Black elites/upper class and hair...

[Lovelylocs]

Where do the black elites or black upper middle and middle class get their hair done? Do they basically go to the same places as everyone else? I mean ur typical AA salon is not exactly cheap anyway. Do they go to the same places as all the other blacks or do they go to high price white salons? (Generally speaking of course..)

 

[lkg4healthyhair]

I am not positive but I would think some probably go to salons like John Atchinson, J.Sisters, Bumble and Bumble etc. then you have ones that go to the dominican salons and get a good deal on a wash and set.

 

[Divine Inspiration]

Where do the black elites or black upper middle and middle class get their hair done? Do they basically go to the same places as everyone else? I mean ur typical AA salon is not exactly cheap anyway. Do they go to the same places as all the other blacks or do they go to high price white salons? (Generally speaking of course..)

I think there are some AA salons that are higher-end than others. I've known of women who went to "white" salons thinking they were better, but I think the methods that work for AA hair are the same regardless of who's practicing them.
In L.A., it seems that the elite or wanna-be elite choose to go to the Kimble chick who does Beyonce 'nem or some other celebrity stylist. The chick who does Jada Pinkett's hair was doing mine for a while, and I really liked her. That salon isn't what I would consider "high end." They have a lot of middle class clients. I went to this other chick who does Toni Braxton's hair and one of the chick's from Girlfriends (the name escapes me, Golden maybe?) and her salon was nice, but it seemed like a regular ol AA salon to me. She was just as triflin, rude, ghetto, unprofessional, unorganized, heat happy, and scissor happy as any other stylist I had run into so I think the women who insist on goin to these uppity salons are foolin themselves b/c truthfully it ain't about the plants in the front or the tile on the floor. It's about whether or not this person knows what the heck they're doin and whether they're tryin to chop my head off with those dern scissors.
I do think the environment has to be one that is conducive to a working stylists (i.e. nobody smoking weed in the lobby, stylist not eating bbq wings and relaxing your hair simultaneously) but price doesn't necessarily indicate quality.
I think the smart ladies go to a healthy hair stylist.

 

[IntelligenceisBeautiful]

good topic, I think most go to high-end salons where they shell out a lot of money and you have some that will go to a stylist that's good high end or not.

 

[MeccaMedinah]

My aunt was going to Ellen Lavar. When I just did a search on her I found her #. I guess Paris Hilton had it in her phone when she got hacked. I saw Ellen Lavar on Oprah recently.

 

[CandiceC]

I wonder if these women are getting exactly what they want from their stylists. :scratchch If you're willing to shell out a big tip are stylists more willing to do what you say? (ie. no trim)

 

[zora]

My aunt was going to Ellen Lavar. When I just did a search on her I found her #. I guess Paris Hilton had it in her phone when she got hacked. I saw Ellen Lavar on Oprah recently.

How does your aunt's hair look? Is it just nice or is it a head of hair where you would do a doubletake.

 

[MeccaMedinah]

How does your aunt's hair look? Is it just nice or is it a head of hair where you would do a doubletake.

It looks like crap But back then it was okay. But most of the ladies on LHCF have better looking heads of hair than my aunt had at that time. I'm not sure if Ellen taught her anything as far as good hair care. But I'm going to ask her.

 

[macherieamour]

Ithink they look for three things. One is location. The salon should be in a high rent area and safe enough where they can park their benzes and bmws. Second is price list. Its like going to any store. The designer area is perceived as better because the clothes cost more. I mean this could be true, the stylist could have gone to better schools and have been better trainined, I dunno. Last, I think they look at the overall decor. The salon will be well decorated and not permit solicitations.

Ive gone to upper class salons and "lower class salons" throughout my life. Some upper class salons do things better, i.e. are extremely knowledgible about hair, dont over charge, dont over trim, and are committed to continuously educating themselves on new styles and techniques. Oilves and Hair Body and Soul in Boston are like this. Im totally cool with paying a lot to get my hair done. But im not cool with just average salons perpetrating like good salons. Some salons like Vivid in Philly just charge alot because they have a high rent and my hair just looks ok. NOT cool.

 

[atl_mulattamami]

I live in the ATL area and a lot of the upperclass black women go to the salon I usually go to- DonJanelle. It's very sophisticated and the stylists are very professional. The salon itself is gorgeous!

I was going to this salon for over a year. Although I really like it I have recently discovered Dominican salons and I think I will try those for a while

 

[DigitalRain]

We have one salon in Baton Rouge called Panache that is, at least I think is, the premier black salon. In a nice area of town, and most of the clientele are attorneys, doctors, etc. And its common to see long haired ladies and children in this salon, so you know that the stylists are doing a good job. Unfortunately to get your hair done there costs a small fortune so I stopped going after I became a full time student, I can't be spending my rent money on my hair

 

[MissMarie]

Ithink they look for three things. One is location. The salon should be in a high rent area and safe enough where they can park their benzes and bmws. Second is price list. Its like going to any store. The designer area is perceived as better because the clothes cost more. I mean this could be true, the stylist could have gone to better schools and have been better trainined, I dunno. Last, I think they look at the overall decor. The salon will be well decorated and not permit solicitations.

IA, I also agree with the ladies that say it varies by individual.
I think when people go to expensive salons, for reasons other than just being elitist, that they're willing to pay more for a more individualized experience; the stylist does everything, not just show up to cut and curl, the salon isn't crowded and they don't have to wait because there's no overlap of clients. Plus some ladies have their weekly standing appointment and they need to be in and out quickly. Oh, also the skill and expertise of the stylist. Some places all their clients seem to have super-healthy hair, thats on point and often long.

 

[Lovelylocs]

My aunt was going to Ellen Lavar. When I just did a search on her I found her #. I guess Paris Hilton had it in her phone when she got hacked. I saw Ellen Lavar on Oprah recently.

I looked up Ellin Lavar and saw pictures of her looks on her website. The styles look like the ones that u would find in Essence magazine.

 

[CatSuga]

If you're an upper class black elite, you'll know where to go.

 

[Lovelylocs]

Really I am questioning whether such salons exist. I mean, from what I can tell from main stream america. You can usually tell the difference between someone who got their hair cut and/or dyed at "cost cutters" vs the mall vs "John Barrett", etc.

All the pics that I can find online of pricey black salons have that same plastered, molded look that I dont really care for.

If a black person were determined to get an exceptional hair cut where would she go? I personally would probably go to a white stylist. They seem to really be able to cut, but when it comes to straightening they are not as good as my dominican stylist. Does a place exist where AAs can go to get a great cut and a great blow out as well as other service?

 

[Queenie]

I wonder if these women are getting exactly what they want from their stylists. :scratchch If you're willing to shell out a big tip are stylists more willing to do what you say? (ie. no trim)

I friend of mine does hair in NYC and has a lot of clients who have tried high end salons (her clients are black & white). Many complain that those stylists don't listen if you ask for a style that isn't a signature style of theirs.

 

[mshoney2u]

Ithink they look for three things. One is location. The salon should be in a high rent area and safe enough where they can park their benzes and bmws. Second is price list. Its like going to any store. The designer area is perceived as better because the clothes cost more. I mean this could be true, the stylist could have gone to better schools and have been better trainined, I dunno. Last, I think they look at the overall decor. The salon will be well decorated and not permit solicitations.

Ive gone to upper class salons and "lower class salons" throughout my life. Some upper class salons do things better, i.e. are extremely knowledgible about hair, dont over charge, dont over trim, and are committed to continuously educating themselves on new styles and techniques. Oilves and Hair Body and Soul in Boston are like this. Im totally cool with paying a lot to get my hair done. But im not cool with just average salons perpetrating like good salons. Some salons like Vivid in Philly just charge alot because they have a high rent and my hair just looks ok. NOT cool.

ITA

Really I am questioning whether such salons exist. I mean, from what I can tell from main stream america. You can usually tell the difference between someone who got their hair cut and/or dyed at "cost cutters" vs the mall vs "John Barrett", etc.

All the pics that I can find online of pricey black salons have that same plastered, molded look that I dont really care for.

If a black person were determined to get an exceptional hair cut where would she go? I personally would probably go to a white stylist. They seem to really be able to cut, but when it comes to straightening they are not as good as my dominican stylist. Does a place exist where AAs can go to get a great cut and a great blow out as well as other service?

the stylist that I go to owns the salon. she is extremely professional, the salon looks like the type of salon that should be on beverly hills boulevard her clientele is not only AA but whites, asian's, hispanic ect. She is also a comestology instructor (so she HAS to get her CEU's) and a massage therapist. Her competiton is the upscale white salon across the street. She host color shows for joico , does news apperances. My girl is on top of her game. Her hair is looong and always done. Most of the girls including the one that I got the recommendation from hair is looong and healthy looking. She is not scissor- happy. and most important she LOVES hair and doing it and I ONLY pay 10 dollar more than I did at the Lower end salon that burned my hair and damn near pulled it all out and had me waiting for 3 HOURS because she over lapped clients. So they exisit it just may take some time finding them

 

[JazzyFLPeach]

All the African-American women I know that would be considered upper class, upper-middle class (doctors, attorneys, business owners, high-level executives) all go to the same salons most of us go to. It doesn't matter if they're parking their 760i in "the hood" or or the S-Class in Buckhead. I think most of them want the same things that we do....GOOD HAIR CARE. Whether or not they get that is unbeknownst to me though.

I was recently watching the Fabulous Lives of Super Models and Naomi Campbell, the #2 super model of all time has a personal stylist that travels wherever she travels. She pays her about $80,000 year so I'm sure she doesn't have to worry about other clientele, but this sista really was an around the way girl. She was somebody that I'd sit next to in church and see at the club. LOL

 

[secretdiamond]

IA, I also agree with the ladies that say it varies by individual.
I think when people go to expensive salons, for reasons other than just being elitist, that they're willing to pay more for a more individualized experience; the stylist does everything, not just show up to cut and curl, the salon isn't crowded and they don't have to wait because there's no overlap of clients. Plus some ladies have their weekly standing appointment and they need to be in and out quickly. Oh, also the skill and expertise of the stylist. Some places all their clients seem to have super-healthy hair, thats on point and often long.

Beginning with my BC, I have been going to higher end salons. Well, it's 2, but I love it. I love it for everything you stated above. I have my own regular stylist who I LOVE. She works around 5th Ave and in LI so I go to both salons. We always consults about my hair and we share the same opinions. She's like my LHCF stylist. I have also noticed that the quality of service, from the decor to the actual hair care and styling is 100 times better for me. Whenever I get my hair done from her, I get sooo many great compliments from the second I get out of ther door to the day I wash it out. And these compliments are from EVERYONE literally stopping me in the street or mall and especially white ladies. The cuts are superb and last forever!! This enables me to get trims less often. And when I do get a trim, she trims the right amount (very little) without me having to tell her anything! And the price doesn't really matter to me since I do my own hair most of the times anyway now b/c of LHCF. So I figured that the amount I spend in one visit would be the same, if not less than when I was going almost every 2 weeks it btwn like I did before.

 

[Babyray]

We have one salon in Baton Rouge called Panache that is, at least I think is, the premier black salon.

Hey I use too go there too... but I soon stopped after one of the stylist got relaxer in my eye , my eye twitched for like 3-4 months. But I saw different types of people there upper, lower & white . It was a nice , very posh salon,& prices were in between moderate-expensive, but there was a separate charge for everything,ie... conditioner, roller sets. So you do come out of pocket.

 

[atl_mulattamami]

Hey I use too go there too... but I soon stopped after one of the stylist got relaxer in my eye , my eye twitched for like 3-4 months.

WHAT!! i hope you raised all h*ll for that!

 

[Lovelylocs]

Does panache do a better job than dominican salons?

 

[czyfaith77]

Whoever she is may be around the way, but she does some very nice weaves. I recently saw Naomi on Oprah and her and Iman's hair looked practically flawless.

All the African-American women I know that would be considered upper class, upper-middle class (doctors, attorneys, business owners, high-level executives) all go to the same salons most of us go to. It doesn't matter if they're parking their 760i in "the hood" or or the S-Class in Buckhead. I think most of them want the same things that we do....GOOD HAIR CARE. Whether or not they get that is unbeknownst to me though.

I was recently watching the Fabulous Lives of Super Models and Naomi Campbell, the #2 super model of all time has a personal stylist that travels wherever she travels. She pays her about $80,000 year so I'm sure she doesn't have to worry about other clientele, but this sista really was an around the way girl. She was somebody that I'd sit next to in church and see at the club. LOL

 

[sky_blu]

I never even pondered this question before because most black elites/celebs/people with money I see they hair looks jacked up and I wouldnt want my hair looking like their to begin with.

 

[MissMarie]

Really I am questioning whether such salons exist. I mean, from what I can tell from main stream america. You can usually tell the difference between someone who got their hair cut and/or dyed at "cost cutters" vs the mall vs "John Barrett", etc.

All the pics that I can find online of pricey black salons have that same plastered, molded look that I dont really care for.

If a black person were determined to get an exceptional hair cut where would she go? I personally would probably go to a white stylist. They seem to really be able to cut, but when it comes to straightening they are not as good as my dominican stylist. Does a place exist where AAs can go to get a great cut and a great blow out as well as other service?

If you're an upper class black elite, you'll know where to go.

I don't think the price is the determining factor for elite ladies. A lot of the salons they go to are expensive, but not always. I think usually these salons are not super-heavily advertised, people find out through networking and recommendations and share that info with people within their social circle.
If a salon is expensive and flashy there is no guarantee they know more than the ladies here, and no guarantee the local anchorwoman (or whomever) with the beautiful hair goes there.
Some places are really low profile. When you move to a city get some recommendations from your old stylist. You can also just ask women you know with beautiful, healthy hair. Somebody oughta know somebody,who knows somebody (through school, church, social orgs, sororities), that can get you hooked up.

 

[taraglam2]

It really all depends. One of the salons here in Maryland 50% of the staff are platform artists for either L'OREAL Professional, RUSK, CIBU or WELLA. The prices are extreme high and the decor is very nice and everyone from the hood to Baltimore Orioles wives & Ravens wives to FBI agents to John Hopkins Medical Students are in the place getting their hair done. I think the beauty industry is what it is---a money maker and people just want to go somewhere where they can really do hair and still keep it healthy.

 

[FeelinIt]

Really I am questioning whether such salons exist. I mean, from what I can tell from main stream america. You can usually tell the difference between someone who got their hair cut and/or dyed at "cost cutters" vs the mall vs "John Barrett", etc.

All the pics that I can find online of pricey black salons have that same plastered, molded look that I dont really care for.

If a black person were determined to get an exceptional hair cut where would she go? I personally would probably go to a white stylist. They seem to really be able to cut, but when it comes to straightening they are not as good as my dominican stylist. Does a place exist where AAs can go to get a great cut and a great blow out as well as other service?

Girl that plastered stiff overdone spaceshipped looking hairstyles you always see in black haircare mags! I hate those hairstyles. It's come to the point, that when I pick hairstyles that are soft and flowing, I have to pick up a white hairstyle pic.

Black hairstyles are just too busy and hard for me. Where are the photos of the soft feminine hairstyles of black hair. I find it so hard to find them.

 

[Lovelylocs]

Girl that plastered stiff overdone spaceshipped looking hairstyles you always see in black haircare mags! I hate those hairstyles. It's come to the point, that when I pick hairstyles that are soft and flowing, I have to pick up a white hairstyle pic.

Black hairstyles are just too busy and hard for me. Where are the photos of the soft feminine hairstyles of black hair. I find it so hard to find them.

Who are you telling? Either that or they just look really fake and you know that most stylists won't be able to replicate the look w/o making your hair look just as fake. I think if we go off shore... say DR or Brazil we may be able to find some.

 

[Nola Darling]

Who are you telling? Either that or they just look really fake and you know that most stylists won't be able to replicate the look w/o making your hair look just as fake. I think if we go off shore... say DR or Brazil we may be able to find some.

I don't really see this in Atlanta. Only the ghetto girls wear their hair stiff like that. More chicks are wearing soft flowy hair. One lady who styled my hair told me that they are called DC curls...because I guess they started the non stiff hair look in black hair (I guess)

 

[LivingDoll]

I don't really see this in Atlanta. Only the ghetto girls wear their hair stiff like that. More chicks are wearing soft flowy hair. One lady who styled my hair told me that they are called DC curls...because I guess they started the non stiff hair look in black hair (I guess)

I always thought the soft flowy hair started with the NY girls and their doobies....

ETA: When MD, DC, VA were doing wet wraps, the NY girls were rocking the soft and flowy...I went to Morgan State around 92ish so that was the first time I'd seen black girls with REAL long and flowy hair!