Natural Hair Salons- Do you go?

[Ladybelle]

Hi ladies, I'm just wondering for those who are natural or who try to use all or mostly all natural products... do you visit natural hair salons? Or once you learn how to handle your hair yourself do you try not to visit the salon at all?

If there was a reputable natural salon in your area that really cared about your life and knew how to effectively & gently deal with natural hair/styles and products, would you go??


Thanks!

 

[FunkyDiva]

Since being natural I haven't been to a salon. The is a natural hair salon in my area that's supposed to be really good but they seem pricey. I may look into them if I decide to get color.

 

[Ladybelle]

Since being natural I haven't been to a salon. The is a natural hair salon in my area that's supposed to be really good but they seem pricey. I may look into them if I decide to get color.

So, you'd only go for special services and do everything else yourself?

 

[ToyToy]

Well, I haven't been in a very long time, but my ends were really dry and unhealthy looking (with a bit of split ends), so I thought I'd try Purely Natural (London-Ladies, the one in Stratford) which is a natural hair salon. I called in on Monday morning for an appointment for a wash, condition, blowdry and trim.
Well, the lady shampooed my hair four (!) times. By the time she finished with me my hair was squeaking for mercy. I wash my hair weekly, and my hair was not really dirty anyway, so I didn't quite understand why she had to shampoo so often. Then she put a tiny bit of conditioner on the front part of my hair (never bothered to cover the back of my head) and proceeded to detangle. Oddly, my hair was not tangled at all. When she finished, she put a little ORS olive cream, blew out my hair with the comb attachement and proceeded to trim my hair. She did do a good job trimming my hair, but my hair was sooooooooo dry .
So, in a nutshell, no I don't think I will be going back. I would love to find a natural hair salon where the staff actually know what they are doing, though.

OP, sorry, didn't intend to hijack your thread .

 

[Leeda.the.Paladin]

If there were one in my area, I might go IF I'd heard good reviews and IF I'd seen a fully thorough book of former clients (they have a name for it, but I forget) Right now there are a few places that say they do natural hair, but I just don't know if I would trust them.

 

[Junebug D]

I would go for a treat or for special services. The prices at natural salons are expensive though, at least in my area. I haven't been. I can't bear to spend $75+ on two-strand twists when I know I can do them myself. erplexed (And that's usually the cheapest style you can get!)

 

[mscocoface]

If there was one in my area I would go in a heartbeat. But most are in Long Beach and LA County and I do NOT feel like driving that far and having to pay for the gas and the service. That would cost a fortune right now.

 

[Nonie]

Hi ladies, I'm just wondering for those who are natural [I am natural] or who try to use all or mostly all natural products [I don't try to use all or mostly natural products]... do you visit natural hair salons? [No] Or once you learn how to handle your hair yourself do you try not to visit the salon at all? [N/A...never gone to one.]

If there was a reputable natural salon in your area that really cared about your life and knew how to effectively & gently deal with natural hair/styles and products, would you go?? [Nope. I don't trust anyone with my hair, nor do I think anyone cares about it or my life as much as I do and can.]


Thanks!

 

[blacklove0607]

Probably not. I'm just beginning to transition and from what I see of the natural hair salons, there would be not much benefit in my visiting as one of the things I'm going to enjoy about being natural is saving. One of my coworkers goes to a natural salon in DC - I just found out yesterday her hair is natural - no chemicals in 6 years - but she has a sleek relaxed look. She explained to me it took a while to get it there, then proceeded to tell me she wouldn't recommend this person if I'm interested in saving time.

 

[JustKiya]

I might go - rarely - for a special treat, if I had heard excellent reviews, and they had a banging portfolio.

Honestly, I doubt that I can afford to pay someone else to handle my hair the way I would need/want them to - at least not right now. Maybe in a bit, I'll be able to drop 300 bucks on a single salon visit for a wash and dry and condition and style, but right now? Nah, sis.

I've never liked going to salons though - women claim they are supposed to be 'relaxing' and 'pampering' and while I've gone to a spa and had that experience - I've never had someone else do my hair and it be pampering and relaxing.

 

[that_1_grrrl]

Ever since I have learned to take care of my own hair, I have had 0 interest in going to a salon. I do not like the idea of anyone else having control over my hair. I went a natural salon once to have my TWA shaped up (my grandmother told me to do so). The man (apparently, the women only knew how to do twists, locs, and braids) ripped through my hair and then told me I would have to come back every week to get it shaped up. I never went back.

I plan to keep doing my own hair at home.

 

[tada1]

i don't think i'd visit a natural salon. heck, one of the reasons i went natural was to avoid them overpriced hair pullers

 

[LayneJ]

I would go in a heartbeat.

I've been looking for a natural salon, but I haven't ran across one yet. Now, I go to Toni & Guy; my stylist there is natural, but her prices are not student-friendly. I only go to her 2x/year or when my father gives me money to go.

 

[Nayna]

I would like to go to one if they weren't so overpriced! Theres this old school one that's been by my moms house for years so when I went natural I went there and my hair was barely SL and she charged me 25 for a press and then 10 bucks more to curl the friggin ends! Thats including a wash but no deep condition. Then all the stinking wax they put on my head, it just wasn't worth it, and my dumb self went back again a few weeks later and the same woman charged me 35 for the press an an extra 10 for the curl! Lol, I'm my own best hairdresser at this point

 

[mscocoface]

Okay I thought it was me regarding the pricing. Why are the natural salons so much more expensive than the regular ones? I went to one in LA and just to get my hair flat twisted into a pony tail and a phoney pony put on it was $75 dollars. I thought that was waaaaay tooo much which is why I have not went back.

I know when you put in extensions it cost at least when I went a few years back it was almost $200 I told her no thank you and have not been back to that person since.

I visited one place a few months back in LA and this lady was charge $25.00 per hour and of course she kept getting interrupted. I felt sorry for her customer but had determined there was no way I was going to be going to anyone to get my hair done.

I am now getting people asking me to do their hair when they see what I do to my own head. I had one girl ask me today and she is NOT a woman of color. I was totally shocked, didn't see that one coming. I have had 4 requests for doing someone elses hair in the last month.

Hmmmmmmm, maybe I should start thinking about this.....

 

[KEWLKAT103]

Yes, as a treat or if they were doing something special that I didn't know how to do or want to do.
I like taking care of my own hair and feel I'm good at it.

 

[Ladybelle]

Well, I haven't been in a very long time, but my ends were really dry and unhealthy looking (with a bit of split ends), so I thought I'd try Purely Natural (London-Ladies, the one in Stratford) which is a natural hair salon. I called in on Monday morning for an appointment for a wash, condition, blowdry and trim.
Well, the lady shampooed my hair four (!) times. By the time she finished with me my hair was squeaking for mercy. I wash my hair weekly, and my hair was not really dirty anyway, so I didn't quite understand why she had to shampoo so often. Then she put a tiny bit of conditioner on the front part of my hair (never bothered to cover the back of my head) and proceeded to detangle. Oddly, my hair was not tangled at all. When she finished, she put a little ORS olive cream, blew out my hair with the comb attachement and proceeded to trim my hair. She did do a good job trimming my hair, but my hair was sooooooooo dry .
So, in a nutshell, no I don't think I will be going back. I would love to find a natural hair salon where the staff actually know what they are doing, though.

OP, sorry, didn't intend to hijack your thread .

I think that's part of the problem - some salons claim to cater to natural hair but then don't seem to have an inkling on what their doing. There are some key differences between relaxed and natural hair and the care of it requires a seperate set of knowledge. Cosmetology schools focuses mainly on chemical services hence the requirement for a degree that teaches you how to apply them. As far as i know, there is no school that teaches how to handle natural hair.That experience sure wouldn't have elicited a second visit from me!! You didn't hijack the thread and I appreciate your comment!

 

[Ladybelle]

I would go for a treat or for special services. The prices at natural salons are expensive though, at least in my area. I haven't been. I can't bear to spend $75+ on two-strand twists when I know I can do them myself. erplexed (And that's usually the cheapest style you can get!)

Another problem- the good salons be "bustin heads" for lack of better term with the prices. I personally went to a mixed salon where she charges me $65.00 just to wash and press. I thought that to be kind of extreme. Does the term "you get what you pay for" have any significance to this situation with quality natural salons or is it possible to find quality hair care at an affordable/reasonable price??

 

[Ladybelle]

I might go - rarely - for a special treat, if I had heard excellent reviews, and they had a banging portfolio.

Honestly, I doubt that I can afford to pay someone else to handle my hair the way I would need/want them to - at least not right now. Maybe in a bit, I'll be able to drop 300 bucks on a single salon visit for a wash and dry and condition and style, but right now? Nah, sis.

I've never liked going to salons though - women claim they are supposed to be 'relaxing' and 'pampering' and while I've gone to a spa and had that experience - I've never had someone else do my hair and it be pampering and relaxing.

I feel you on this! Paying a whole lot of money for something you can do yourself seems to be counter productive for the wallet. I have walked out of a hair salon ( in my relaxed days) plenty of times. I would set an appt and get there before time & still have to wait an hour or two before getting into the chair??? I absolutely hated that!! So much so, I'd leave and find something else to do with my hair. In fact, the salon experience is what kinda pushed me into going natural. Good stylists are so hard to find.... I just wonder if there was a natural salon that
1)knew what they were doing
2) cared about maintaining & growing natural hair
3) provided all natural products
4) had low to minimal waiting time
&
5) affordable prices

would it even be lucrative? B/c from the responses i'm getting it seems a lot of those who are natural would rather do their hair themselves. Maybe this is why there aren't many"natural" salons???

I dunno...

 

[Twisties]

Yes, I would go to a natural haircare salon. I get so tired of putting the twists in lately, I just let someone else do them.

I don't like the cost though--$65-$75 is the average price for the service.

 

[Ladybelle]

Ever since I have learned to take care of my own hair, I have had 0 interest in going to a salon. I do not like the idea of anyone else having control over my hair. I went a natural salon once to have my TWA shaped up (my grandmother told me to do so). The man (apparently, the women only knew how to do twists, locs, and braids) ripped through my hair and then told me I would have to come back every week to get it shaped up. I never went back.

I plan to keep doing my own hair at home.

oops! another bad experience! With so many women going natural, it seems we would begin to see more natural shops. I guess not. And, after taking the time to learn your hair pattern, what your hair likes and what it does not like, i'm sure it can be very frustrating to have an experience like the one you had.

If anyone has had a good experience with a natural salon or one that specializes in natural hair- shout them out. It's not my intent to be one-sided!! I've been to two (there aren't that many in my area that I know about) and I wouldn't go back to either one of them.

If I find one, I'd probably stick with them. I'm still new to the natural hair and if I could find a good, quality salon- it would be all good. It takes some effort to maintain natural hair. I'm still learning the tricks and shortcuts (if there are any).

 

[Nayna]

Another problem- the good salons be "bustin heads" for lack of better term with the prices. I personally went to a mixed salon where she charges me $65.00 just to wash and press. I thought that to be kind of extreme. Does the term "you get what you pay for" have any significance to this situation with quality natural salons or is it possible to find quality hair care at an affordable/reasonable price??

$65 For a friggin wash and press?! Did she DC?? And Here I am crying over 35, lol

 

[Ladybelle]

Okay I thought it was me regarding the pricing. Why are the natural salons so much more expensive than the regular ones? I went to one in LA and just to get my hair flat twisted into a pony tail and a phoney pony put on it was $75 dollars. I thought that was waaaaay tooo much which is why I have not went back.

I know when you put in extensions it cost at least when I went a few years back it was almost $200 I told her no thank you and have not been back to that person since.

I visited one place a few months back in LA and this lady was charge $25.00 per hour and of course she kept getting interrupted. I felt sorry for her customer but had determined there was no way I was going to be going to anyone to get my hair done.

I am now getting people asking me to do their hair when they see what I do to my own head. I had one girl ask me today and she is NOT a woman of color. I was totally shocked, didn't see that one coming. I have had 4 requests for doing someone elses hair in the last month.

Hmmmmmmm, maybe I should start thinking about this.....

Indeed, think about it. As far as the costs go, maybe it's supply and demand?? I've really been thinking about it, which is why I started this thread. I don't understand it. It seems it would be somewhat cheaper to do natural hair because it doesn't have to be manipulated as much. Maybe because it takes longer? Or maybe because hair dressers don't want to be bother with natural hair??

$25.00 per hour???? you have got to be kidding! I would have politely went elsewhere. that's just outrageous

 

[Ladybelle]

Yes, I would go to a natural haircare salon. I get so tired of putting the twists in lately, I just let someone else do them.

I don't like the cost though--$65-$75 is the average price for the service.

So what do you think would be a fair price for this service?

 

[BrandNew]

I did my BC at a natural hair salon (Natural Trendsetters) but I haven't been back since and that's just because it's a little out of the way. I have only seen good reviews on them and I had a good experience there. I plan to go back soon.

 

[Twisties]

So what do you think would be a fair price for this service?

I really think $40-$50 would be fair - depending on the size of the twists. Men pay $30 for cornrows. Women are charged double for styling all the time.

Off topic, but it's the same for dry cleaning--women pay $8 for a shirt while men can pay $2-$4. NOT FAIR.

 

[RavenMaven]

I'd do my own hair, and go to the salon just to be pampered every blue moon.

 

[loulou82]

I would definitely go to a natural salon if I was impressed with their work. If the prices were reasonable I would go monthly for a wash and steam treatment. If it were on the high end then I would go every 3-4 months for special services like straightening or trims.

 

[MrJohnsonsRib]

I would if I knew they were REALLY natural folks or at least knew how to cater to a natural's needs and respect her way of life. I didn't know natural hair stylists exist lol lol...j/k. Its just that there are so many pretend folks and so many terrible stylists that good ones with true hair care values that I don't doubt they are hard to come across...I wish I knew somebody that was good cause I'd be in his/ her chair right now...lord send somebody or some conditioner to help my hair!

 

[darlingdiva]

Well, I haven't been in a very long time, but my ends were really dry and unhealthy looking (with a bit of split ends), so I thought I'd try Purely Natural (London-Ladies, the one in Stratford) which is a natural hair salon. I called in on Monday morning for an appointment for a wash, condition, blowdry and trim.
Well, the lady shampooed my hair four (!) times. By the time she finished with me my hair was squeaking for mercy. I wash my hair weekly, and my hair was not really dirty anyway, so I didn't quite understand why she had to shampoo so often. Then she put a tiny bit of conditioner on the front part of my hair (never bothered to cover the back of my head) and proceeded to detangle. Oddly, my hair was not tangled at all. When she finished, she put a little ORS olive cream, blew out my hair with the comb attachement and proceeded to trim my hair. She did do a good job trimming my hair, but my hair was sooooooooo dry .
So, in a nutshell, no I don't think I will be going back. I would love to find a natural hair salon where the staff actually know what they are doing, though.

OP, sorry, didn't intend to hijack your thread .

Doesn't the ORS olive cream have petrolatum and/or mineral oil in it? If I'm going to a natural salon, I only want natural and high-quality ingredients to be used on my hair. If a hairdresser is going to put that on my hair, I can take $5 from her fee & buy it from Duane Reade myself (Shoot, if I bought if from Duane Reade, I'd eventually be getting the money back anyway b/c of the $5 reward that club card members receive when the earn 100 points.)