Killing her softly...with a fine tooth comb...

[cmw45]

"Killing her softly with a fine tooth comb...killing her softly, with breakage...see all my hair fall out...killing her softly...with fine to cooooooooooooooooooooooooooomb!" (This is sung to the beat of the Fugees) Okay, so maybe it's not this serious, but sometimes I feel like it is. Has anyone been successful at reforming a heardresser. Since getting on this website, I've learned a lot about taking care of my hair (trust, that I still have a lot to learn)...and I've started taking better care of my hair...not combing unless it's wet, wide tooth combs, cowashes, etc. However, when I go to the hairdresser, I sometimes feel tentative in telling her what I would and would not like her to do. I mean, for instance, as she was combing through my slightly matted hair, she attempted to do it dry, and with not a fine tooth comb, but a rat tail comb (Which has even finer teeth). She also went up and down my hair is this like combing/karate move. I could my hair screaming as it broke off But still I was hesitant...

I guess I think it's due to the fact that I'm kinda new to the game and I feel like if I say something that she'll look at my hair and be like, "hmph, then why ain't your hair all down your back?"

Anyone else feel ashamed to step up? And if not ladies, how do you let her know respectfully?

 

[pebbles]

I certainly understand about you not wanting to say too much to her. After all, she is the professional, right?

Well, you are the paying customer, and I strongly feel that if you pay for a service, you have the right to suggest how you would like to have things done. It's your hair. Ask her, conversationally, why she does some things a certain way. Feel her out. If she gets offended, she's not the one for you. Where your hair is concerned, you should be comfortable to talk with the person who's caring for it. Best of luck to you!

 

[deejoy]

Just go to a different stylist. I was with a stylist for 6 years until she decided to start letting the shampoo girl wrap her clients hair before sitting under the hair dryer so she could fit more clients in (and get more money of course). She wrapped my wet hair with a rat tail comb and nearly took out every hair on my doggone head. My stylist wasn't hip to it (or didnt act like she was). She noticed that I had lost a significant amount of hair and thought it was because I was coming in too frequently for relaxers. Mind you, I was coming every 6-8weeks each time so that wasn't the problem. I decided I could either be baldheaded or find a different stylist, which I did the latter.

 

[SerenityBreeze]

I so feel you on this one. If I am feeling somewhat uncomfortable I play off like I have the most tender scalp in the world. I mean if they breathe on my my hair, I make a face that screams pain -- Then I just offer to detangle myself.

One day my hair tangled so badly and they tried to BRUSH the tangles out -- I mustered up the courage to walk outta there with dripping wet hair! I was not about to play that on that day!

 

[cmw45]

Just go to a different stylist.quote]

I wish it was that easy. However, I go to a PWI and there isn't really anyone else . However, I've been lurking on Robin's C&G site hopeing to learn how to do my own braids so that one day I can make a break from all stylist.

 

[ravenmerlita]

It's great to be assertive and step up and tell the hairdresser that it's your hair and you want her to handle it in a certain way. But sometimes this is hard to do.

If you find it hard to express yourself to her, would you be comfortable telling her that you are very tenderheaded and that fine tooth combs cause you too much pain? And that since you are so tenderheaded, you'd prefer if she use a bigger comb and comb through your hair softly?

Also -- and this just my opinion -- I think people should stay away from hairdressers that are rough with their hair by yanking a comb or brush or whatever through it. I don't know if you can "train" a hairdresser that would do this as they have to know when they are doing it that your hair is breaking from the way they handle it.

 

[cmw45]

Thanks ladies...

@Serinity... ...next time I'm in there I'm gonna think of you.

 

[BrwnSugaBabee]

Man! This happened to me last week. I went in to get a ponytail done...My stylist whipped out the fine toothed comb and proceeded to comb out my dry hair I had to stop him. he was like girl I gotta get all the tangles... I left so
HEATED! I am not going to him for awhile now..I am starting to realize he hooks styles up (and knows how to give a hater free trim)..but doesn't care much for the health of your hair like most stylists. I only go once every two mos so it wasnt such a big deal, but now i am beggining to wonder. I guess I had better start perfecting my flat ironing techniques *sigh

 

[balisi]

I certainly understand about you not wanting to say too much to her. After all, she is the professional, right?

Well, you are the paying customer, and I strongly feel that if you pay for a service, you have the right to suggest how you would like to have things done. It's your hair. Ask her, conversationally, why she does some things a certain way. Feel her out. If she gets offended, she's not the one for you. Where your hair is concerned, you should be comfortable to talk with the person who's caring for it. Best of luck to you!

Great advice! ITA!