JC Penny refused to do black woman's hair

[nappystorm]

http://www.ktla.com/landing_topstor...sed-Service-Beca=1&blockID=116887&feedID=1198

I had to cuss a couple of people out at 2 different JC Penny's myself. All were black but that's another story

 

[nappystorm]

Please click the comments link and read the second one. The hell?

 

[Southernbella.]

Eh, even most black folks don't know how to do black folks' hair. This isn't surprising.

 

[poookie]

what in the world? they refused to do her STRAIGHT hair? i could almost understand if she was natural... but she had straight relaxed hair! that's full blown racism right there.

 

[anon123]

Please click the comments link and read the second one. The hell?

wow, that's hilarious! you know it's a joke, right? i was cracking up the kkk one, i mean.

now some of the other comments which are obviously said in all seriousness, now those are scary.

 

[Tamrin]

Thats not new. Please. That happened to me at a Salon in Brooklyn, NY. It was near my job and I wanted a color and a roller set. My white co-worker scheduled for me cause we usually got our beauty services done the same days. When I got there the girl ummed and ahhhhhed and then told me she could not do my hair cause they don't know how to do black hair. I was about to cuss her out, but then I looked at what they were doing for 70 bucks and marched my butt to rite aid and got some dark and lovely. I could have filed suit. They are out of business now.

 

[Southernbella.]

what in the world? they refused to do her STRAIGHT hair? i could almost understand if she was natural... but she had straight relaxed hair! that's full blown racism right there.

That might be even more of a reason...her hair was already chemically treated, so there was a better chance of it being damaged by the dye.

 

[MissMeWithThatIsh]

They might have been scared to damage her hair... especially if they weren't experienced with it... and no I haven't read the story yet.

 

[Geminigirl]

she look a mess they should have helped her out...nah i'm jp that's messed up.

 

[longhairdreamzz]

I had to read that KKK comment about 5 times before I realized that person was serious. WOW!

 

[anon123]

I have no problem with people who feel incompetent in doing my hair refusing to do it. In fact, I appreciate the honesty. But I do think it's kinda messed up that they are only trained to do "their" hair. That reminds me when I went to the dermatologist and the intern following the real doctor around guessed that the darker skin on the joints on my toes were "hyper-pigmentation". I wonder if he thought that about my elbows, too. You need to know about the different varieties in your specialty, that would be a good part of your training. Or if you can't have people who know it all, then have different people with different specialties in your salon.

Come to think of it, I was turned away from a JC Penny salon, too! That was some 10+ years ago. Actually, I didn't want to get my hair done there anyway and just asked out of curiosity. They said if I had a relaxer they could do it but not natural.

 

[Nice & Wavy]

I'm convinced...some people are just plain o'le stupid

Get over it
They had a right to charge her more.... with all those beads they wear in their hair or all that long rastafarian dreadlock stuff, you should expect them to charge more and in some cases not want to even get near it (isn't it true they use dog poop to give their dreadlocks body and make it kinda stiff?)
Posted by Scott at 8:04 am Oct 26, 2008

 

[Spin]

I don't think it is unreasonable to expect a large national chain like JC Penneys to have at least a few people who can do ethnic hair. Its not like they said come back when so and so is here, they just said go somewhere else. It sounds like their hiring practices are biased if they don't have one person that is capable of doing black hair on staff.

 

[nappystorm]

Thats not new. Please. That happened to me at a Salon in Brooklyn, NY. It was near my job and I wanted a color and a roller set. My white co-worker scheduled for me cause we usually got our beauty services done the same days. When I got there the girl ummed and ahhhhhed and then told me she could not do my hair cause they don't know how to do black hair. I was about to cuss her out, but then I looked at what they were doing for 70 bucks and marched my butt to rite aid and got some dark and lovely. I could have filed suit. They are out of business now.

I didn't cuss them out because of that I cussed because they did not give me the style I wanted (I was nice about that because it happens) but when I nicely asked for my hair to be corrected and informed them that I wouldn't be paying because I did not get the color I wanted, the bytch got an attitude and told me that either she would correct my hair and I would pay for it or I can either walk out with my head the way it was for free.

I very loudly told her that 1. i will not be walking around with my head looking like the great pumpkin 2. I walked in with black hair and if I walk out with black hair, I ain't paying and 3. What the **** make her think I'm gonna let her back in my head? 4. And please don't think I won't whup her *** for ****** up my head and getting an attitude!

And the same thing happened at a JC Penny's in another state! The hezzy?

Okay I know that was WAAAAYYY off topic but I hate JC Penny's salons

 

[jtotheb]

I've had similar experiences in walk-in salons, and I understand both sides of the coin. I understand that the stylist doesn't want to mess things up, but I'm the one asking for the service. I'm the one taking the risk.

It does sting a little when you stand there and are told NO flat out, and you know it's because you're black.

One last thing, my best friend went to beauty school and they are trained to do ALL hair. Of course there are going to be some things you feel more comfortable doing, but don't work in a walk-in salon if you can't service everyone.

 

[Tamrin]

I didn't cuss them out because of that I cussed because they did not give me the style I wanted (I was nice about that because it happens) but when I nicely asked for my hair to be corrected and informed them that I wouldn't be paying because I did not get the color I wanted, the bytch got an attitude and told me that either she would correct my hair and I would pay for it or I can either walk out with my head the way it was for free.

I very loudly told her that 1. i will not be walking around with my head looking like the great pumpkin 2. I walked in with black hair and if I walk out with black hair, I ain't paying and 3. What the **** make her think I'm gonna let her back in my head? 4. And please don't think I won't whup her *** for ****** up my head and getting an attitude!

And the same thing happened at a JC Penny's in another state! The hezzy?

Okay I know that was WAAAAYYY off topic but I hate JC Penny's salons

Girl I knew she pissed you off.

Im glad she refused cause If I had forced her to do my hair. I would be here looking for scalp treatments for a completly bald head.

 

[curleeq]

She should be lucky. I live near a jcpenney that does ethnic hair and the girl did my hair. However she burned my hair to the point where it wouldn't curl up anymore after I asked her several times if she knew how to handle natural hair.

 

[pisceschica]

I have no problem with people who feel incompetent in doing my hair refusing to do it. In fact, I appreciate the honesty. But I do think it's kinda messed up that they are only trained to do "their" hair. That reminds me when I went to the dermatologist and the intern following the real doctor around guessed that the darker skin on the joints on my toes were "hyper-pigmentation". I wonder if he thought that about my elbows, too. You need to know about the different varieties in your specialty, that would be a good part of your training. Or if you can't have people who know it all, then have different people with different specialties in your salon.

Come to think of it, I was turned away from a JC Penny salon, too! That was some 10+ years ago. Actually, I didn't want to get my hair done there anyway and just asked out of curiosity. They said if I had a relaxer they could do it but not natural.

Well there are plenty of predominantly black cosmetology schools that only teach how to do "black hair." And there are PLENTY of black stylists that are can't do "non-black" hair.

I remember working in a black salon and when a white person came in the manager would panic and ask if I could do "caucasian hair."

And kinky highly textured hair is more difficult to do than other textures especially when its natural. I work in salon and can tell you every once in a while you will get a natural textured woman that will complain about the price being more than non-AA hair or relaxed hair. It takes more time and preperation.

Like you said if someone tells you they can't do it you should be happy they were honest, didn't lie, and waste your time.

They should have said we have no one that specializes in black hair care or something like that but if they don't know how to do it they dont' know how to do it.

The only thing I object to is them saying they don't service AA as opposed to we don't have anyone specialized in AA haircare.

 

[pisceschica]

I don't think it is unreasonable to expect a large national chain like JC Penneys to have at least a few people who can do ethnic hair. Its not like they said come back when so and so is here, they just said go somewhere else. It sounds like their hiring practices are biased if they don't have one person that is capable of doing black hair on staff.

no. .

Chain salons DO NOT PAY, great benefits and some training but not serious cash. If hairstyling was something I was doing full time I would only treat it as an entry level position to gain experience and then go to apprentice at a high end salon. I find that for the most part in CHAIN (not private) salons that are predominantly white they welcome anyone that can do not just "black hair" but highly textured hair you find in mixed race people.

If the salon is a predominantly white area then you probably are not going to find black stylists.

They can recruit black stylists but its up to the stylist to choose whether to accept.

Like I previously stated AA hair requires more work than some what to do or are trained to do. . and if they are honest enough to tell you they can't do your hair be happy they didn't waste your time faking it.

 

[JustKiya]

And would she be trying to sue if they had tried to do her hair (relaxed and colored, it looks like it is) and due to their already professed ignorance, screwed it up six ways to Sunday?

I'm with the previous posters - be honest with me, and if you don't know how to handle textured hair, then don't. But don't get salty if I let your manager know, in no unclear terms, that they need to get some training done, stat. But suing someone for telling you they can't do your hair? The Dominicans do it all the time. She just wants some loot.

ETA:

And I just re-read the article, and she wanted them to dye her hair. Considering the risk you take by double processing hair, period, man... I think she's lucky they turned her away.

*sigh*

 

[Mars_Reiko]

I've been turned away for the exact reason. The lady told me that "we're not experienced in doing black hair". I personally don't see whats the big deal.

 

[BostonMaria]

Why in the world would anybody do their hair at JC Penney???

I would never let a white woman do my hair, unless I absolutely knew for sure that she knew how to deal with my hair. I'm not being racist, I'm trying to save my hair from disaster.

 

[balancegoals2009]

I agree with you it was a better way of saying that they unable to provide a services, I had a white lady do my hair many years ago , and she really could not curl my hair, the black stylist , told me to sit in her chair and correct the problem, I was happy and she became my stylist for the next year. As for JC penney my mother went to them and she hated her hair , and they over charged her , but she only went once. But I understand the lady , it was how they answer her , about doing a services for AA, she may have a case , because they stated that , when they are trainied in beauty school , they are trained in all types of hairs.

Well there are plenty of predominantly black cosmetology schools that only teach how to do "black hair." And there are PLENTY of black stylists that are can't do "non-black" hair.

I remember working in a black salon and when a white person came in the manager would panic and ask if I could do "caucasian hair."

And kinky highly textured hair is more difficult to do than other textures especially when its natural. I work in salon and can tell you every once in a while you will get a natural textured woman that will complain about the price being more than non-AA hair or relaxed hair. It takes more time and preperation.

Like you said if someone tells you they can't do it you should be happy they were honest, didn't lie, and waste your time.

They should have said we have no one that specializes in black hair care or something like that but if they don't know how to do it they dont' know how to do it.

The only thing I object to is them saying they don't service AA as opposed to we don't have anyone specialized in AA haircare.

 

[HoneyDew]

I had to read that KKK comment about 5 times before I realized that person was serious. WOW!

The comment does not seem serious to me.

Personally I would not want a person touching my hair and they don't know to care and style for it.

 

[Mena]

I get my hair down a jcpenny from time to time....my mom goes there all the time...

 

[drjo91]

I saw this in MTO...i mean idk what to say. AM i surprised? Not at all. Its 2008, almost 09 and things like this will continue to happen......I have no more words.

 

[ChocalateDiva]

I am always happy when someone lets me know that they are uncomfortable with doing my hair.

 

[cocosweet]

"We don't do African-American hair." McElmore said she was told by a receptionist and a manager.

As persnickety as I am about my hair, I would much rather be told you don't do my kind of hair (even though it is embarrassing) than to have you do it, muck it up and I've got to spend months or years repairing the damage.

 

[drasgrl]

I'm not surprised. The same thing happened to me years ago. The Penny's I went to did relaxers I think it was because the black stylist wasn't in that day or something then thw white stylists said they couldn't do my hair.

 

[drasgrl]

I had to read that KKK comment about 5 times before I realized that person was serious. WOW!

You can't be serious? Do you mean this comment?

I have been a proud member of the Klu Klux Klan for over 15 years. This racism nonsense has escalated to absurd levels and the whole situation is now ridiculous. It has gotten to the point that 11 months ago the chapter of the KKK I belong to had to start admitting African American members into the group. We now have 4 black and 11 gay members. They are good enough guys and very productive members so it’s not all bad. Even though you can't tell they are black or gay under white hood and cloak it is still not the type of organization I want the chapter to be.

I thought it was hilarious.