There was a discussion recently on the HuffingtonPost.com about whether the rise in natural hair spells the end of black salon culture. The author, Cassandra Jacson (who herself is natural) says:
Yes, there are salons for natural hair, especially in major metropolitan areas, like Atlanta, D.C., and New York. But the natural journey is not salon focused. In fact, natural hair allows for a certain amount of freedom from salons, which is good because many natural salons cost significantly more than traditional ones. For some who are natural the cost of certain curly salons is prohibitive. In addition, there are regions where natural hair salons are few and far between. The focal point of the natural hair community seems to be online message boards and YouTube, rather than beauty shops.
My experience with salons and natural hair is vastly different from the beauty shop culture. I go to the salon no more than twice a year. Recently, I crossed one of the most powerful color lines in America: I let a white girl do my hair. She gave me a good cut, and I was back on the street in 20 minutes. In comparison, my mother whose hair is chemically straightened goes to the beauty shop every two weeks for a couple of hours. She comes home smelling of oil sheen spray and full of news. She knows everything, from the platform of candidates for the school board, to the proposed sight for the new grocery store, to who was admitted to the hospital last night. She is not just informed; she is engaged, full of laughter, concern, and outrage.
My mother is part of a powerful community that I remember fondly. When I was teenager, my hairdresser’s abusive husband showed up at the beauty shop demanding that she come outside. My mother looked up from her chair and told him to leave. A dozen heads, some in rollers, others dripping with hair dye, nodded grimly at him, before he scurried out. We could not stop what he did at home, but the beauty shop was our space, our time, our community.
Jackson goes on to say:
Right now, the beauty shop is still there, but I am not. I will not take my daughter there because I want her to love her perfect springy curls. She will hear me laugh with my sister about the time that she ‘kissed’ my ear with a hot straightening comb, but my daughter will never know how such a tool of pain could evoke such warm intimacy. I want her to love her hair as it grew out of her head, but I also want her to know a place where tired black women can shame a man with a word and look. But I cannot have it both ways.
Hmmm…. I see what Jackson is getting at. But I think the decline of the black salon has far more to do with intense competition from Brazilian, Dominican and Egyptian salons — which black women are flocking too — and far less to do with natural hair. What are your thoughts ladies?
93 Responses
I had a lot of bad salon experiences that’s why I only let them braid my hair and I take care of everything else . I had to change salons and stylists alot of times . Last year this Dominican lady gave me heat damage and a bad hair cut . Lucky I restored my afro curls and my hair grew back . The only person who trims my hair now is my mom . She use to be a hair stylist I also make sure I stay away from the heat . I would only get it flat ironed once a year . I’m in college and it’s hard to wear your hair out plus school work so that’s why I always have it up in a protective style .
I only go to the salon to get my real hair braided in a braided updo other than that I wash, moisturize , deep condition , and detangle my own hair . I only have to pay 50 dollars for that style and I love it .
Before I began transitioning again, I used to go to the salons all the time for a wash and set. At first I wanted to show support to the Black salons but with the Caribbean hair sylist. Those places were always loud and the ladies would act as if they did not want to do a customer’s hair. The stylists would always use a flat iron a lot or cut my hair when I would ask for a trim. Or they would specialize in overuse of the weave glue. Then I started going to the Dominican salons and they were good when it comes to straigthening the hair but when it comes to using the heat….it was way too much. Now I am doing my hair at home and even learning from YouTube how to trim my ends. I just wished that natural hair salons were more caring to the needs of the natural haired woman.
You can go to the salon and still rock natural I have a friend that does it all the time. She goes for the scalp massages and after the wash her hair dresser lightly blow dries her hair. Just enough so she isn’t dripping out the door. You can have it both ways you just have to tell your stylist what you’re doing. I do. I’m transitioning, so my hairstylist does very minimal to my hair. I need to blow dry my hair that is just the stage that I’m at right now, but he does it on very low heat and then he lets it air dry the rest of the way. That’s cool if she wants her daughter to love her hair, but when she gets older she may think differently and it would be nice if she already had a place to go then doing the hunt. Which a lot of people have to do because they don’t know of a place off the top of their head. I remember how going to the black salon used to be an ALL DAY THING! you had people selling things in their and getting their nails done then some hair dressers were eating their lunch while you were under the dryer because they had so many heads to do. It was a funny experience. What I didn’t like about going to black salons is how some would talk about your hair like you aren’t aware of the situation. I just go to a regular salon, but He does a great job. If I need cornrows then I can go to an ethiopian shop that is what is in my area. Unless I go to Pacific Beach then I can go to a girl named Twista that works at a salon near the beach.
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As a stylist, salon owner and a natural girl of 10+ years now, let me say first I LOVE MY CURLS! My hair has been down my back long and 2 inch short all over I love ii love it love it. As a salon owner I don’t believe the black salon is going anywhere because for every woman that a natural hair lover there’s one that one that is not! As stylists and owners we need need to change the way we run business. Over booking, inappropriate conversations and lack of professionalism are all the reasons so many have bad memories from visits to the salon. Going natural was the best thing I ever did and my daughter is natural too I want her to love herself just the way she is, but if she wants to wear a relaxer when she’s older I won’t tell her not to, I will advice and teach her how to take care of her hair. Hair styles are a choice just as clothing, shoes and jewelry or make up. Some choose to be natural some choose to were chemical straighteners, color long or short. Some make these choices because they were expected to some because the want to and yes some because they use the “n” word NAPPY! I by the way don’t use I use extremely curly. To me Nappy is negative and there’s nothing negative about our hair it is what God gave us but I don’t fault anyone that chooses to use products to achieve the look they desire. No matter what the salon is here to stay, every natural girl want a new look from time to time and that’s where color, braids, twists and combo styles come into play. Natural hair need even more TLC, it still needs cleansing conditioning and trimming and the beautiful heads of natural hair walking the streets today need to see a professional every now and the! Rock your naturals girls, rock your long, short, straight, curly, exremely curly LOL hair! It’s all about how you feel about you!
now that i’m natural i don’t go to the salon often. about every 2-3 months to get it trimmed and for when i want to get my hair colored professionally. i think that people just have to find the right salon & stylist for their hair.
From what I’m reading the reason why most people are not going to the salon is not due to the fact that they are natural. It seems like it has more to do with finding a good salon. One with good customer service, affordable prices and can provide timely service. Truly, as a New Yorker, there are many salons out there but very few that offer the three things listed.
i guess i have mixed experiences with the black salons. my mom’s old school salon is where all the gossip happened. once though, another woman told everyone in the shop that she caught my sister sneaking out of her house while she wasn’t home. She claimed that my sis was fooling around with her son. My mom was mortified. She didn’t know what to say and didn’t feel she could defend my sister without knowing the facts. Found out later that it was the wrong “Carol”. NOT my sister. That was an awful memory. Black salons always did my hair better than any Dominican salon BUT the Dominicans were cheaper. I was in high school so when I wanted to get it wash and set, I went to the Dominicans. When I needed the full monty – relaxer, wash and set – I always went to a black salon. I even found a little Haitian salon that did an awesome job and was only 5 bucks more than the Dominicans but was practically around the corner from my house. She was never overbooked. As a matter of fact, it was usually empty, save for her and a friend. In all of these instances, I always pre detangled because I’ve always been very tender headed. So….now that I’m natural, detangling is really 1/2 the battle so it’s harder to justify going to a salon for a style…i have friends that cornrow…i suppose I get a haircut – a real one about every two years. Both times have been to multi-culti curl salons. 1st I went to Curlisto’s on 5th ave. A very gentle white? woman with wavyish hair finger detangled my hair soooo patiently. A black woman named Tameeka? gave me an awesome cut and was extremely patient and knowledgable. She showed me how to style it myself. They gave me tea. I’d be happy to support a black salon with these services. I paid around $180 for that visit. I’d have NO patience for overbooking at those prices. Then I went to Bumble and Bumble because I won a gift certificate. A black man cut my hair well but was not very patient.
Let me first start off saying that I love this site and have been coming here for a few years for tips and all sorts of knowledge on natural hair.
As far as the women on here who have had negative exeperiences with beauty shops, I feel you. Because of my negative situation, that led me to become natural and not depend on anyone to do my hair for me. But I also remember the days when I would go to the beauty shop with my mom and we would just hang out with the other women and gossip and trip out and also buy bootleg CDs/DVDs and everything else in between.
I have many natural friends and also friends that are permed. One of my friends just goes to the shop to visit with the other women and she’s not even getting her hair done. I think what the barber shop means to men is the same thing for women as it relates to the beauty shop. It’s a place where you can let your hair down (no pun intended). It’s a place where everyone can fellowship and talk about or even complain about their relationships, jobs and just life period.
I miss the camaraderie of the beauty shop, but not the high prices, the overbooking, and worst of all having to spend your whole day there b/c they stylist takes their sweet precious time to eat, or even leave to go pick their kids up from school or them having to run errands while you’re getting burned from the hair dryer and now your hair is stuck to your face! LOL
So many negative comment about the Black salon…Anyways I have been natural for about 2 1/2 years but I personally liked my salon. My hairstylist told me in advance if she was behind, was honest with me if she could not do an hairstyle, and worked fast for doing three heads at a time and I respect that. Sure there was gossip but no one ever talked down on me and my head and how thick my hair was. My beautician was professional and s sweet lady. I feel sorry for all these women who think negatively about salons…And please our salons are going no where! Even as a natural I go to them to get a sew every now and then and women LOVE their sew ins. Black salons are here to stay.
I don’t think so! You have some sistah’s and brothers’ that will still go to a salon.
We still need to support our sistah’s and brother’s who are in the business of taking care of our beautiful natural hair, most of them they do own salons.
We must get back to our roots no matter what… We can’t keep on hiding and running away from ourselves or our hair and the many textures of them!
Our curls are beautiful and soft and we must learn how to take great care of our powerful hair the natural way.
I embrace being natural. I stay away from chemicals and hair care products that are chemicalized!
I do not miss hair salons one bit and walk by proudl with my natural hair as others are having relaxers and flat irons passed through their hair. I am free, I had more money to pay off my credit card debt and more time on Saturdays to hit the gym and hang out with family and friends. I LOVE BEING NATURAL and I feel beautiful.
I am still salon lady. Not as often as when I had a relaxer…every 2-3 months or so. I see lots of naturals in the salon…so much it’s hard to get an appointment. My belief is you don’t stop maintaining the upkeep of your hair due to going natural. It still needs attention and care by a professional. And I can’t stand those you tubers! But at the same token I am an old natural…natural since 1997.
Wow, it seems that MANY ladies here have had very negative salon experiences, which I’m guessing aided them in the decision to go natural. I’m relaxed, and I do not plan on transitioning, but I follow BGLH because hair is hair and I appreciate advice from all corners in my own personal HHJ.
Firstly, where I live (Namibia) we don’t call salons beauty shops, it’s simply called hair salons. A beauty shop is a place for everything – hair, nails, facials, make up, etc etc.
Secondly, I have had a couple of the experiences talked of in the comments, namely the burning of the relaxer, the waiting for HOURS and the sourpuss look on the hairdresser’s face when I tell what I want her to do and I insist upon it. That usually happened whenever I moved and had to look for a new stylist, but when I find one that’s genius, I stick with her for as long as possible.
My last one, Ingrid, was brilliant. The very first time she relaxed my hair I told her that I have a VERY sensitive scalp, so she plucked out a brand (can’t remember the name) for sensitive scalps and worked FAST. Since then, no more burning! She was gentle and used tools and products that I myself use now. The only times I ever had to wait for her is if I was the one late for my appointment, and then it would be 15 minutes and her assistant would bring me a cappuccino whilst I page through a couple of magazines. I got head massages, long ones, after conditioner was applied and I never even felt it when she detangled, she was THAT gentle. I got more coffee whilst under the drier, and she always gave me the most fantastic roller set followed by a blow out. Under her hand my hair was strong and supple, regardless of heat, relaxers and colour (yip, we played with colour A LOT!)Her only flaw – a little scissor happy. At the time I didn’t mind, I loved my hair short and the styles she cut was always funky and cutting edge. And she told me how to care for my own hair, giving me advice on rollersetting technique, products, protective styling etc. And she was CHEAP!
And then she disappeared. To this day I don’t know where she is. I miss her. But that was the catalyst for me taking matters in my own hands. My hair is thriving under my own care and I haven’t been to a salon since December 2011 (when I tried a new one and experienced all the BS – waiting, sulking, rough handling, unhappy with style). But if I were to find Ingrid again, I will visit the salon again. Not nearly as regularly as in the past (once a week was the norm) but easily for a monthly treat.
I believe that if every stylist treated her/his clients as if they were GOLD, and continually educated themselves on new styles, trends, products and did not just chase that greenback with overbooking and overcharging, then the salon, as a business, will not see its demise, but actually flourish, regardless of whether a client is short haired, relaxed, natural, long haired, texturized, loc’d, black, white, mixed race, young or old.
I am still relaxed, but doing research on natural hair before I transition again, which was about 15 years ago. During that time, I was seeing a stylist who specialized in natural hair and even had her own products developed to soften natural hair and keep it at it’s healthy, normal pH. I was amazed at how easy my transition was going, and the spiral sets that I wore during my transition to natural were beautiful. Ultimately, I stopped going to this stylist because she had me sitting and waiting one night for HOURS before even shampooing my hair. My hair was very long and thicker than most of her clients, so she felt that she could push me to the back of the line because it would make it easier on her. When I DO decide to transition again, I will be purchasing her products but doing my hair AT HOME!
Oh, and with my current stylist for my relaxed hair… I love her, but she uses assistants that have done nothing but cause several set-backs during my healthy hair journey. They ripped through my tangles and would actually shampoo the ends of my hair…The past couple of months, I’ve been caring for my hair at home and will only make an appointment IF I can be seen by the actual stylist during a time before her usual assistant reports to the salon for work. Still, I can’t wait to transition on my own whilst being gentle on tangles, deep conditioning for as long as I want, and having enough sense to know that actively shampooing ends of hair is not only unnecessary, but just WRONG! These salons had better get a grip… seriously.
I never really thought that black hair salons were being affected. I dunno if the “natural hair movement” is making that much of an impact. I myself haven’t had a relaxer (which my mom did) since middle school but during my second through fifth years of college I went to the beauty salon every few months to get my hair pressed because I was tired of braids. Fortunately my experiences were positive; in fact, my hairdresser taught me how to care for my natural hair. Yeah there was waiting but it wasn’t too bad. I’m really not sure if it’s lack of knowledge or if beauticians just do what they want to do but I’m sure that shop owners are thinking about it, especially those that are losing customers significantly. So I think beauty salons will just adapt, just like any other business…
I always hated going to the salon. It was never my favorite place so I went as infrequesntly as possible preferring to do my own hair and I became quite good at it just 2 avoid going!
I remember never being taken at my scheduled time, wasting half my saturday in the salon, the smell of buring hair and chemicals, the impersonal way they treat you unless you are getting an expensive service, hating the pain of the perms, the chemy burns, the over dry scalp, hair so super light it blew in my face, annoying the hell out of me until a few weeks later when it started to thicken back up and lay down, the ridiculous fee they charged and the scissor-happy stylists who never listen when you say TRIM!!!!
Happy to be natural…natural isnt abt salons, although many will try to take advantage of this new era in black beauty,its abt owning your own beauty and learning to care for your own hair…it doesnt require a degree, just a desire to learn, patience and time. Its easier on my spirit and on my wallet too!
Totally, Imani. I agree, and I think for me the struggle is getting over the fear that I wouldn’t be able to maintain healthy hair. I don’t care much for “hair styles” per se, but I’d certainly like to be able to cleanse, condition, and detangle my future natural hair with efficacy before taking on the challenge of learning 2-strand twists etc. I believe that fear is what keeps many of us (people like me) going to salons on a regular… we’re afraid that we’ll do something wrong and all heck will break loose on our hair. But if we keep it simple, do a little research, and use a lot of common sense, we’d come out just fine!
It may be true that black salons are fading, but if it is true I think there are two important things to keep in mind 1) as the post points out, this is probably owing in part to more and more multicultural salons (I got my big chop done by a talented stylist at an Aveda salon) and 2) the decline isn’t leaving a vacuum–think of all of the message boards, blogs, social groups that have formed around the natural hair journey. One thing I don’t think you have to worry about is black women (or any other women for that matter) finding a reason to come together and create a supportive community.
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Awwww! Love this! Your hair color is great.
The salon I frequent does it ALL! Braiding, dreading, twisting, weaving, pressing, perming. They have a dominican that does hair in there as well. My daughter and I are both natural and go once a month. Her to get braids and me to get twist. We are still apart of that culture and remain natural to boot!
Th last time my stylist combed my hair so much she was handing me the breakage! I have sworn to go to her in two strand twists shrunken and short so she can put a weave over them instead.
I agree that many Black stylist do not know how to handle natural hair and in fact are very rough on the hair. When I was transitioning, for about 2-3 months, I went into the salon and got my hair flatironed. The over shanpooing, leaving my hair with that “squeak” when running my hand over it, and excessive pulling with the comb while wet was a definite no-no for my hair. Now almost 3 yrs in, I only go to the salon once or twice a year for a different look – usually straight because I’m now a pro at twists, buns, braid/twist outs and don’t need salons for these styles. When I do go in, I come in with already shampooed or cowashed, conditioned and detangled hair. Less stress on my tresses and certainly minimizes the breakage.
I really enjoyed reading all the comments. I have been natural for over 3 years and would never dream of going back. My 17 year old daughters are 9 months into transitioning. Just thinking back to the days of having my hair chemically straightened I can remember coming home after being on the road all week and heading straight to my hair appointment only to walk in and see numerous other people waiting to be seen. It was obvious my stylist had overbooked. I would tell him that I would be back in two weeks. Even though my hair was in desperate need of pampering, I could not bring myself to sit in the salon after sitting in a car for hours. I love color in my hair and was going back to a diffent stylist just for that.. She was great when my hair was processed. I was using the devacural products and shared the info about becioming certified with my stylist. I was visiting a salon in Maryland which is about 3 hours from where I live and wanted to have my hair done locally. Her response was she could not do it. Also I went back for a cut and she said the only way to cut it was to blow it straight. That was the last visit. I went to the salon in Maryland recently and the stylist that I love was not there. No phone call or anything; I found that she would be out for several months for medical reasons. The stylist that did my hair was obviously inexperienced and I hated my hair when I left. So I do my own hair and will be going to the deva certified shop just a couple of miles from my house. And the stylist is Caucasian. My sister also went to a salon in Huntsville because there was no one in nearby Nashville. She discovered once she got there that it was a white salon. They charged 1/2 less than our counterparts and she was done under an hour. I do think our black stylists had better step up their game or they will be extinct.
I don’t miss salons; I go maybe twice a year for a flat iron, and until I switched stylists, even that was taxing to my patience. Why do you need to make an appointment for a specific time, when your head will not be touched for another 2 hours? The lack of regard for customers’ time and money is rampant in black beauty shop culture; I simply decided to be a smart consumer and save my money and sanity by becoming proficient in doing my own hair. Part of the turning point in my going natural was the realization that I felt panicked at the thought of not going to get my very ‘needed’ next relaxer. The DIY spirit of this movement has prompted black women to love–not despise, hide,or fear–their new growth. And I love that!
I have both positive and negative memories. My first stylist was a genius but she overbooked. I got frustrated and left. My current stylist is a man. He is wonderful. He has been encouraging me for years to go natural. He salon is a haven. In and out in up to two hours depending on what i want.
Egyptian salons too?!
I’ve had great experiences at 3 different natural salons, moderate to expensive, I’d go back. The rest – natural, braid and perm salons – were mainly nightmares REGARDLESS of the price, experience and renown of the stylist(s).
Institutions are being affected by a resurgent DIY self-empowerment for everything including hair. I made a headboard a few weeks ago, Lol! And I’m doing things I GLADLY paid others to do in the past. I feel more creative, informed and productive and less like an unskilled, passive consumer only. So I think natural hair, competition and especially DIY culture are factors in changing salon culture.
This is an interesting discussion to watch because I’ve never been to a salon black or otherwise. When I was relaxed, my mom or various members of my family did my hair. (Perm,styles, and everything else.) I’m the only one who gets to touch my hair now since I went natural because as much love and patience my family showed towards my relaxed strands, they have no idea how to handle natural hair. Anyway, it doesn’t look like I missed anything in the salon atmosphere.
I used to go to black hair salons when I had relaxed hair. I had all the problems that many of you have described above. I went natural and still continued to go to a salon but instead it was a natural salon (out of habit). I moved and found a new natural stylist. I would still be with her now if she wasn’t as janky as the stylist in the salon: overbooking, complaining about the thickness of my hair, tardiness, etc. I tried to find a new stylist in my area and the first one I found was Queen Amidala or something like that and she said that I had to get a consultation first and then schedule an actual appointment on a separate day. I told her, “my hair is nappy and kinky and I want two strand twist. I don’t need a consult.” She was like nope. From then on it was DIY via youtube and blogs.
I think online forums, websites, and youtube allow for the same space for black women to talk about their issues minus the logistical problems int he salon. Where one thing has maybe died down I think you will see other spaces emerge to fill in for the loss.
With the decline of the black salon comes the rise of natural hair meetups which are way better than sitting in a hot salon for 6 hours for a style that only take 2 hours to do -_-
p.s. has anyone seen the Everybody Hates Chris episode about Tanya and hair salons? filled with gossip!
robbi
peacelovenhair.blogspot.com
I saw it! Yup!
Plus I love taking care of my hair 🙂
I, personally do not miss the salon for the main reason that I spent hours, some a whole day to get hair done. Yes, it was nice to get pampered but not for the time that I would have to spend to get that. I do think that black owned unnatural salons are sufferring b/c of the many face paced yet horrible hair treatment of other ethnic owned salons.
I have wonderful memories of the salon I went to growing up. It was full of strong Christian women, since the owner and her daughter were both ministers. We talked prayed, listened to gospel music, and in general had a good ole time together. I’ll admit that sometimes I was there for hours, but I didn’t mind ’cause it was like visiting with family. My big problem is, now that I don’t live in a major city, there are very few salons that cater to my natural hair, and I am just not one of those people who is very good with styling my own hair. I mean, I love watching all the YouTube videos and such, but I can’t do half that stuff. It’s very frustrating!
My first experience at a natural salon was great. The stylist was great, and I was floored when she said she wanted to teach me how to do my own hair(what, teach me so I won’t have to always come pay you????). She told me she’d started doing natural hair in a regular salon. She was located in the back half, so her customers all had to walk past all the people getting relaxers. Her main motivation for getting her own shop was to save her clients from the abusive comments from the other stylist and customers-things like “Girl, when you gonna come let me do somethin with that head?” Terrible.
“Her main motivation for getting her own shop was to save her clients from the abusive comments from the other stylist and customers-things like “Girl, when you gonna come let me do somethin with that head?” Terrible.”
Terrible is an understatement. >=(
OVERBOOKING– that is the primary reason I do NOT miss going to the hair salon. I am 9 months natural (after a 10 month transition) and the last time I visited a salon was when I received my last relaxer in November of 2011. I used to get so frustrated when I would arrive at the salon and the stylist (I visited several) would be rotating between 3-4 people at one time. I don’t mind waiting, but there is a limit.
The only time I see myself visiting a salon as a natural is if I wanted to get kinky twists and/or braids installed. Other than that I like doing my own twist outs and styling. I’ve invested in a standing steamer and hair dryer and I feel like I have my own little salon at home, and it’s great because I’m the only customer! 😉
You could look at it that way but it also provides a great opportunity to now learn how to cater to naturals. But a lot just do not want to since they are so committed to methods that alter the natural state of black hair.
It is great to know how to do your own hair which is usually out of necessity for many naturals because of the lack of truly natural hair salons but every now and then it would be great if there was a salon where I could go and get my hair pampered without having to do it myself all the time.
The better question is, would that be a bad thing if it was?
I personally wouldn’t want anyone to not have their career, but the black salon’s (at least in my area) need to give better service; customer service is lacking.
after leaving Cali to a “large” city in rural Illinois out side of Chicago, i was at a loss without a good beautician. after experimenting with 6 stylist i decided to go natural. i dont have 4 hours to spend in the beauty salon, not getting my hair done for 2 of those hours. the lack of professionalism and inconsideration sent me to the drawing board. i too, go to a white stylist for my trims. and i love the fact that im in and OUT of there. its a family affair because my babies can get their cuts and trims too!
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Awwwww!!! Your babies are beautiful! And so are you! 🙂
+1 very cute!
Your babies are too precious! Love the pictures!
My last salon experience was amazing. I’ve had mostly good experiences, the handful of times that i went. would i go now? no, because i know that i prefer that my hair be handled a certain way that i doubt the stylists would cater to, so why risk it just to end up disappointed? but i do think that many are becoming progressive. there are still many black salons around here where i’m at, that are traditional and cater to the traditional relaxer crowd…and there are only two natural salons that i’m aware of, but i think most naturals prefer not to go to the salon because of cost. all the natural girls i know do their own hair. so, it could definitely mean a downsize in business though i doubt it means they’ll be extinct.
I don’t miss the salons. If anything, it’s the fault of the stylists/owners who let it fall to the wayside with their atrocious practices.
I do not miss salons and have found natrual ones to be just as reprehensible. Case in point, Nappy Rootz salon in Nashville, Tennessee. A friend of mine had her hair done there and walked out at 10 p.m. from her 5 p.m. appointment – no apology, no follow-up, no price break. They even asked an hour into her wait time if she could come back in a few days instead. she has natural hair and just went to have it twisted up.
I hate going to the hair salon. It has always been the most uncomfortable experiences in my life. The waiting, the awkwardness, the dissatisfaction. I don’t miss it at all.
Wow. I thought about this the other day when I ran into my former every 4 weeks stylist. While she was very supportive when I decided to ditch the relaxer 3 yrs ago, I think she thought that I would just go the blowdry/flatironed route. While I did do that for about 2 months post natural decision, I soon decided that I wanted to totally embrace my natural hair.
I do get my hair flat iron about 2xs per year (length check and just for a different look) but what I find weird is that a Black hairstylist has -0- idea of how to care for natural Black hair other than straightening it. When I have gone into her her, I’ve gone in already cowashed and conditioned b/c if not Black Stylist have tended to be too rough on my curls – too much scrubbing and too harsh shampoos. So, yeah, I’m a basically a self stylist and get most of my styles from sites like this and Youtube gurus like my fav Napptural84 That said, I don’t think that the “natural movement” will be the demise of Black salons; there will always be people who want this service. However, I do think that Black salons need to embrace the “movement” and educate their stylist in natural haircare in order to stay afloat.
Most Cosmetology courses don’t teach about the proper care of natural hair. To make matters worse, many women in the past have used chemicals in their hair, so people were also not learning this at home. It’s no surprise that many stylists have no clue!
If only for the $$$$$ Black hair salon owners had better get on board w/ the “natural movement.” If their stylists don’t have the training in styling natural hair it would be profitable to teach them. I wouldn’t mind being able to come into a spa/salon sometimes to give myself a treat and have someone who is knowledgeable about natural hair, as well as uses styling products that are actually good for my hair. But, the days of me coming in on a regular basis are way over.
I totally agree,my old salon had great customer service but the overbooking did get annoying at times and i just feel i would be charged extra because my hair is natural and i am not a child as they have cheaper prices for natural children. 🙁
My message is to salons,stylists out there reading this is to stay up to date.I don’t have anything against you but I wish natural hair would be understood and treated with TLC! 🙂
Yes salons do seem to charge you more as some sort of punishment if your hair is natural or long (relaxed or natural.” If you have long (anything past shoulder length), thick natural hair like I have, you sometimes get looks of disbelief that you expect to have your hair styled in a salon and stylist whispering to each other to come up w/ some ridiculous price to charge.
I’m a natural hairstylist. I got licensed to be a natural hairstylist. I am also an educator, one woman support system, and textured hair image consultant. I make it my business to be on time, attentive, and supportive of my clients. I, and salon owners like me, am the new generation of cosmetologist. I think a lot of these ladies need to experiance the type of salon I run.
Hi i love the topic Let me give my POV from France. We do have a corner of black salons and the same issues of not be able to find a good saloon for natural hair. But as the majority of black people are childrens of immigrants, the hairstyle that are still very popular are braids. The good thing with braids is that even if the hairstyler is not good with natural hair, she knows how to braid. so i guess even with the rise of natural hair, these saloons are still full.
I was going to make a similar point but from a slightly different angle:
Long before relaxers and perms became so popular in Kenya, where I grew up, salons were always packed on weekends. Even with natural hair many women came to get their hair braided with extensions, or cornrowed or threaded. I remember those days with fondness. So, just because many women in the U.S. are going natural does not mean salon culture has to die.
I think the main reason many natural-haired women don’t go to salons anymore is the prohibitive cost when it’s labelled:”Natural hair salon”.The bad experiences narrated here also don’t help! You can still go to the salon for various kinds of braids–(with your own hair) or for twist-outs or braid-outs if you don’t want to do it at home.I for one wish there was an affordable salon close to where I live, I would go more often. The stylists just have to figure out a way to keep bringing in customers by making it a good experience!!
I don’t think so. I think it depends on what you want and or need which is dependent apon where you’re going to decide to go. I’ve been natural for 12 years and still go to the “beauty” shop. Being natural, I dont feel like I need to go as often as I did when I was relaxed. Now.. granted… I did have some expereinces EXTREMELY horrible experiences close to what the ladies above described that made me not ever want to go back but, once I found a great stylist that was the antiphrasis to to the descriptions above, I’ve been sticking with her for 10 years now.
what is antiphrasis? did you mean antithesis?
I did feel the need to switch salons when I did my big chop as I could tell that my former salon would not have any idea what to do with my natural hair. But, I found a great salon where the owner is a black woman with natural hair that provides both natural and relaxed hair services.
I have been going there for about 6 months now, every 5-6 weeks just to get a trim and a good deep conditioning. It is a great atmosphere with women talking about the events, laughing together, relaxed women complementing naturals hair styles and vice-versa.
It has been great to see the “natural vs relaxed” line disappear in the salon, we are all women, we all want to look good and feel good about ourselves and our hair – this brings us together in the salon.
If black salon owners are able to keep up with the needs of black women, there will always be sisters willing & able to spend their time & money in a salon that serves them well.
I agree it is really a Shame for the beauty salons. However like many other businesses. They need to up there game and learn about our natural texture. I no longer attend the salons in fear of them ripping that tiny rat tail comb through my 4b hair. Which is exactly what happened to me when I did my big chop.
I left in pain. And now I’m at shoulder length I would love to go to the salon on those lazy days but I just can’t.
I don’t understand the stylists who insist on trying to pull small tooth combs through natural hair. It’s true that they can do it but I get lots of pain and hair loss from the unnecessary yanking.
Even when I ask for a wider tooth comb, I get ignored as if I don’t know that I’m talking about.
Although I don’t go to the salon, I don’t think black salons are on the brink of extinction, but I do think they’re forced to step their game up and become more efficient and effective. First, not everyone is natural or is willing to be. Despite the rising numbers of natural women, not every black woman wants to give up their relaxers and texturizers. Second, some natural women like to straighten their hair and aren’t necessarily comfortable doing it themselves. My sisters have been natural for much longer than me (over a decade) and prefer to straighten their tresses once a month over wearing their hair in non heat or protective styles. Other women may wear weaves as protective styles and need a stylist put the weave in, as well. Third, some people just like having other people do their hair and enjoy the social experience of the salon. The last stylists that I went to a couple of years ago specialized in natural hair and was incredibly helpful and efficient, introducing me to products and taking less than an hour, but I just preferred to do my own hair. Not every stylist is a slow, bumbling idiot with a pressing comb on the stove. A lot of salons have moved into the 21st century and realized what kind of experience their customers desire.
Where is this magical salon? I’d like to try them out. I’ve never seen such a place in my life.
“The last stylists that I went to a couple of years ago specialized in natural hair and was incredibly helpful and efficient, introducing me to products and taking less than an hour”
I do not believe it’s the end of the salon culture. While many woman are making the choice to go “natural” there are just as many who are adamant about remaining on the creamy crack (and that is their choice).
It will probably impact the the salons a bit, as I’m sure it has already done with others, but just like the relaxers are trying to appeal to us by throwing around “shea butter” and “olive oil”, I’m sure the salons will try to appeal to naturals in some type of way as well.
You know, I was beginning to think there was “nothing new under the sun” for natural hair blogs to discuss, but this is the first topic in a while where I’ve thought — “That’s a really good point!” When I first went natural 10 years ago, I lamented the fact that there were no natural hair salons in my area. But now that I’ve chopped my locs and am natural again on the other side of the Youtube/blog explosion, there’s much more of a sense of personal empowerment when it comes to dealing with our God-given textures. I was so busy celebrating that fact that it didn’t dawn on me that the “beauty shop” culture would be a necessary casualty.
Dang! This post is actually making me think about something else — I never really gave much thought to why everyone I know called those places “beauty shops” or “beauty salons” instead of what they really were — “hair salons.” Maybe it’s a small thing, but it’s interesting that we linked what was going on in those places (I was amening Dolores’s first comment above) with the subjective notion of what’s beautiful.
Anyway, it kinda saddens me the price of progress sometimes weakens cultural institutions in our communities, but it is what it is. As crazy as it is, I do miss the vibe of the beauty shop — but not enough to sacrifice the health of my hair or the better part of my weekend to reclaim it. Thanks for a great article. (My only nit is that I wish the author had used the correct homophone “site” instead of “sight”, but her points are well-taken.)
+1
and totally agree about “there’s much more of a sense of personal empowerment”.
My memories of hair salons are not fond, so I am not shedding any tears for the decline of the “beauty shop culture.” Here’s what I remember:
1. having a room full of unsmiling faces stare at me when I walk in
2. waiting at least 1 hour before I am seen for my appointment
3. listening to negative comments from the stylist about my hair
4. sitting there while the stylist watches t.v., chats, and barely pays attention to what she’s doing to my hair
5. not being happy with how my hair looks
6. paying an obscene price
7. leaving after 4 or 5 hours
I feel you. I’ve been natural since 2004, but in my whole life I only visited the salon once when I was 18 right after high school to try a new more grown up look. The stylist cut my hair to my chin in a slight bob, and put light brown high lights. I was in that salon from about 10am to 5pm. Even though I got there first, she was doing two or three other peoples hair at the same time. That was my first and last trip, a few months later I started transitioning. The salon is so time consuming and that doesn’t fit into my lifestyle:)
I agree. I remember all of that, too, plus
8. The pain of a stinging relaxer
9. Wishing I looked like a white girl so I wouldn’t have to go through this.
Who needs it? I suppose I could mangle some of my memories into fond reminiscence if I were so inclined, but it wasn’t worth it. It was just a huge, time-sucking, expensive pain in the butt. The day I realized I had a choice in the matter (I was 18ish) was the day I stopped torturing myself trying to make my hair into something it wasn’t. That was 12 years ago, and I haven’t looked back!
Except for the fact that 1) I never wanted to look like a white girl, 2) I was 30 when I realized I had a choice and 3) it’s been almost 17 years since I went natural, this is me to a tee and this is the primary reason why I went natural. I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve been to a salon this century.
There is no reason why black salon culture has to end. Stylists and salon owners simply need to GET WITH THE PROGRAM. More and more customers are refusing to fall for the okey-doke.
I realize that there will have to be more naturals and more demand before prices for natural services start to drop, but until that time, if I’m going to pay $$$ for a service, I, my time, and my hair need to be treated with respect and consideration, otherwise you will not get my business. That’s called Econ 101.
I don’t know WHY black women are being made to feel guilty for making smart choices for themselves…except that historically black women have always been expected to SETTLE FOR LESS and support everybody EXCEPT THEMSELVES (and by that I mean one’s own self and family). If stylists and salon owners aren’t willing to evolve to meet the demands of their customers, then I guess they’ll just have to find another line of work. Econ 101!
Amen!
Ditto/+1. I didn’t go to salons very much when I was younger. My mother spent every Saturday doing our hair right before church service on Sunday. When I would go to a salon, I hated how long you had to wait and how much you had to pay. Even when I got my locs retwisted at a natural hair salon, I ended up hating the products they used on my hair and hating how much I paid for something I could easily do myself. The closest I got to a “salon” experience was when I started my locs and I would go to the same woman every couple of months to get my hair groomed. She was nice, professional, and did a great job. But when I went to college, I didn’t want to find a new loctician, so I just started grooming my hair myself. Also, some stylists can be very aggressive with you. You want style A, but they insist you can only get style B. I was even told by a braidtician (real word?) that I couldn’t curly micros because my hair was natural. So I had to get straight. That didn’t really make any sense to me.
Ausert
Usually when a stylist tells you can’t have something it’s because they don’t know how to do it! I had a stylist tell me he couldn’t cut my hair with electric clippers because I had an odd-shaped head and it wouldn’t look right!!!!!!!! :-). The next stylist assured me(I was young and of course devasted about my newly idendified weird head) that my head was fine, cut my hair, and sent me happily on my way!!!! It’s a serious mental experience in the salon.
I agree. I have many negative memories of being bored senseless spending 5 hours in a salon. It was very common for stylists to complain about my hair being too thick and imply that whomever had done my hair before them did not know what they were doing. I’ve had stylist eat meals, work on multiple heads, not start working on me until 1-2 hours after my scheduled appointment, and not show up for my appointment.
I have a dream…that one day, black women and white women will be able to visit the same salons to receive quality hair care.
+1!! I feel you, that is exactly how I remember it, and I don’t miss it one bit.
I agree.
Amen!
Ooooh Dolores Girl-Talk about it-lol! You brought me back-I remember those things well. Some salons were ok, but others were just as you described-well said :-)!
Things I don’t miss…
Number 8: Eating your lunch while working on me.
Number 9: The smell of burnt hair.
Number 10: Being gawked at by other patrons because “all that hair” was mine.
Number 11: Bootleg movie man hawking his wares.
LOL @bootleg movie man. I had someone braid my hair while eating. Disgusting. I have sat around ALL day just to get braids that cost me close to 200 dollars to get. Also, is it just me, or does this “decline of hair salons” sounding a bit like “Blame It On the Naa-aa-a-aturals.”?
Bootleg movie man! Bwahahha! I also got harassed by Bootleg Purse & Jewelry guy!
Shoot that’s how I was entertained my whole freshman year of college. Each break, got a new purse and a load up on CDs and VHS tapes(yeah I was in college when having a VCR was still cool lol).
I worked in the shop as a shampoo assistant, and I remember my stylist was actually good at keeping my hair healthy. She would scold me if I didn’t wrap it correctly, or if I used too much heat on my hair. She never understood why I had a relaxer, and would actually stretch my touch-ups. The stylist prior to her was just a good, but not as skilled. I actually followed them from another shop because the first stylist was horrible for my hair. I can say it was only as an adult that I’ve had horrible experiences with salons, which is why I don’t go to one. I mean I’m actually kind of shell-shock with people not having any knowledge of how to treat natural hair. Just because it’s not silky and shiny doesn’t mean you have to be rough with it.
lol @ Emme. you go girl, especially with number 10. I mean, dang at least say, ” your hair looks good.” I used to have to speak first and the women would just grunt back. Maybe they were mad about spending 4 or 5 hours there or their beautician eating lunch near them. LOL.
Couldn’t have said it better.
I agree with you girls, I can recall 3 occasions where I have left a salon without my hair been finished because I couldn’t take the behaviour of the stylists, they act like they are doing you a favour but forget you are paying for a service.
I think the black barber shop will survive but the black hair salon I think there will be fewer of them, there are always people who want to get their hair done. Going to get your hair done should be a much looked forward to treat not something you dread.
The barber shop will survive, glad that I don’t need the services of the quote beauty salon anymore. I don’t miss it and the cost either so glad that I can do my own hair.
ditto…..LOL!
I feel the same way
OOOh Girl Yes, to all of those, but i do think that the decline has more to do with competition and lack of professionalism. I couldn’t wait to go natural because it meant i would have to deal with the stuff that you listed once I learned my hair.( and I will add one: 8. You beautician having to leave due to a baby or being sent to another location to help them start up and your hair going straight to pot and you paying obscene amounts of money just to get it back together again. And 9. searching for a new beautician after all of those listed have occured. LOL. i do not miss that mess!)
I feel you Dolores. Every single point. When I got sick of burnt scalps because of #4, I became a natural.
I was a military kid who moved around often until well after college. I was never a local at any salon and I often felt taken advantage of (charged more) because I wasn’t a regular.
So add me to the list of those who won’t shed many tears for the disappearance of the black salon.