About a month ago, I stopped by my co-worker’s office for our daily morning chat, when she dropped some salacious news! She found a new hair stylist in Brooklyn, not too far from where we lived (we’re in close proximity of each other)who charged damn near nothing for a full weave and style; didn’t talk too much, kept her appointments and didn’t do the price switcheroo! The cost of the do’ was the cost of the do’. I couldn’t believe it!
This was a black salon in Brooklyn, a black salon in America? No way! I immediately asked my girlfriend for her info but before I got the chance to pay the place a visit, she came bearing bad news. Two visits later it turns out the gem salon was indeed a dud. After two uneventful but very professional-like visits, things started to go south. My girlfriend being very much like myself, never went back and is once again on the search for a new salon and once again my dream of finding a salon that fit my sensibility was gone.
For as long as I can remember I’ve always dreaded going to the salon. I’m not a fan of salon gossip; I’m not into the culture of the salon. In the perfect world I would go into the salon, get my hair done, pay and get out within an hour or two. I don’t consider the salon a haven to luxuriate in for hours but unfortunately the culture of black salons -in my experience- makes me feel like I’m the only one who has a problem with the way things operate.
Why does it have to be like this when it comes to hair, especially black hair? I get my nails done every two weeks and every two weeks I call Lily, make an appointment, and get things done. Lily takes about forty-five minutes in total to thread my eyebrows, gel my nails and give me a pedicure. The price is always the same, I tip her the same and I go home happy but hair day, never, ever, goes this way.
Getting my hair done has really taken a whole day. My hair day begins a few days prior to the actual appointment. Currently I’m in my third phase of transitioning from processed hair to natural hair mainly due to my “salon issues.” Before I arrange to get my hair done, I have to figure out what I want to do with it. And you would think that what I decide is dictated by my wants. In honesty, I want but low and behold it’s dictated by how much of a day, I think, it’s going to take and what kind of salon atmosphere, I can stand.
Do I want to walk into the type of place run by mean girls, filled with women serving up side eyes, instead of a customer friendly space? The kind of place where being kept waiting for half an hour doesn’t get an explanation? Maybe I want to go natural, have a few women tug at my hair at once, while hollering into their cellphones straight into my ears. Or maybe I go somewhere, where none of that is an issue and pay more than my mortgage to bypass the bad customer service.
Why can’t we keep appointments? If I make an appointment for 10am, your doors should be open at 10am! You shouldn’t stroll in at 10:30 with a cup of coffee in your hand or bump me because someone you know or deem more important, who doesn’t have an appointment, walks in.
If I get the same style done, it should cost the same pretty much all the time, barring inflation or a jump in product cost, which should be explained prior.
I know people have a lot going on in there lives and want to share but let’s not over share, it makes me uncomfortable and watching you get agitated or upset over said story, makes me a little scared about the outcome of my hair.
If you’re going to snack at least make an attempt at cleaning your hands before putting it back in my head or better yet, why not save the snack for later?
When someone walks into the salon and they’re new, smile; greet them. This is what good business and obtaining new customers are all about. The blank stares and waiting for them to speak is only going to scare them off…
There’s no need to put down someone else’s work. I understand that you’re trying to keep me as a client but telling me my prior stylist ripped me off, makes me feel not so good about myself and makes me wonder whether you’re just saying that to rip me off.
Does this list sound absurd? Are these ridiculous things to hope for?
I’m not saying that this is the case for every black salon and the reason I’m writing this is because no matter how much I groan, moan and complain, I put up with it. I would never imagine abandoning it, because at the end of the day there’s something familiar about it. It feels like my grandmothers living room on a Sunday afternoon. The comfort, the familiarity…but even with that, just imagine just how much it would be if Grandma had a sweeter disposition and her house had more some snacks.
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