to play Russian Roulette and let someone else’s poor experience cause me to BC again. I am recently growing out my hair from a bad blowout experience from a wedding in the fall of 2012 and I think long and hard before I let someone touch my hair. And another thing, a “natural” hair stylist that can style 4ABCDEFZ hair without using heat is hard to find. A lot of these so called “natural” hair stylist rely on the use of blow dryers, flat irons, and curling irons so I feel no heaviness in my heart when I decline their services.
I don’t have anything against stylists, but the salon experience is one of the reasons I went natural when I did. I’d hit a point where I didn’t have a whole lot of income coming in, so I was scraping together money to go and get my wave nouveau done. There was only one woman I knew who could do it well, and even then some days I went home with frizz instead of curls. In any case, she was older, so she travelled a lot and I’d have to work around her schedule. Also, she was pretty careless with her words and often kept her customers waiting for hours. One day I was sitting in her chair and she and another stylist were commenting behind me about how long my hair had grown and how she should start charging me more. That was the first day of my DIY natural hair journey. To me, the best part about it is not having something so important be entirely in someone else’s hands anymore.
I can do and style my own hair. I just installed havanna twists, 5 packs, on my head. But i wouldn’t mind some help to be honest. But saloon visits cost waaaay too much over here. I saved 80-100 backs installing twists on my head.
I’m more of a Do It Yourself person when it comes to my hair because of two reasons 1. to save money because most of the products I use are homemade and 2. I don’t trust salon hair care products anymore. I prefer to use organic ingredients in my hair vs. products with silicone’s and other chemicals. It’s helped me better understand my hair and what it needs to remain healthy.
so much hate towards hair stylists. if you prefer to do your own hair thats fine but dont bring down an entire profession at the same time. there are good and bad hair stylist out there….
does your name stand for georgia peach?
I have not permed my hair in about 20 years, but have been heat free for about 6 months. I would love to go to a stylist every now and then (if finances permits). I live in Los Angeles and I don’t know of any. I practice in the 7 principles of Kwanzaa the whole year and would like to share the fourth one which is Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics). It reads, To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together. Naturals lets support each other.
Peace and Love
I don’t have a problem with supporting a business, but I won’t allow someone who clearly has no clue to play in or experiment on my head.
I do my own hair unless there’s a special occasion then I’ll go to the salon. I’m still learning to style and all that jazz. But let me tell you that every time I go to the salon it’s always a fight! My stylist always wants to do something that I don’t want. You’d think it was HER hair!!!
I stopped going to the salon way back when I still had a relaxer because I couldn’t bear to keep paying extravagant prices to “professionals” when my hair still looked jacked up, was still unhealthy and breaking. I felt like if my hair is going to look a mess, I may as well do it myself. Now that I’m natural, I would love to go to a stylist, but I just can’t afford it! $200 for braids and $150 for cornrows is just not in my budget right now, not to mention $45 trims and $60 styling sessions. If I was balling like that, no problem, but sorry, I’m poor.
I’m a DIY Natural. I have thought about going to a stylist to get their opinion on the health of my hair and styling ideas but I do not want to go to one regularly. I do not like going to stylists. The ones I use to have when I straightened my hair never respected my time. They would schedule an appointment and then have me wait for two hours EVERY time I would go. I use to wish that I liked my natural texture enough not to go to one. Now that I know how to style my hair I do not go. If my hair gets damaged to the point I have to cut it off then I will and then keep trying until I get it right. That happened to Kimmaytube and she eventually got it right.
Ohh, Nancy, I hated that! Waiting in the salon all day like I don’t have other things to do! Then they put you under the dryer for 2 hours while they start on 4 other clients after you waited for 2 hours for her to start your hair…Thanks for reminding me why I don’t ever want to go back!
Another option in the poll could have been” Which natural hair stylist?!?
LOL. Where I live there are 3 places that do “black hair” and none of them specialise with natural hair. I know it isn’t really a decision to avoid a stylist but just a consequence of where I live. DIY hair care was necessary if I wanted to have natural hair in the region where I live. If there was a natural stylist I would probably go once or twice a year, I would definitely go to get my hair coloured and maybe as a treat for a special occasion.
I think some of the fierce DIY spirit can come across as dismissing those stylists who existed before the popularity of natural hair, for others it might just be a way to empower themselves and change their perception of their hair, and for people me it is pretty much DIY or bust!
Honestly, doing my own hair has been one of the few things I can actually take pride in because of how it looks and feels when I’m done (doing my own mani/pedi will eventually be my next project). There’s power in learning about who my body works. I don’t want to hand it over to someone else based of sheer laziness.
Also, being frugal and being natural don’t go hand-in-hand when it comes to paying a professional. Besides, I didn’t go to a salon that often when I wasn’t natural and it won’t change now that I am (15 year natural hair veteran).
*how, not who my body works* 🙂
I am the laziest person alive and would love to palm my natural hair off onto a natural hairdresser, just as I did my relaxed hair. My arms like to face down as opposed to up, so doing my own hair is tiring for me, and plus I find it boring and time consuming. If I could get a good, healthy hair conscious natural hairdresser I would be there in a damage minute, but unfortunately I haven’t found one in London and don’t believe I will until someone realises that there is a lot of money to be made from lazy people like myself.
I have to admit going natural forced me to wash my own hair, something I had not done for 14 years, and it has taught me how to comb and style my hair, so it’s given me an independence I never ever had when relaxed, but it has also given me dead arms.
I think natural hairdressers have a place in the natural hair community as it gives us options and does not cut us off from professionals, and I mean professionals, not cowboys. Besides who doesn’t like a bit of pampering now and then.
Have you tried Adornment in Brixton?
The massive.difference in quality.from stylist to stylist is risky there, in my opinion. Not cheap either.
i rarely do my own hair but i’m at the salon every two weeks to get my natural locks done. i didn’t go natural so i could be a diy girl. i went natural because it’s healthier for my hair. but i still require someone else to do the heavy lifting. i can’t braid, twist or whatever else she does for me. i’m not a stylist. plain and simple. and i love how she cares for my hair. she has the skill and knowledge to do it. i salute the natural salon business owners and i thank you! i live in seattle. we don’t have many options but i’m so happy for the options we have!
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May I ask what would you do if you no longer could afford your salon services? How would you care for and style your hair? I bring this up because your comment was one of the main reasons why I went natural and took the DiY approach. I didn’t want to feel helpless when it came to doing my hair. Your stylist is doing some beautiful work as we can see by the picture but what happens when he/ she is no longer affordable or available?
That just its for me, I don’t want to feel helpless when it comes to my own hair. i go to a stylist for my protective styles but I still want to be able to style my own hair if and when I have to (I’m still learning). Also, where I live, stylists can be a bit rude and unprofessional (not the one I go to) and I don’t want to feel I must go to a stylist – only when I choose to. Other races can take basic care of their hair even though they visit the salon every few weeks and I want that independence.
THEY JUST MAD CAUSE THE YOUTUBERS ARE TAKING THEIR BUSINESS LOL. EVEN THE VLOGGERS INTENT WAS TO SHARE AND CONNECT. WELL MOST OF THEM ANYWAY
I agree that we need to engage in some dialogue between the natural hair community and salon stylists. I believe one of the components of this topic is going natural somehow translated into “no heat”, hence staying away from a salon because stylist are known to use heat. On the west coast, weaves are very popular and you have some stylists that have gotten use to slapping a weave in, and have completely abandoned hair care altogether. I see a stylist approximately 4 or 5 times a year.
I did the big chop in November of 2012 and have doing my own hair every since. While this has been the most economic option for me, I am not opposed to seeing a natural hair professional and would welcome the chance to have one assess the health of my hair. Any recommendations for the Orange County, California area would be greatly appreciated.
Would love to try going to a stylist but,I’ve been having a hard time finding a natural stylist in my area 🙁
I think going to a stylist is good for a trim cause they can see the back of your head. Other than that I’ll do it myself because nobody can take care of my hair the way i can. I spend so much time loving my hair and treating it a certain way and i don’t think someone else can love it like I can.
I am team do it yourself. The only thing I can’t do is cut it in a style. However, I’m not going to pay a stylist to trim my hair, do treatments etc, when I can do it my damn self.
LOL. Agreed. I am team DIY as well. I’ve gone to my hair stylist twice in the last 4 years, and that was to do the big chop. Any trimming, coloring, styling- I’ll do on my own. I think that’s part of the fun of being a naturalist- the whole DIY journey. Thru styling we learn about the type of hair we have, what products are useful, what styles are quickest etc., etc., I don’t know what a naturalista can gain from having a hair stylist now a days.
SO WHO HAD TO CHOPPED THEIR HAIR. THAT’S THEIR FAULT?? WHICH BLOGGER WAS IT? ANYWAY, YES BLOGGERS NEED TO PUT OUT CORRECT AND KEEP IT REAL. BUT I DO NOT LIVE BY WHAT THEY DO OR SAY. YOU JUST GOTTA USE SOME COMMON SENSE AND NOT BE SO THRISTY. THINK FOR YOURSELF AND PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR HAIR NEEDS AND HOW MUCH TIME YOU REALLY ARE WILLING TO PUT INTO IT. ENJOY IT
It would be good if a few of these natural hair stylist who’ve been in the game for 25 years plus could weigh in on the concerns mentioned here. Especially pricing and using heat to trim. I think a nice open dialog would help bridge the gap. The issues here are legit. I would like to hear from some of them. I feel bad that they feel left out of the “movement”. I think natural hair became DIY because in the beginning there was no stylist to see out side a major city. Most of us had to make do with what we had. Along the way we discovered with some effort and practice we could do this ourselves!
I, honestly, would prefer a stylist. I also would prefer a massage therapist, weekly manicures, but my budget says otherwise. I guess going to a stylist is a luxury I just can’t afford right now.
I voted DIY all the way. A lot of the things I do to my hair in terms of protective styling are time intensive (two strand twist, small box braids with my own hair, etc.). Paying someone to do that would be cost prohibitive. Plus, over the two years I have been natural, I know which products work with MY hair. Going to a salon, they will use what they use. Finally, one of the reasons I was relieved about going natural is because I hated going to the salon when I was getting my hair permed. I just don’t like the atmosphere and the gossip. If I mess up my hair at home, I have no one to blame but myself. I learned something and move on. Going to stylist, if I pay someone and they mess up my hair, I might just go nuclear.
NOPE MOST OF THEM ARE OVER PRICED AND I WOULD NEVER LET ONE TOUCH MY HAIR. I TAKE PRIDE IN HAVING HEALTHY HAIR AND KNOWING THAT I’M THE ONE RUNNING THE SHOW. NO ONE KNOWS YOUR HAIR LIKE YOU. AND I’M RETAINING LENGTH LIKE A MOFO. WAY MORE THEN WHEN I WAS RELAXED AND SEEING A HAIRDRESSER WHO SAID MY HAIR WAS TOO THICK TO GO NATURAL. OR ANOTHER GIRL WHO PRESSURED ME TO RELAX IT 10 YEARS AGO. I THINK THE ONLY ONES MISTAKEN ARE THE HAIRDRESSERS WITH NO SKILLS AND DESIRE TO LEARN OUR TEXTURE WITHOUT HEATING IT TO DEATH OR WEAVING IT UP ALL THE TIME. YOU KNOW PULLING A KIM KIMBLE LMAO
I do my on hair due to the fact that salons overcharge because my hair is “natural” and the long wait times.
I went natural 4 years ago, partly because a stylist in Albany, NY messed up my perm. Then as a natural I couldn’t find a stylist in the area so I tried trimming my hair myself twice and it wasn’t pretty. One salon opened claiming to know natural hair but when I went, every other client was getting a weave and the stylist tried combing my hair with a fine tooth comb! Finally I moved to San Jose this year and I was excited to go to natural hair salons, I went to one for a press n curl with a trim and I was happy that it came out beautifully, but when I washed my hair a few days later it was so damaged I had to go to another salon to get it cut again and still I have so many straggly ends and my hair is behaving totally differently I feel like I have to cut it all off and start over. Some salons wanna charge almost $100 for double strand twists. Stylists need to learn how to do natural hair properly and charge reasonably for how long a style will actually last!
I’m from Albany NY as well. I left there in the mid 90s. I still have family there and visit occasionally. What a huge change from Albany NY to San Jose. Step up I might add 🙂
Well, first of all. Now a days there are so many scam artists out here, everyone says they do natural hair but many of them have no clue what they are doing and actually harm your hair by pulling and ripping it, over heating and wrong soaps and conditioners. Leaving your hair so damaged it takes months to repair. If there were a stylist who used DIY products and all natural made products, I may consider giving them a try. That way I would know they actually cared enough to take the time to find out what different hair grades need then I know they would also know how to handle it. As far as shea moisture product, I dont understand what the rant is about and why it is so expensive when the product leaves horrible residue in the hair, both dusty looking or gooey balls. I dont like it. To me a jar of shea butter mixed with essential oils and whipped to perfection is better than any product out there on the market.
I swin and do aqua aerobics a 3-4 days/week so it doesn’t make sense to go to a stylist since its gonna get wet no matter what swim cap I have on. But, my hair gets so tangly, that if I don’t go to her at least once every couple months to get it blow dried/flat ironed, my hair would probably be in dreadlocks lol! I’m in Chicago and my hair dresser is awesome!! If u need a referral, let me know! She specializes in natural, healthy hair!
For me personally I have been to nearly every natural hair stylist in my city and I have experienced both positive and horrible experiences.
I have had my hair flat ironed to a crisp by a stylist to the point where the crown area fell completely out and the rest would not revert and I had to cut it off eventually.
Another horrible experience I had is where I requested a brown color with blonde highlights and my hair ended up completely blond and blonder.
I was so upset when I saw the color I began to cry and instead of fixing the color like she promised the stylist blew dry my hair without moisturizing it, threw it in a ponytail and stormed out of the salon.
Needless to say I have never went back to any of these stylist.
On the positive side I have gotten good trims from what I consider a “scissor happy” stylist. But the improved health and manageability easily allowed me to ignore the amount of length that was cut and to trust the stylist.
Additionally I always go to a stylist to get my afro kinky, marley, Senegalese twists done. My stylist is top notch and always does a beautiful job at installing braids and I would never attempt to do these on my own.
As far as caring for my hair. I don’t believe I can find a stylist better than myself. I take my time. I moisturize consistently and I deep condition every time I wash my hair. I have my hair on a consistent balanced schedule of when to use protein and when to moisturize and I know what my hair is supposed to feel like.
all in all when you consider the damage ill- informed stylist has done you can’t blame natural hair women for opting to do their hair themselves.
On the flip side. if you are caring for your hair and your hair is not thriving perhaps its time for you to seek professional help.
I would LOVE to go to a natural hair stylist if I knew where to go. I’m a college student in Columbus OH, the natual salons I’ve seen specialize in safe heat styling but I don’t want straight hair at all! I know there are plenty of salons in Columbus but I’m very picky with who touches my fro. I live in a predominantly white suburb and finding a good natural salon is difficult. God bless my stylist back home, I don’t get to see her often but shes so patient with my hair. She’s not a natual stylist but shes been doing my hair for years and has been practicing for my sister and I who are both newly natural.
Kib, I did my chop in Columbus and I agree it was extremely difficult to find someone who did natural hair there! I would highly recommend Dairdre Scriven who did my big chop and gave me my first set of naturalista instructions. You can find her here http://salonlofts.com/dairdre_scriven
Good luck!
There are many salons who have at least one stylist who will do natural hair. You don’t have to limit yourself to “Natural salons” unless you are looking for braids,twists,locs etc…
Here are a few in Columbus http://naturalhairsalonfinder.com/?ls=&location=columbus
I style my own hair because I’ve never had a great experience with a stylist in my entire life. And i’ve had my hair done in three countries in three continents. I know there are great stylists out there, but I am currently not in the financial position to sample them. Also, if you like to change up your style every week or two like I do, I don’t think it makes sense to pay someone average of $120/mth for simple styles. May be when I win the lottery, then I wouldn’t mind spending that much money on my hair.
I think many women have had too many bad experiences with stylists in general that they are now starting to take control of their own hair. This is why I started the blog “The Mane Captain”.
I even wrote about 6 reasons why I can’t afford to go to the stylist. click below. http://themanecaptain.blogspot.ca/2013/08/reasons-why-i-cant-afford-to-go-to.html
I think many of us consider learning about our hair part of the experience of reconnecting with a part of ourselves we’ve been alienated from, even if that means mistakes that lead to breakage and re-chops in order to start over. I didn’t realize how little I knew my hair until one morning a few months after my big chop I woke up, looked in the mirror and panicked because my hair was suddenly so much shorter. I thought it must be breaking until I noticed that it was a bit too even for that. Finally I realized–it was a humid day. I was so alienated from my own head of hair it didn’t occur to me that it would shrink on a humid day! I still can’t believe how ridiculous that is.
Plus, one of the benefits of going natural for me was to be more independent. Whenever I thought about traveling or possibly even living abroad my first thought was what am I going to do about my hair?? That question is much easier to answer now.
You combine those concerns with the cost of natural stylists (they are absolutely absurd in NYC) and the risk of going to someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing and it’s just not worth it to me.
Thank you for mentioning traveling. Can you imagine how much traveling black women miss out on because they’re worried about their hair? Now imagine a time BEFORE extensions became affordable to the masses. Living abroad? Yeah, right! (insert laugh track here)
Hair independence is a helluva drug…
I used to live in another country and would travel back every few months to get my hair done! Thousands of dollars between airfare, styling and extensions, I cringe thinking about it now. Learning to love and do my own hair has meant A LOT!
I, being in my 40’s grew up with my mom doing my hair at home. She was my “stylist”. I always learned to do my own hair even when it was relaxed. Stylist turned me off with the long wait times and then doing what “they” want to do with your hair. I will now only go to a stylist for a cut/trim or if I want to play with hair color or intricate braids that I cant do myself. I think stylist are great for that..but for me I would not need a stylist every two weeks or even every month for that matter..maybe every 6 months.
I was just struggling with this yesterday!! I feel so alone sometimes when my hair is not cooperating with whatever I’m trying to do it from something I’ve seen on YouTube or a blog/Vlog. These resources have been helpful, but I am looking to return to the care of a trained professional ASAP!! My TWA has been a breeze to care for, but with more hair I am not fairing so easily lately. SO if anyone knows of a good natural hair specialist in the Memphis, TN area please let me know!!!
While I often joke that I can grow healthy hair (natural for 5yrs, conscious natural for 2.5), I didn’t get the “black girl gene” for actually doing / styling hair (braids, flat twists, ect). Despite this, I’m making due w/ doing it myself when I don’t have it braided / twisted up by a professional braider (blessed to live in Harlem, NYC where women w/ natural hair & style options are affordable & endless. Photo attached is an example of a style I had done at the braid shop. Love it!!). I will say this, going to any shop, you have to “battle” w/ the stylist over what you want vs what THEY feel you should get (or what they feel like doing) … and i’m a hard stickler lol. Its exhausting, so I completely understand why many just forego the experience all together.
[img]https://bglh-marketplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/image-33.jpg[/img]
Even when I had relaxed hair I primarily did my own hair, except for trims and sometimes color. I live in WI and the closest natural hair stylist I can find is in Chicago & regular trips to Chicago really aren’t appealing to me. Now I will & do find someone to braid my hair when I want that, but the rest I find it fun to play around and deal with my own hair.
Thank you Toni. I was looking for someone to say the same thing. If there were a stylist that specialized in natural hair care, I would be sitting in her chair. I’ve literally been turned away at the door of more than a half-dozen salons that “don’t work with natural hair” or they want to press or texturize it.
Still looking for a quality stylist in west suburban Chicago.
There are salons that service natural hair in Chicago. http://naturalhairsalonfinder.com/?ls=&location=chicago. I am not sure what style you are going for but you can narrow down the search by selecting the service at the top of the page.
I don’t go because of the prices they charge. Its crazy 90 dollars for two strand twist no not having it.
Exactly, and I wouldn’t be able to get my twists to last long enough to warrant spending that kind of money!
I love doing my own hair. Simple as that.
I think the poll is missing an option for those of us who would go to a stylist if there was one to go to. I live in Princeton, NJ and I have not been able to find one around here. My life does not allow for the time and money to drive to New York or Philadelphia to get my hair done. I have not been to a hair salon since I had my last relaxer in October 2011. I know I need a trim, but the one salon around here that claims they do natural hair wouldn’t even have a conversation with me about cutting my hair without blow drying. I’m not saying it’s the right way, or even that it can be done, but to be dismissive about hair care was all the sign I needed. Plus, they were just rude and unprofessional in general… All the things I don’t miss about salons.
EXACTLY!!! I would go to a stylist, if they weren’t all located in either Toronto or Montreal (Canada girl here, based in Ottawa) one is 5 hours+, the other 2.5+ so it’s not worth it. Also the rare (and I do mean rare!) times i have gone to a natural stylist, they were charging 200+ for kinky twists(and that’s to just my shoulder, or longer add from $50-$150!)!!! I can figure out that style for myself! Don’t even talk to me about braided styles. Yarn braids, to just past bra strap, looking at $400, for one colour, add a colour and it’s $25, for any more colours, $10 per colour. <– Seriously? I mean SERIOUSLY?!?!
A wash n go was $60… what? And if I wanted to go the "true natural" way, I was looking at 85+ for them to use more natural (but still commercial) products on my hair… yea.. no. A trim, looking to charge me 20+ to cut less than 1/4 inch of my hair, which she would have put into twists, then for a twist out style 45+. You KIDDING ME!?! I ain't made of money!! I'm in school, sheesh!
So for me, I would have to find someone closer to Ottawa, and charge A LOT less money. So, until that happens, I'm doing my own hair.
There is a salon in Plainfield, NJ. Not sure what technique they use to cut hair. http://naturalhairsalonfinder.com/?ls=&location=princeton&radius=25
I am one of the few who voted in the poll that they go to a natural hair stylist.
Now, to give some background, I avoided stylists at all costs the first 4 years of my natural journey. I think in that time I went to one salon, that charged me $150 for an updo that took 40 minutes (SMH!) and another stylist who used a coal-black old-school hot comb on my hair, burning it mercilessly.
I was so turned off to these experiences, that I avoided stylists at all costs.
Unfortunately, I didn’t do much better. I don’t know how to cornrow, can’t braid or twist well, can’t figure out updos for the life of me. On top of that my hair is both very fragile and very kinky, my hair line was really struggling, and my hair had a hard time retaining moisture.
Without exaggeration I can say that, for almost all of those 4 years I felt really bad about my hair. I felt ugly when I went out. The only decent looking style I could manage was a bun. But those got old really fast.
In late 2011 I went out on a limb and book an appointment with a natural hair stylist who I’d actually heard about through BGLH. Honest to God, it was almost like a spiritual experience when she dealt with my hair. She was sooo gentle, she treated it with so much respect. She sprayed it with lavender oil, she massaged my scalp. Her at-home studio was calm and peaceful and I was almost brought to tears. After 4 years of battling with my hair, I finally felt some peace and relief.
She gave me a gorgeous cornrow updo that I loved so much I kept it in for 3 weeks. When I took it down I realized that — for the first time in my entire natural hair experience — I’d actually retained length!
I ended up not going back to her, because she lived so far from my apartment, but I managed to find another natural hair stylist on my side of town.
Now, this woman actually wasn’t really a natural hair stylist. She was actually just a hair braider, but she was open to learning how to care for my hair.
The first time I went to her was a little tense. She braided my hair way too tight, and I really considered just ditching her. I decided to give it one last shot. So I explained to her that I (perhaps unlike some of her other black clients) was not concerned about having ‘super neat edges’, so I didn’t need her to pull so tight. Shockingly, she LISTENED! I have been going to her ever since.
My routine is that I get my hair braided into either box braids or a cornrow updo every 3 to 4 weeks. For a busy working mother like me, this is perfect.
Since I started doing this in late 2011, my hair has retained more than 7 inches of length!! The back of my hair is at bra-strap length and the middle of my hair is beyond my shoulders.
It’s pretty incredible.
Having said all this, I know that my experience is not common. I was lucky to have found the stylists I did (both were recommended by other naturals whose hair I loved). My situation is also unique because of a.) how styling challenged I am… seriously I can’t do anything! and b.) how difficult my hair is to deal with.
I think if I had more skill and stronger hair, I wouldn’t bother with a stylist. But to all my ladies who are struggling, please PLEASE consider going to a professional.
Don’t go to one who will try to talk you into getting a blow out or a press and curl. I find that the ones who specialize in cornrows or twists are the best, because they’re willing to work with your hair as it is.
I love my stylist, Christina, she turned my hair situation around.
Now this was a nice experience to read. I’m glad you found someone to help you out!
i actually enjoyed reading this. your experience shed much light, and i can see why you might have gone to a stylist at that point. glad it worked out!
Many women have gone natural for the very reason of leaving their (straight hair) stylist behind. Unfortunately, that does put a sigma on stylists as a whole. A lot of women are trying to get away from that whole time exhausting routine of spending all day in the salon. I mean if you’re going to spend all day on your hair, why not do it in the comfort of your own home if you can.
A lot of natural hair stylists/salons also charge a RIDICULOUS among of money for natural hair care and styles. Where you can find salons to meet many different price ranges for relaxed hair care, many natural salons still treat natural hair as if it is a speciality and use that to jack up prices. That’s another reason people avoid them. Last year when I discovered Havana twists I went to a salon and paid $200 for an install and the hair was extra. And that was the *discount.* After that I surely took myself down to the hair supply and bought $20 worth of Marley hair and installed future Havana sets myself. I’ll even pay for Finger Comber hair and install it myself before I go back to that place.
People want to complain that women will spend a lot of money on straight weaves and straight salons and such, but again I say many women went natural so they wouldn’t have to do that. Personally, I went natural as a teenager and I’m in my late 20’s now. I was natural before natural hair was a thing myself and I didn’t have money for any type of stylist then and I still cannot justify spending exorbitant amounts of money for something I can do myself. A stylist will always be a luxury for me. And it’s not that I wouldn’t go to one, I actually wouldn’t mind going to a stylist maybe once a year. But it definitely would not be a regular part of my routine.
Thank you for your comment. A stylist is a luxury. Going to one on a regular basis is not good money sense. Its in the same catagory as manicures and pedicures. Great when you afford to get them professionally done but not impossible to do yourself.
If I owe anything about going natural to anyone it would be Naptural85, Kimmaytube, nina pruitt, alicia james. These are just a few of the ladies that I owe a great deal in converting me from someone who totally negelected her hair to totally falling in love with it. No stylist natural or otherwise had nothing to do with it.
“These women did this way before natural hair was semi acceptable. Then out we come with blogs, YouTube channels, and social networks. Unintentionally, we walked on the backs of those who paved the way. Then to make matters worse, turned around and excluded them from this natural hair community.”
I don’t think any of these “natural hair stylist” paved the way. It was a grassroots effort from the bottom up consisting of ordinary women who got a camera and started sharing and documenting their hair journey. In doing so, educated many of us and opening our eyes to the beauty and diversity of our natural hair. Let’s not get it twisted. These are the women whom we owe a great deal. I didn’t learn it from any stylist natural or otherwise. It was social media that changed the game.
1) Salon culture sucks.
2) There is still a general mis- and under- education out there of afro-textured hair.
3) The service rates are too damn high!
Where can I find natural hair stylists in my area?! I’ve been meet with perpetrators claiming to be able to do natural hair, and then I leave with more damage than I can with. When I try to tell them they are damaging my hair, they try to argue with me. For instance “ohh me blow-drying you hair with this super hot blow-dryer and comb attachment isn’t breaking your NON-DETANGLED hair fresh from the bowl. The heat helps to detangle it…” Are you freaking kidding me?!!?! She argues this as she rips the hair from my head. That just turned me off. With the hours and money I invest into taking care of my hair, I’m not going to pay someone to damage it! Ugh! I would sooooo love to find an authentic natural hair stylist who knows what they are doing and will put as much TLC into my hair as I do! Are there any website dedicated to locating “certified” or authentic natural hair salons?
Not buying into it UNTIL these hairdresser really LEARN natural hair loose and dreaded, and stop treating it like permed hair, and take TIME with it, don’t schedule us the ever two hours like you can perm heads, also stop charging a arm and a leg, a plus to being natural for me is that once you learn your hair you really need very little product hence saving money
I would love to go to a stylist if I could find one in the kalamazoo area.
I wouldn’t mind going to a natural hair stylist, but there isn’t one close to me for at least 2.5 hours. So it’s just not a viable option for me. I have to be a DIYer. I would love to have a stylist (that knows natural hair) to trim up and style my hair.
I don’t need a stylist. I’ve gone from total neglect of my hair to total obsession. It is growing and thriving like never before without any assistance from a stylist. In fact, my feeling is that a stylist is only going to use products she/he wants to use and charge an ungodly amount of money for something I know I can do much better myself with better products and better handling. I use unconvential products like mud washes, and ayurvedic products etc. Most stylist can’t be bother with that type of expense and time. Not to mention I don’t use heat unless I’m DC or steaming my hair. Good luck if you can find a stylist who won’t use heat. IDK…if you need it I guess it’s nice to have an option. But, my feeling is I’ve spent enough of my time and money sitting in a salon for most of my life. I’m not giving up any more time and money just because someone thinks they know natural hair cause they took some bs certificate course on natural hair for a couple of months. Even if they’ve been in the game 25+ years doesn’t automatically mean they know anything. I meant many people who do things wrong for 25+ years because they don’t feel the need to keep up with the times or expand their knowledge base. No thanks…I got this.
I have always been tender headed. My mom used to send me to get my hair braided and it was just horrible. In fact I hated my hair so bad cuz it was always damaged. But since last year when I did my big chop, and been taking care of my hair, I have seen much improvement and minimal breakage. If there was a trusted stylist in my area in Jamaica, I would go. One that is gentle and knows when and how to use heat. I would go, occasionally, cuz using 4 days to do rope twists is no joke, even tho i save 5 grand (jamaican dollars) its still hard. Im planning on going to school, getting certified and doing hair. Both natural and relaxed. I want all women to have healthy hair.
As far as I’M concerned, I’m not mistaken for not going to a stylist. I have everything that’s necessary – the hair, the hands, and knowledge as to what my hair likes and dislikes. If i want to pamper myself and go to a natural stylist, fine! But it’s not necessary as far as I’m concerned. Not that I’m judging every stylist out there, but no one can know your hair like you. The more you handle it and use the knowledge you have about your hair the better off you’ll be. Too many times some people that deal with hair say they know how to deal with hair in it’s natural state, but some are lying. even when my hair was not in it’s natural state they would look at me and say that i have too much hair, or when i called and in this case the person dealt with hair in it’s natural state they would ask how much hair you have, or even some say they know how to do your hair when it’s in its natural state, then after it’s wet, you realize they don’t know anything. All three cases have happened to me. From my personal experience when other people deal with my hair, it suffers, it gets short and damaged – but even when i didn’t know what I was doing back then my hair grew in leaps and bounds. This doesn’t even include the unwanted haircuts, when you tell them you want so much cut off, but then when you look – it’s enough to make a wig and it’s all lying on the floor. Many stylist don’t respect you, sometimes even telling them that you don’t want your hair combed with a rat-tailed comb is going to cause arguments, this also doesn’t touch on pampering yourself to a deep conditioner, and some person slips a relaxer in the conditioner without you knowing.
I wouldn’t have a problem with going to a “professional” natural hair stylist; however, it’s very difficult to find one who a) truly knows how to handle your hair b) are not pushing some product or c) wanting to flat iron to trim your ends. Last year, I thought I found a “professional” who was going to be it, but she combed, brushed, blow dried on high heat and with a roller brush, and then cut it in layers when I specifically said I just wanted to trim my ends. I was afraid my hair wouldn’t revert but it did, thankfully. I haven’t allowed any one to touch my hair after that experience and I am very leery of some who claim to be natural hair stylist. While some professionals have been doing natural hair for 25+ years, it’s hard to weed them out between all the “newly natural professional” hairstylist. Thus, I will continue to be a DIY b/c my hair can’t take the abuse.
I have a great stylist in Cherry Hill, NJ (Kelly at Beyond Hair -(856) 428-5000). I has been only going to a stylist to get my hair trimmed, but once I found Kelly (who specializes in natural hair) that all changed.
I go to her for special occasions, before trips for longer lasting styles. For coloring, for twists, braids, flat-twists, coil-outs you name it. I still do my hair myself as I want to, but it’s great to have a professional treat my hair & to relax while having my hair done like I used to before my big chop.
Plus I get good advice from her on the heath of my hair & scalp. Just because we are natural doesn’t mean we are professional hair care specialists. Find someone who knows that they are doing with natural hair & you will be really glad you did. It is really wonderful to have a professional invested in the health of my hair along with me.
“Just because we are natural doesn’t mean we are professional hair care specialists.”
I don’t think anyone is claiming to be a professional hair care specialist just from going natural. At least, I am not selling my services. Everyone is different. If you find it beneficial to have a personal stylist, that’s cool. I don’t find it beneficial, and there is nothing wrong with that.
Thank you! I work in Cherry Hill and wil visit Miss Kelly for sure!
wow i live in runnemede still not going to her though lol
Not throwing no shade to hair stylist but I think one should get to know their own hair and not depend on someone else to do it for them! I think this is why most black women have not a clue about their own hair! Just my opinion. I’ve been doing my own hair since I can remember and I can count on both my hands how many times I’ve been to a stylist.
“Did it ever occur to any of you, that this natural hair revolution or whatever you prefer to call it, didn’t just start with us?”
1) Yes. Many of us were born pre-selfie, pre-Andre Walker’s system, pre-Google and don’t rely on the internet for oxygen.
2) I’ve been pressed since childhood, been going to natural stylists for 10+ years in the tri-state and the South.
3) DIY has taken over people’s lives, not just their hair. We’re making our own clothes, growing our own food, it’s a phenomenon.
4} Like another poster noted, MANY failed to galvanize the energy behind the online movement. Look at the CRAPPY WEBSITES many high-priced NYC salons run. They’re run by or staffed by ‘celebrity’ stylists yet have ratchet, tiny, out-of-focus photos, missing price lists, annoying music and janky web themes IF they have a site at all!
This is the best they can do? In the tri-state area where the money is better than anywhere else?! When 10 year old kids have more professional looking websites? When people on cell phones can create great YT vids showing how they curl their hair with pipe cleaners and test out a variety of products all day for viewers? Puh-leeze! This costs very little to do well! Lack thereof is laziness or negligence or both. And never mind the service, hygiene, or atmosphere of some of these places – the stories I have after dropping a ton of money. Some prime examples (yes, I’ve been to some and miss none of them!):
http://hairbynedjetti.com/
http://www.dianedacosta.com/store/consultations.php
http://locksnchops.com/
http://www.nubiankinks.com/
http://www.tendrilshairspa.com/Mission.html
http://www.newbein.com/index.html
http://www.designerbraids.net/
If you’ve been left behind after twisting and loc’ing for 25+ years, YOU need to do better! People will support you, it won’t be bananas in this recession, but it will be something.
If I knew an affordable, reputable stylist who specialises in natural hair I would pay him/her a visit once in a while. I think those people should try harder to put themselves out there. When you Google ‘natural hair’ you’re bombarded with vlogs, blogs and the like. Not with lists of stylists.
This is a pretty good listing of natural salons: http://www.naturallycurly.com/curlsalons
of course i am writing this just as i’m finishing giving myself a trim…
i want to point out something i don’t think was mentioned.
part of the big increase in interest in natural hair is tied to social media. this has been the primary way naturals have shared information – through youtube, blogs, etc. – with one another. years ago, a lot of naturals had fokti portfolios.
if they were really on their game, they would have recognized what was going on and created a natural hair platform. they would have organized the meetups. they should have been all about cultivating naturals as clients and developing their brand.
i noticed natural hair care product companies like oyin and qhemet and anita grant did this. i believe they used to have running threads on nappturality where they answered questions. the only natural hair stylists i can name off the top of my head is felicia leatherwood. but, she has also put herself out there – meetups/gatherings, etc.
where were these black stylists who supposedly do natural hair? nobody knows who they are.
i suspect a lot of these stylists who say they do natural hair are just regular, conventional stylists who usually do press and curls on naturals.
YES, YES, YES! Social Media runs the word right now! Get on it!
And support Natural Hair Stylist (I am one for my family! LOCS, BRAIDS, TWIST) but if I can do my hair and save my money for shopping or my children, then I will DIY for the rest of my life. For the people who can AFFORD to go to the stylist and the people who NEED to go to the stylist because they cant manage their hair, then go right ahead. Nothing wrong with it!!
merry you are so right. It is up to them to put themselves out there. How can anyone tell who has been in the game if they don’t let them selves be know. I find youtube and that was all I needed to jump on the natural hair bandwagon. It wasn’t my stylist and I certainly didn’t have access to a natural hair stylist in my area. So social media was my answer.
As an original member of Nappturality, and a participant on hair boards that existed prior to Nappturality (including NaturallyCurly), I can confirm this.
Just to use our pal Andre Walker as an example: His book came out in 1998 and when I joined the online natural hair community in 1999 they were starting to use his hair typing system. I find it ironic that it took him (and mainstream hair companies) all this time to recognize that natural hair was a real thing and not just some fluke. If he’d been paying attention instead of looking down on us pitiful Internet amateurs he could have been WAY ahead of the game.
The condescension some stylists have towards DIYers like myself is another reason why I don’t feel especially compelled to give them my business.
I have yet to meet a stylist who can handle my hair with the care and love that I do. I would LOVE to go to a stylist, but unfortunately, have had terrible experiences in the past. My hair comes out more damaged, and my scalp hurts alot. They get frustrated with my hair, and are quite rough. If you can recommend good stylists for 4C hair, I would like to try them out.
Where are you located? I have found a wonderful natural hair stylist (that is all she does). She wouldn’t make an appointment with me until we had a short 15 min (free) consultation to discuss my hair & what I wanted to have done. I had no idea, so she had a phone full of photos of twists, coils, up-dos etc for me to use for inspiration. I found the salon here: http://www.naturallycurly.com/curlsalons
Ask a lot of questions before going in – make sure you are comfortable BEFORE sitting in anyone’s chair. Ask for a consultation and ask what types of natural hair styles do they recommend for you. I would also suggest going to a stylist who HAS natural hair.
My apprehension is going to a stylist who claims to understand how to deal with natural hair but really doesn’t. I have heard many horror stories of how naturalistas have had their hair damaged by so-called natural hair stylists. I guess I will keep searching until I find someone who has good references.
Where are you located? This has a good list of natural hair salons: http://www.naturallycurly.com/curlsalons
I would suggest going in for a consult (free) 1st to talk to the stylist & ask them questions before booking your appointment. All stylists that specialize in natural hair should be doing that anyway.
I’m a 21-year-old broke college student:
Gas money is an issue.
Time is an issue.
Stylists’ education & patience with my dense 4c hair is, you guessed it, an issue!
I’ve learned SO MUCH about maintaining my own hair in the past 3 years. However last year I decided I wanted to have locs started by loctician….I’d like for everyone to understand how challenging it was to FIND a loctician in the DMV area, in an actual salon; not some set up shop in a house or in back of a barber shop either! Ha! I mean really? Anyhoo, my mother was so gracious to drive me to Maryland 3-4 times and I paid about $60-$70 for each palm roll/retwist session. Granted the pricing is pretty good, but I had to be realistic and ask myself, “how long can I keep this up?”, “I won’t be driving to Maryland for this every 3 weeks, and I don’t have the bank for that either!”
Last month I started my OWN set of locs (w/twists), and they look just fine! I’m so satisfied and certainly proud that I was able to accomplish something that I thought I could never do 🙂 Not speaking ill of stylists out there, but I started my locs for free w/the minor cost of oils and a locking gel totaling under $20.
Realistically, the ONLY time I would go to a stylis is if I wanted to color my hair a really light color (vs. dark brown or any color closest to mine naturally), or if I’m going to a special event and want my locs to be styled into an intricate updo, and the like.
I only need a barber/hairstylist for a cut/shape up about every 4 months, other than that I take care of my hair and it looks good!!
Sorry not sorry but there’s nothing wrong with not going to a hair salon. Why have people do something you could do well yourself? I’m all about saving money and doing things myself. If I could do car maintance I’d never go to an auto shop again, but sadly that’s not the case. It’s not even so much as a matter of money. More of a matter of taking care of myself, literally. If I can do it, I’ll do it.
GREAT analogy. I remember when I first starting driving (mid 80s) I told my dad I wanted to learn as much as I could about cars so I wouldn’t have to rely on auto shops. He gave me the side-eye because he knew that computers were about to take over even then and he was right. 🙂
Sadly, I knew about as much about how my car worked (which is to say, next to nothing) as I did about the hair growing out of my head. I daresay that’s still the case with many black women and that’s a damn shame.
My #1 reason for going natural was so I’d never have to DEPEND on anybody for my hair care ever again. If I could have found a way to self-relax my hair safely and with good results, I would probably have done that but instead I followed my friend’s lead and did the BC. For the record, I told the stylist I had at the time that I wanted to go natural but she wasn’t supportive at all. This was in 1995 by the way, in Chicago where I could count on one hand the number of natural hairstylists in business…and at that time any natural “own hair” hairstyle beyond a TWA, locs, or a press-and-curl wasn’t happening. So if I wanted something different, I was going to have to learn how to do it myself, and thanks to Lonnice Brittenum Bonner’s book Good Hair, and Pamela Ferrell’s book Let’s Talk Hair, I did.
I went natural at a time when I could have well afforded to pay stylists for regular hair care. My finances have dropped considerably since then (hello, economic crisis) making me even more grateful that I took the time to learn how to care for my hair so that, again, I wouldn’t NEED a stylist to look presentable. Now if I WANT to patronize a stylist for a hairstyle I can’t do myself (e.g. the BC, or a creative cornrow style) and I have the money, I’ll consider it…and to that end, as others have said, it represents a shift in the hair culture towards that of other races of women.
A stylist is NOT a car mechanic, and Afro-textured hair care isn’t anywhere near as complicated as they make it out to be. Can’t believe folks are still mad because sisters stopped falling for the okey-doke…
This article is a little accusatory, although I do get the gist. I think it’s a matter of cost and availability, not “turning our backs” on stylists. I live in a city that doesn’t have many black people, and I’ve gone a few times to a great curly hair stylist who is not experienced with my kind of hair per se but is open and experienced with curls in general, but she is not cheap! If DIY works for people we don’t really owe stylists anything because it’s our choice to purchase a service or not. I’ve also been to plenty of horrible black stylists, so I haven’t really met many of the natural hair veterans you refer to. I would love to find a reliable and affordable stylist but it’s not easy.
I wholeheartedly agree with this post. Last month I had to get my hair straighten for my cousin wedding because I was a bridesmaid. The hairstyle that straighten my hair is a family friend and grows all my cousins’ hair long and strong. But of course I went natural in the D.I.Y. era so I never used her as a resource. Anyway the stylist straighten my hair and was incredibly disappointed of how many split ends I had. I was clipping my own end and I guess I wasn’t doing a great job at it. She ended up cutting 3inches of hair off!!! On the bright side my hair is incredibly healthy now and I found out that my hair is 4A!!
I say no cause of the cost issue. Its like the elephant in the room no one wants to talk about. Getting your hair “did” a few times a month means adding on a another bill. And for what? Basic hair care that we all should know how to do on our own. For someone like myself living on a budget and saving to further myself it just isn’t practical. Besides everyone doesn’t live in C. hicago, D.C, or Atlanta. Many of us midwesterners don’t have access to actual natural hair care professionals. Most in my area only really specialize in weave, dreads,and frying your hair straight. If they do two strand twist they charge you $60 plus! No way am I paying that for a simple style. Doing my hair at home is cheaper and quicker. I am not anti salon but I prefer to spend my money on better things.
“Besides, everyone doesn’t live in Chicago, DC, or Atlanta….”
That thought was running through my mind as soon as I read the title of this article. I live in Mid-MO–natural hair stylists that know their craft are unicorns here. And even if I did track one down….this is a Recession. I’m not trying to spend any more on my hair than I need to.
I just want a stylist in the DC area who can do my wash and go and it come out like mine or similar to when I do it at home. That’s all I ask…because sometime I don’t have the time or energy!
We were just talking about this at work today! I mean no harm in this… but most black stylists brought this one on themselves. Most were to busy getting educated whether formally or by trial and error to the weave many forgot the natural hair that is growing underneath. And totally ignored the natural hair wave coming and that has definetly arrived. I must admit I predicted this as soon as all these domincan shops started opening up. Many women flocked to them. I don’t patronize them cuz they snatch you bald but a lot of people including naturals have there hair done at those shops. They are cheaper, faster and no dayum shop drama. I remember getting my hair done at a shop in jersey and a fight broke out- between the owner and another stylist! Word!! Yeah they speak another language at the domican spot but most people let that slide cuz ur in and out. No sista with an attitude telling you what she’s gonna do to your hair! Showing up late, running to get lunch for over an hour-then coming back with a Macy’s bag in one hand and her son in the other…all while your under the dryer with conditioner on- then will get an attitude! Heck no! I remember when…never mind..I could go on for awhile but I do know I’d love to sit in a chair and have done what takes me almost all day on the weekend to do. But I agree with all the comments before me- no one is going to be as gentle and have as much patience as me. I love u stylists but please get it together…not all of you but a lot of you.
i don’t agree with this article at all. i’ve never relied on stylists for my hair ever in my life. why should i start now? i doubt they’d be able to do anything for my hair that i can’t do better myself. they might be feeling left out but until they come down on their prices that’s the way they’re going to continue feeling. natural hair is largely DIY because there’s no reason for women to be dependent on stylists. for what? it’s not necessary
“Just this week another famed blogger had to cut her long damaged hair off and start again”…who are they? should they have gone to a stylist? do you go to a stylist?
I wonder if she is referring to She’kia Renea. She said her hair wasn’t damaged, just wanted a change & to inspire others afraid to chop. But eh, who knows….
Back to the subject at hand….I go to a Attila occasionally for adults I cannot do, but for the most part, I don’t think they do anything extraordinary with techniques that I can’t do on my own. And hundreds of natural s have done just fine without them….
Jesus, the typos….
I occasionally go to STYLISTS for STYLES I cannot do…
The author was referring to Jenell (Blakizbeautyful) on youtube
Naw, Jenell said she went to a stylist. Or maybe she said a friend…But I think she was talking about Shekia Renea.
BUNCH OF CROCK LOL.
White/Asian/Arab/Indian girls don’t rely on stylists. They pretty much go to them for cuts/trims and chemical treatments. Yet, their hair industry still survives. Why should we be any different? They’ve learned their hair and now we’re learning ours. And it’s about time. I would love to see a natural stylist for a trim, but to be quite honest, I’m really scared. I’ve just had so many bad experiences. Especially once I become a regular client. That’s why I created Kurly Klips clip-in extensions. You can even DIY your own extensions now and I love it!
unfortunately so. being natural and being DIY are not one in the same. stylist exists as a profession for a reason but at the same token if someone prefers to exclusively do their own hair whether relaxed, natural or other then thats fine too….
*reads the title*
“No”.
…moving on…
Sorry, this article didn’t ring true for me. Maybe it was the generalisations or the trying to guilt me into the business.
Yes it feeds into that idea that we should support our own while accepting less than usually with the sentiment that other races succeed because they support their own. However, with black businesses I always find that natural services/products = ridiculous price points and many of these businesses do not have it together/don’t run a tight ship therefore cannot offer the best possible, efficient and effective service that many modern naturals are looking for. Other races do not support businesses that don’t give them what they want even if the owners are from that same race, they just demand more or go where they can get what they want. Why do we have to be guilt tripped into accepting sub-standard practice and dissatisfaction to put food on somebody else’s table just because we’re the same race?
Not knocking good stylists but where I am, they are very few and far between.
I have never had good experiences with stylist. Everytime I have been to a salon I experienced a setback. This is even when I was relaxed.
They would leave the relaxer in my head to long and complain when I said it was burning.
When I would come in months without having a touch-up they would play in my hair and make fun of my multiple textures. They would say…”What is going on with your head?” or “You got some strange hair”.
When I went natural I tried a natural hair salon. It was 260 dollars to get my hair in medium individual braids. My hair started frizzing out of the braids before I even made it to the house also the braids didn’t even last a month because the hair started slipping out :-/
I haven’t been to a salon in 2 years, and I never plan on going to one either. I went natural to be a good role model for my daughter, and so I could learn to do her hair. In the proccess I have learned to do my own hair better than anyone else ever could. Its now the longest and healthiest it has ever been.
It’s not that I don’t want to see a stylist. They usually don’t want to work with a client with kinky hair texture. I understand the phenomenon. In order to be proficient with natural hair, a stylist must work with natural hair. If not many women wear their hair natural, a stylist will never have enough practice to be good at styling natural hair. However, hopefully with more women embracing natural hair, more stylists will get the experience they need. It’s just that I don’t want to be a learning opportunity for a stylist. I don’t want my hair to get jacked up.
I dont think I will ever go to get my hair done by anybody. I can do my hair and I feel more comfortable because of detangling. I went to a lady who braided my hair before I went natural i went to her after I went natural to get braided up and the lady combed my hair like no tomorrow. She racked and racked I told her I was growing my hair out and she kind of calmed down but that is why I dont want to go to any stylist to do my hair.
Yeah…I’m going to stick to DIY. Having been to a self proclaimed natural stylist, I found that what I did at home worked better for me. They didn’t use much DC despite my dense hair, they charged me more half way through the service again because I have dense hair, the stylist asked if I was wearing pieces and treated me as though I was a liar, again because I have dense natural hair.
I understand that they are losing money but the guilt trip in the first paragraph didn’t move me. Stylists need to diversify and give the client what they want not the other way around. For years they’ve dined out on the fact that we were and are a reliable client base especially when relaxing/processing our hair and yet most I’ve met were not interested in the health of my hair or other women’s hair but more interested in the styling aspect and self promotion.
Maybe if there was a stylist that could have me finished in two hours, told me every product she used on my hair, consulted with me and cooperated with me on my hair care, cared more about its health than having a walking advertisement for that day and made me feel good about my 4C rather than reacted as though it was a chore, then maybe I’d see a stylist again.
Those stylists are out there. I think we all need to look for them. First make sure they actually HAVE natural hair (big red flag if they are wearing a weave but claim to do natural hair). Second – go in for a consultation before your appointment, ask questions, put them on the spot and be sure you are comfortable well before going in to the salon for services. Third – you can also always bring your own products if you are more comfortable with them. Finally – they are performing a SERVICE for you – meaning you dictate what happens. We have been taught to just sit in the chair & hope for good results, part of my natural hair journey has been to make me stronger & more informed about myself & my hair. If something is going on that doesn’t seem right – I speak up IMMEDIATELY, I’m not waiting until the end result sucks to say something.
@Leslie Mac. No offense, but for all that effort and energy, I could just do it myself at my own pace, in my own time, until I am pleased with the results. It’s not vetting a doctor, it’s a hairdresser.
I’d probably go to a stylist for a major cut or color (definitely) but the weekly/biweekly basics, I am more than happy to do it myself (and so is my office!)
office = wallet! THat was a weird word swap.
I LOVE THE COMMENT ABOUT THE PITY PARAGRAPH LOL I FEEL THE SAME WAY
Well, personally it’s just more cost effective and more convenient to do my own hair. It’s not that I’m trying to leave the natural hair stylists out. I can save money and do my hair whenever I need to and wearing whatever I want to. I’m not depending on anybody else’s time or schedule. It’s rewarding to also be able to care for your own hair and learn new things about what works and what doesn’t; Nobody knows your hair better than you so what better person to care for it.
With locs, Sisterlocs or box braids w/extensions a natural hair stylist is a great resource. Other than that, DIY is best. You get to learn your hair, save money and do it in the privacy of your own home, and have fun with products and techniques. Natural hair stylists need to “make the case” as to why they are a better choice than DIY, and please do so without the “shingling,” texturizing and $200 visits!
Honresly, I have to a hair salon who claims she does natural hair she couldn’t style my hair. I would go every 2 weeks the shampoo and conditioner she usesd its unheardof. My would left dry and hard like a brillo pad, then I couldn’t ask her any questions. I never went back. Ever since I just do it myself. I would love to have a stylist to do my hair.
If anyone knows any professional or expertise in Florida, Melbourne area please! Please! Let me know.
I have heard this story from lots of women here in Orlando! If you are willing to drive, there is a place on Michigan ave called the hair art tech something or other, google it but request Daphne!
In my experience and from what I’ve heard other women say, many stylist want nothing to do with natural hair! I have had success with stylists who only do natural hair but stylist who have traditionally done relaxed hair have actually scowled at my natural hair. Additionally, I take care of and style my hair better than she did! The only time I get a professional to do anything to my hair is if I’m having it blown out and trimmed.
Also, because of my location (FL), even when relaxed it was difficult to find someone who had skills doing anything other than weave.
“Are Some Naturals Mistaken for Not Going to Stylists?” Make it less expensive, then I think we can chat about someone going to a stylist. For me, just looking at the prices make me think I’m being punished for being natural. Hence the reason why going to a stylist for naturals is few and far in-between.
assuming there is a plethera of natural hair stylist who are competent in handling and styling natural hair, I think the problem that arises with any hair professional is that there may not be the time necessary to properly handle natural hair–the detangling, the proper moisturizing, the proper cutting, etc. For good reason they are in the biz of making money. The charges that would be most necessary to properly handle natural hair could be prohibitive to most because of the time needed. I would love to go to a stylist every month or so, but i cannot spend at least 250 for the pleaure. That assumption i made at the beginning cannot be made in the area i live in (i.e. New England) I have not heard of such a competent stylist in this area. I just cannot trust the work that will be done.
that’s how i feel, Iv. i don’t trust my hair in anyone’s hands but my own because i know the way i detangle my hair a stylist would probably charge out the wazoo to give my hair that same time and due diligence. plus too, there really aren’t nearly as many competent stylists out there as there are incompetent ones, from what i can tell judging by the messed up heads i see around me that give their business to so-and-so. i just won’t take that chance with my money or my hair. plus, i’m a broke college kid, so it’s not gonna happen no way!
I agree. Also, most beauty/cosmetology schools only teach how to care for hair that is straightened. Hence, #team hair damage