what made you decide to no longer rely on stylist to do your hair?

[sckri23]

I went to the salon to get my hair done a month ago. I was lookin for the stylist that almost had me at shoulder length but she wasnt there anymore :'( . Ima go back for a relaxer and wrap to see how the "other" stylists treat my hair.

But I miss that woman. The only heat she put on my hair was the hooded dryer. I was almost SL, I was sooo close. If her intern hadnt messed up my relaxer and left that bald spot....... I would still be her client and I might be WL.

Im still trying to learn how to get salon results at home just in case those other stylists dont cut it.

 

[Blyss_curls]

Forgive me...the more I think about this issue, the more stuff I remember that irked me. For example:

The suspicious minds of stylists and the attitude that they can't GIVE anything w/out risking losing their clients.

Can't tell you how many stylists got right ugly when I dared to ask about a product they used on my hair. erplexed

Once I asked a stylist about this. Her response,"....oooh chile--I can't stand folks askin' what I'm puttin' in their head--so they can go get it and do their hair themselves....uh uh. I aint havin' THAT!"

Wait....what?!
Seriously? Wow.


Where do I start w/that kind of professional ignorance?

Businesses can not function from a place of "keeping clientele in the dark."

A smart and business savvy stylist would know, a client asking about product isn't a risk, it's an opportunity. If the client likes the product (the way it smells, the way it feels, the way it makes their hair feel)...they'll want it. If they want it, why aren't you making it available in your salon for clients?

:realitycheck: Um....Duh!

If a stylist isn't interested in selling clients products, at the very least--be interested in educating the client. Clients are entitled to know what is being used AND HOW it's being used to condition, style, etc. their hair.

Maybe it's just me, but I believe that informed consumers, become loyal consumers. Informing and giving clients information, products, tips, whatever tells them the stylist WANTS to help--to be of service. The client is more than a dollar sign, the stylist is interested in you and your hair.

If more of these triflin' people took the time to do this, I doubt there would be so many complaints and DIY'ers by default.

 

[JJamiah]

The great one was too far away.
the others gave inconsistent results from bad to worse. Was not pleased giving up my money when my hair looked like garbage.

 

[Iluvsmuhgrass]

1. Inconsistent appointment times. I'm on time but the client before me came in late so "I" have to wait while you do her hair. No offense but that troll should have been on time. She needs to step to the back of the bus.

2. Drama and lack of professionalism. I literally had to step in and put my foot down between four women that acted like children. I'm mild mannered and soft spoken, but I don't tolerate foolishness. I didn't go there for them to physically come to blows. I went to get my hair done. No offense, I feel your pain about Ray-ray being a low class loser that's moochin' off of you and all... but you knew what kind of life he was living BEFORE you chose to have a child. Take care of your business before going to work. Don't get mad because he shows up to YOUR job to borrow YOUR money so he can hang out with HIS friends and booze it up while YOU are working your fingers down to the elbows. erplexed I'm not judging you for your decisions because that's not any of my business... but don't take it out on everyone around you in your place of business. No ma'am.

3. Relaxer inconsistency. I was sooo over the scabs, the burning, the "Let-me-leave-it-on-until-you-can't-take-it-anymore-because-thats-the-way-you-get-bone-straight-hurr", and the lack of scalp/hair health. I would go a few months with healthy hair after it was cut (not trimmed but cut), have a good stretch, go back and have to start it all over again due to over-processing or lack of a good treatment.

4. Cheap products. Stop buying products from Uncle NoBidness, LeRoy, Skillet, 'n' em just because they're cheap!! I don't know dem people!!! I know Mizani, Bonner Brothers, Aveda, Giovanni, and his cousin-in-law Nexxus!

5. Mediocre styling. I'm sorry but if I'm paying you an arm, a leg, and a couple of kidneys... my grass should be LAID FOR THE GODS!!! When my curls fall before I leave the salon and it's NOT humid out.... Uhhh no.

 

[sckri23]

First try at college the salon across the street worst experience ever!!! A dooby wrap is not gel-flatironed hair and spikes also gel ironed. My hair was already super damaged cause I didnt know how to stretch my relaxers. Shedding plus a root to tip relaxer then gel with heat!? Really??? Ugh Im suprised I didnt go bald!!!

 

[MrsJaiDiva]

It's nothing I miss! I didn't stop going on purpose, but now that I don't need to go anymore, I'm so glad! My hair, and my Scalp are so much healthier now! I don't miss the heat, and I don't miss the relaxer burns....and I SO Don't Miss the Dominican stylists popping ish in Spanish behind my back!!

Buh-Bye B*tches!

 

[Angelinhell]

Forgive me...the more I think about this issue, the more stuff I remember that irked me. For example:

The suspicious minds of stylists and the attitude that they can't GIVE anything w/out risking losing their clients.

Can't tell you how many stylists got right ugly when I dared to ask about a product they used on my hair. erplexed

Once I asked a stylist about this. Her response,"....oooh chile--I can't stand folks askin' what I'm puttin' in their head--so they can go get it and do their hair themselves....uh uh. I aint havin' THAT!"

Wait....what?!
Seriously? Wow.


Where do I start w/that kind of professional ignorance?

Businesses can not function from a place of "keeping clientele in the dark."

A smart and business savvy stylist would know, a client asking about product isn't a risk, it's an opportunity. If the client likes the product (the way it smells, the way it feels, the way it makes their hair feel)...they'll want it. If they want it, why aren't you making it available in your salon for clients?

:realitycheck: Um....Duh!

If a stylist isn't interested in selling clients products, at the very least--be interested in educating the client. Clients are entitled to know what is being used AND HOW it's being used to condition, style, etc. their hair.

Maybe it's just me, but I believe that informed consumers, become loyal consumers. Informing and giving clients information, products, tips, whatever tells them the stylist WANTS to help--to be of service. The client is more than a dollar sign, the stylist is interested in you and your hair.

If more of these triflin' people took the time to do this, I doubt there would be so many complaints and DIY'ers by default.

ITA! Had she just told me what she was using, or even just recommended something to use, I wouldn't have got curious and on the internet looking. But I guess it turned out for the best. I hope more black women start getting curious and learn how to take care of their hair themselves.

 

[SherylsTresses]

- Cost
- Long wait times
- Health of my hair should be in my hands, not anyone else's
- Don't want to hear comments about MY hair
- Don't want to be too picky about my hair with stylists; not sure how they will take me

 

[kupenda]

Broke as hell

 

[BEAUTYU2U]

These threads are always an eye opener. I was raised as a DIYer. Depending on someone else to care for my hair is like relying on someone to wash my body. It's a shame the things y'all gone through just wanting to pamper yourselves.

 

[fatimablush]

i remember once i did my own touch up the night before i went to the salon.
that ***** went and relaxed my entire head. that was unnecessary. i also wanted
a certain hair style i came home with a mullet. my SO at the time laughed so hard..i cried.

a few months ago i went to get a cut...it was okay..it looked better when my sis took the scissors and evened up the back and cut some bangs into it.

i will never forget when i went to the salon in 2010...and left with burnt hair...i went to the store and a lady said she smelt something burnt and started sniffing. it was that bad. my car held that scent for weeks.

i can't...i had a lot of progress my hair was healthy and all of that...but they always come up with the following excuses..you need your ends clipped. your hair is dry...you need this treatment....you need a touch up...you have heat damage...when you don't.

 

[closertomydreams]

I got sick and tired of waiting in her shop for my turn. I'm serious I would leave work early and be there by 4. I still wouldn't get home until after 10. Done with that mess. Plus my hair is 100% better now that I'm my own stylist.

 

[greenandchic]

The decision came from reading hair forums, message boards, customer reviews, etc over the years. I've been reading hair forums since the World Wide Web was born and found out women of all races and hair types have tons of horror stories to share.

My worst personal experience was with a hair dresser that sexually harassed me when I was 17, but reading other people's experiences have me in DIY mode.

Other experiences include:

-Waiting 5 hours to get my hair done
-People smoked in the shop.
-People talking about my hair.
-

 

[naijaprincess09]

Same as a lot of others who posted. Leaving a relaxer in my hair for way too long and "trimming" way too much. The right side of my hair grows faster than the left and she was constantly cutting my hair to even things out even though I asked her not too. When she relaxed my hair she would always ask me if I was burning. She wouldn't wash it out unless my head was at least tingling . I have no idea why I went to her for like 5 yrs . I was young and had no idea how to care for my hair. I trusted her because she was a "professional". My hair still grows the same now that I'm natural. My hair was so stringy and gross that I figured I might as well go natural. I wasn't afraid of breakage because my hair already looked horrible.

Now I'm 100% natural and I love my hair. I'm fine with my fro, twist outs, and sew-ins. I usually do my hair myself but when I'm feeling lazy I go to a lady who specializes in natural hair. She does a good job.

 

[LongLeggedLife]

I unintentionally left with 1/4 as much as hair as I came in with for the 3rd time in my life.

 

[Blyss_curls]

These threads are always an eye opener. I was raised as a DIYer. Depending on someone else to care for my hair is like relying on someone to wash my body. It's a shame the things y'all gone through just wanting to pamper yourselves.

Thanks is not enough for that gorgeous clip of Olivia and Fitz. I love their, "...just ten minutes" moments. I get the biggest grin on my face every time I see you posting because of that! LOVE that show!

Ok. Back on topic--you are so blessed to have been brought up a DIY'er. I wish I was. I'm guessing a lot of us were sent to the shop early, as our mothers didn't have the time, patience or whatever else for dealing w/our heads. Know what I mean? Back in the day, mom didn't want to deal w/HER hair...much less ours...particularly if we were "tenderheaded."

I cried if someone walked in the other room and tried to get a comb out of the drawer....much less if they dared to bring it near me.

 

[lovebug10]

I've had my fair share of horrible stylists but I also have a select few who i love and trust them with anything related to hair care. One bad salon experience didn't deter me away from all stylists just the incompetant ones who actually messed up.

For me I love the stylists and mine is very good. Honestly its a combination of 1) being lazy to get there (I'm in college so to get to m preferred stylist its a 40 min public transportation ride), 2) not wanting to pay for it (usually ill use the money for better things like clothes or food or going out with friends) 3) being cheap

I really enjoy the convenience of a stylist and plan on returning to a good one once i graduate and have a real job.

 

[missyanne]

Waiting 5 hours, while her home girls are in and out under 2 hours. Waiting 5 hours and leaving the shop looking like I just did my hair. Last straw for me was when I lost my edges. I could not wear my hair back for 8 months.

 

[missyanne]

Thanks is not enough for that gorgeous clip of Olivia and Fitz. I love their, "...just ten minutes" moments. I get the biggest grin on my face every time I see you posting because of that! LOVE that show!

Ok. Back on topic--you are so blessed to have been brought up a DIY'er. I wish I was. I'm guessing a lot of us were sent to the shop early, as our mothers didn't have the time, patience or whatever else for dealing w/our heads. Know what I mean? Back in the day, mom didn't want to deal w/HER hair...much less ours...particularly if we were "tenderheaded."

I cried if someone walked in the other room and tried to get a comb out of the drawer....much less if they dared to bring it near me.

LMAO This remind me of my niece, this child would cry if you utter the word comb. It would take me 2 hours to do just 4 braids.

 

[CurlyMoo]

I actually wanted healthy, long hair.

And me continuing to use a stylist/hair dresser was not going to do it. They cut too much, relaxed it when I didn't ask for it or left it in longer than I wanted it in. Too many bad manners, unprofessionalism, ignorance and not knowing what the hell they were doing. If I relied on a stylist for the past 4 years, it would have been an endless cycle of over cutting, over paying, rough handling, and me wondering when I would grow this mythical long Black hair.

 

[shortt29]

I have been lucky and never really had any issues with the stylists that did my hair. My Godmother owned a Dominican salon in NY and she did my hair for 15 years before she moved to FL. My hair was in the best shape then. Even after she left and I found 2 other salons, I didn't really have an issue. For me, it was wanting to be able to do it myself since I relied on going to the salon so much.

Since finding LHCF in 2007, I have learned so much and that I CAN do my own hair. I'm not perfect at it but I don't NEED to pay someone else to do what I can do. Since deciding to transition and working out almost daily, I refuse to throw away $ at a salon.

 

[Kurlee]

burns (flat iron ones) and scissor happiness

 

[kinkycurlygurl]

I went in for a root touch up of my color. My hair is dark brown, I asked for dark brown. The "stylist" dyed just my roots blonde. Then she had the audacity to say she did what I asked for. When I asked to see the manager no one would own up to being in charge. Then they expected me to pay for the color correction.

 

[hairqueen7]

Overcharging for weaves, being in the salon for 8 hours +... Also not trying to disrespect ppl from the Caribbean but my stylist was from hati , when it was a full house that's all she talked about hati this how good the food is how strict they are ,n United they are , honeslty nobody cares just do my hair n shutup ,if its so great go open up a salon there lol ok : rant over.

 

[jbwphoto1]

I went to my cousin's salon for over 15 years with my relaxed hair usually with a standing Saturday morning appointment. When I wanted to stay away from relaxers for a while, I found another salon and everything was fine for about seven years. Then for my husband's birthday present year before last, I relaxed my hair. I lost hair down to my scalp over 70% of my head. I was on sick leave for a few weeks while my doctor helped me figure a couple of ways to deal with it. I haven't been back to that salon since.

I have been twice to the new salon around the corner from where I live now - once last year for wash, protein, deep condition and goddess braids and once this year for wash, protein, deep condition and a blowout. It will probably be a year or more before I go again as I've just done my first yarn twists and plan to continue so I can finally grow out the rest of my hair.

 

[Smiley79]

This thread is right on time. Thanks to LHCF, I have been able to my own hair care at home pretty successfully. But now, I am about to take the plunge into trying to do my own simple weaves for protective styling. With YouTube...mastering weaving and hair styling can be in the palm of my hands with a little practice. I am ready to partways with hair salons because:

-I'm tired of outrageous prices; I want to save money
-I'm tired of inconsistent service coupled with the outrageous prices (especially this reason)
-Hair products and weaves are so affordable and easily accessible
-Sadly, most stylist these days just dont impress anymore
-And most frustrating of all, I cannot find a stylist who can take care of my hair, style my hair to the T, and have a kind and professional demeanor. To get all three is too much to ask for. So I'm done

However, I will go to salons for a special occasion weave or for a cut; things that I clearly wont master overnight. My dependence on stylist has terminated effective yesterday.

 

[Blairx0]

This is on time for me. I made an appointment for 9/7 after going in for a consultation. After some ladies in the salon review chimed in I got to thinking "what have I signed myself up for?" I want to be able to do things myself. Salons have turned me off for a long time because I am not into the social scene of spending the day their nor spending a day's pay. I much prefer to understand my own hair and help myself.

 

[Babysaffy]

I went in for a root touch up of my color. My hair is dark brown, I asked for dark brown. The "stylist" dyed just my roots blonde. Then she had the audacity to say she did what I asked for. When I asked to see the manager no one would own up to being in charge. Then they expected me to pay for the color correction.

WTF!?!! They had some neeeerve there! I'm quiet, very slow to anger and in the legal profession but I think that would have sent me buckwild up in there! I'd have knocked down all displays in the shop before leaving at the very least and/or returned with a big male family member or friend to get a refund!!!

Please tell me you didn't let them do the correction... And pay?

 

[SherylsTresses]

i remember once i did my own touch up the night before i went to the salon.
that ***** went and relaxed my entire head. that was unnecessary. i also wanted a certain hair style i came home with a mullet. my SO at the time laughed so hard..i cried.

a few months ago i went to get a cut...it was okay..it looked better when my sis took the scissors and evened up the back and cut some bangs into it.

i will never forget when i went to the salon in 2010...and left with burnt hair...i went to the store and a lady said she smelt something burnt and started sniffing. it was that bad. my car held that scent for weeks.

i can't...i had a lot of progress my hair was healthy and all of that...but they always come up with the following excuses..you need your ends clipped. your hair is dry...you need this treatment....you need a touch up...you have heat damage...when you don't.

I'm sorry but this had me laughing out loud at work...

 

[Tonto]

I learnt how to do my hair...and I was afraid of the way people comb natural hair (from root to tip)