My second visit with Marvin (EXTREMELY LONG)
- Thread starter daviine
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Paris Belle
Active Member
Yes, there is a thread now: NYC Meeting-Final Details
adrienne0914
Well-Known Member
(((((daviine)))))
these arrogant a*s stylists get on my nerves! i bet you any amount of money that you DID NOT need all that hair cut off! i'm glad you won't be going back to marvin. i didn't like when he said he cuts hair with every relaxer the first time you went. good riddance, as far as i'm concerned!!
adrienne
these arrogant a*s stylists get on my nerves! i bet you any amount of money that you DID NOT need all that hair cut off! i'm glad you won't be going back to marvin. i didn't like when he said he cuts hair with every relaxer the first time you went. good riddance, as far as i'm concerned!!
adrienne
I am sooo sorry about your experience. I woke up this morning with every intention of scheduling an appt with Marvin but I think I'm gonna hold off now! OMG this is sooo terrible. ANd I kid you not I had a dream last night about Marvin's relaxing applications. I had a dream that the entire salon had absolutely NO mirrors whatsoever. I think we
were connecting via ESP girl!
But on a serious note, thank you for posting this experience. I have not had a problem with Marvin's attitude per se but the I always wondered why there weren't mirrors near the relaxing station. I have never seen him apply a relaxer onto someone else so I don't know how the relaxer was applied to my head. If you say he slapped it on then he probably slapped it on my head and yours. Now I am really confused and don't know what to do.
I met a former co-worker who gave me the name to her salon in the Bronx. My co-worker's hair is REALLY long and always shiny and jet black. She uses Mizani lye relaxer also and charges $40. So I am wondering if I should try her out.
were connecting via ESP girl!
But on a serious note, thank you for posting this experience. I have not had a problem with Marvin's attitude per se but the I always wondered why there weren't mirrors near the relaxing station. I have never seen him apply a relaxer onto someone else so I don't know how the relaxer was applied to my head. If you say he slapped it on then he probably slapped it on my head and yours. Now I am really confused and don't know what to do.
I met a former co-worker who gave me the name to her salon in the Bronx. My co-worker's hair is REALLY long and always shiny and jet black. She uses Mizani lye relaxer also and charges $40. So I am wondering if I should try her out.
MY SISTER SCHEDULED AN APPT WITH MARVIN BUT THEY SAID HE WOULD BE OUT FOR 1 1/2 WEEKS. MY SISTER WANTED AN APPT FOR THURSDAY BUT THEY SAID HE WOULD BE OUT. WHEN DID YOU SEE HIM?? BECAUSE IF YOU SAW HIM THIS PAST WEEK THEY LIED TO US!!!!!!!!!!!
NOW WE WANT SOME ANSWERS!
Also I was thinking if I would rather pay $40 for someone to overlap thatn $100!!!!
Also I was thinking if I would rather pay $40 for someone to overlap thatn $100!!!!
daviine
Well-Known Member
Pumpkin--if you like Marvin then by all means go. That dream part is kind of freaky though.
Sometimes I wonder if I give off a pushover type of attitude or give of the impression that I don't know anything. Maybe that is whY i had a problem with Marvin and you and Vev didn't. Perhaps you guys are assertive and strong women and people can read my insecurities. I really don't know.
Before you decide to go that co-worker's stylist....go for a rollerset or something and watch how they apply the relaxer. Also, does she have thick hair? I have fine hair so I am now realizing that my hair cannot take all this slapping of the relaxer.
I have been looking at pics of my hair when I was younger and I had so much hair--it was still fine---but I had a lot. Maybe that is how I got away with the abuse for so long. I don't know if its possible to get back the density but I'm going to try. What I do know is that my hair can't take much of this ish anymnore so I'm on a hunt to find a new stylist. Otheriwse I will be doing my touchup myself or getting my sister or cousin to do it.
I really don't know. Either way, wear your contacts and let us know how it goes.
Sometimes I wonder if I give off a pushover type of attitude or give of the impression that I don't know anything. Maybe that is whY i had a problem with Marvin and you and Vev didn't. Perhaps you guys are assertive and strong women and people can read my insecurities. I really don't know.
Before you decide to go that co-worker's stylist....go for a rollerset or something and watch how they apply the relaxer. Also, does she have thick hair? I have fine hair so I am now realizing that my hair cannot take all this slapping of the relaxer.
I have been looking at pics of my hair when I was younger and I had so much hair--it was still fine---but I had a lot. Maybe that is how I got away with the abuse for so long. I don't know if its possible to get back the density but I'm going to try. What I do know is that my hair can't take much of this ish anymnore so I'm on a hunt to find a new stylist. Otheriwse I will be doing my touchup myself or getting my sister or cousin to do it.
I really don't know. Either way, wear your contacts and let us know how it goes.
Tracy
New Member
Daviine,
Hugs and hugs and more hugs.....
Now - first things first - REPEAT AFTER ME:
<font color="purple"> I am a stunning black woman who moves the crowd ALL the time. I can and will believe that I am beautiful, because the woman that looks back at me in the mirror was uniquely created by the hand of God and he makes NO mistakes! I am blessed to be the gorgeous creature that I am and I will thank God for that everyday and revel in the gifts that I've been given. </font>
Daviine - you could easily pass for a fashion model. I've seen your pics and I KNOW you are beautiful. It really hurts me (tho I can relate - so I'm not judging just trying to let you know how you are seen by others so you can maybe begin to believe it about yourself) to see you consistently deeming yourself as "less than". You are a queen. Hair, body, mind and soul. No stylist, no man, no body issue will ever change that. Now all YOU have to do is believe it with me. But I know that's hard, so we'll work on it...
Now for the trivial stuff
- the BEST relaxer I have gotten in NYC is by a stylist named Sandra in Harlem. She's on 138th and Broadway. She's ON 138th proper - off Broadway on the downtown side I'm pretty sure. I will find her number and give it to you. She hardly speaks English (I know this is an issue for some) but she knows enough to do what you need and she ONLY does what you ask. She does a kick *** touch up with no overlapping and she will base you if you ask, as well as use whatever relaxer you bring. You can walk in and the wait (I'm sure) will be shorter than the one at Marvin's. I will personally escort you there myself if you wish. We can go whenever you like. She charges $50 for a touch up.
Nothing you said about Marvin wasn't the case if that's how YOU felt about the situation. Trust your instincts, listen to that little voice inside and keep your head up. Trim or no, you are still on your way to healthy long hair. Nothing and no one can stand in the way of that but you.
And don't forget... <font color="red"> YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL! </font>
Now go give yourself a hot oil treatment and take a nice hot bath. You deserve it. Happy Easter.
Hugs and hugs and more hugs.....
Now - first things first - REPEAT AFTER ME:
<font color="purple"> I am a stunning black woman who moves the crowd ALL the time. I can and will believe that I am beautiful, because the woman that looks back at me in the mirror was uniquely created by the hand of God and he makes NO mistakes! I am blessed to be the gorgeous creature that I am and I will thank God for that everyday and revel in the gifts that I've been given. </font>
Daviine - you could easily pass for a fashion model. I've seen your pics and I KNOW you are beautiful. It really hurts me (tho I can relate - so I'm not judging just trying to let you know how you are seen by others so you can maybe begin to believe it about yourself) to see you consistently deeming yourself as "less than". You are a queen. Hair, body, mind and soul. No stylist, no man, no body issue will ever change that. Now all YOU have to do is believe it with me. But I know that's hard, so we'll work on it...
Now for the trivial stuff
Nothing you said about Marvin wasn't the case if that's how YOU felt about the situation. Trust your instincts, listen to that little voice inside and keep your head up. Trim or no, you are still on your way to healthy long hair. Nothing and no one can stand in the way of that but you.
And don't forget... <font color="red"> YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL! </font>
Now go give yourself a hot oil treatment and take a nice hot bath. You deserve it. Happy Easter.
Paris Belle
Active Member
That's right, Tracy!! Preach on!!
To Daviine: The one thing that I don't like is that you are not only doubting yourself, but saying that you are insecure and not as assertive or strong like others.
I don't think this is the case at all, Daviine. When I met you, you did seem a little quiet, but you didn't come off to me as a push over or insecure or hypersensitive.
Sometimes, situations and people can make us question ourselves and make us look inside. But digging deep beneath the surface, you will see and know that you are strong, intelligent and beautiful person. Please don't underestimate this ever again. Proof that you are strong and assertive: You are refusing to go back! Period. If you weren't assertive, you would go back and suffer more abuse!!
Just because Marvin is kind of snobbish
, doesn't make him right and doesn't mean that you were wrong. I'm strong and assertive and I may not have argued with those scissors in his had either.
To Daviine: The one thing that I don't like is that you are not only doubting yourself, but saying that you are insecure and not as assertive or strong like others.
I don't think this is the case at all, Daviine. When I met you, you did seem a little quiet, but you didn't come off to me as a push over or insecure or hypersensitive.
Sometimes, situations and people can make us question ourselves and make us look inside. But digging deep beneath the surface, you will see and know that you are strong, intelligent and beautiful person. Please don't underestimate this ever again. Proof that you are strong and assertive: You are refusing to go back! Period. If you weren't assertive, you would go back and suffer more abuse!!
Just because Marvin is kind of snobbish
jd_bdfly
New Member
Wow. I'm really sorry that you had such a bad experience with Marvin.
Your post sparked me to finally get out of lurker mode. I've actually been meaning to post about my first touch up appointment with Marvin, which I had a the Friday before this past one (before he left for vacation), so this is going to be long too. I can feel what you're saying about not having a "vibe" with him because I didn't feel one either. He also gave me a significant trim and his assistant Liz did most of the work on my head. However, I was actually decently satisfied with the process. I did not have to wait at all. In fact, I was out of there in just under 2 hours.
He applied the relaxer really fast and did not leave it on too long. I think there was some overlapping because I believe there's no way you really can't overlap at all, but I couldn't see exactly how much since no mirror. But I was not so much worried about that with him, because the relaxer was in and out so fast (especially compared to the woman I just decided to stop going to - she would put the relaxer in fast but let it sit for a long time. In fact, the last time I went to her I told her I thought it was time to rinse, and she told me to wait. So, I had to lie and say it was burning to get her to rinse, and even then she had me wait a few minutes. The container said leave the relaxer on for 12-18 minutes, and it ended up being on 20 minutes. If she had her way it would have been 25 to 30 or 35 minutes like I timed her other clients). With Marvin, my scalp did start to tingle, but he took relaxer out immediately when I told him (well his assistant rinsed me).
Marvin did remark that I seemed to have a lot of breakage on the ends when he was ready to trim. I noticed this too. I hadn't had a trim in 4 months, so I was long overdue. There's nothing I hate more than scraggly looking ends, and even though I have thick hair that is a decent length, my ends were starting to look like that. I think I would rather just cut a little every relaxer than a lot every 3 or 4 months. I'm starting to believe that what people say about having your ends trimmed every 6-8 weeks has merit. It's very consistent with Wanakee's philosophy (along with protective styling). Her point is that a lot of people have a cycle of grow-break, grow-break, once they get to a certain length, and stagnate there rather than a cycle of grow, grow, trim.
Marvin did make comments with me as well like he assumed that I wasn't taking care of my hair that well, i.e. not deep conditioning or blow drying and not wrapping. That bothered me too. When he said this in my mind I was like "Okay, buddy I do all of these things." I've been reading books and lurking on these hair boards for several months now, and I deep condition and moisturize all the time per that advice. I gave away my blow drier and curling iron last October, so I don't use those things either.
Marvin recommended some products to me, and I will be using them. Specifically, alternating between hot oil and protein conditioners each week. The protein conditioners were the same ones that I already know and use from what I learned here (ORS and Motions CPR, plus one other that I forgot). The hot oil is one thing that I actually never really did get into, so I think I will pick up on that. In fact I have done it with one on my washes since the touch up (L'Oreal's hot oil per his rec), and it came out great.
All in all it was a decent visit. I was not blown away, and it was not cheap, but I did feel like my hair was in good hands. I tipped his assistant but not him because the majority of my time was spent with her, and it was expensive, but still not sure if I should have tipped him. I think I will go back when it's time for my next touch up, assuming I have no problems from this touch up he just did. Also another bit of advice I'm going to incorporate into my regimine is to protect my ends. I really do believe that is why I can never get beyond a certain length. So I'm really going to up my game as far as protective hair styles, and in my friend's words, I will become a "slave to the wrap." Whenever I am at home I will keep my hair up in a wrap or braided up, and when I am out, I will do protective hair styles most of the time.
Since my appointment with Marvin, which was 10 days ago, my hair looks great. I've washed my hair several times (I work out a lot), and I've still been able to maintain a high level of moisture and shine, which I usually have a hard time doing. I've also noticed that my hair is not as limp after the relaxer as it was with the last lady I was going to. Also I noticed that the new growth where Marvin relaxed is not bone straight like with the last lady. I'm really glad about that. So even though while I was there I was not doing cartwheels, I think the results are good. It IS hard to find a decent stylist in New York City, or anywhere for that matter. Given this and the fact the my hair has done well since the appointment, even when I've styled it (I even got a compliment at school the other day), I will go back to him at least another time.
One thing I also made sure to do while I was there was to tell them (Marvin and Liz) that my main concerns were preserving length and preventing overprocessing. I definitely think they respected this. Also they both kept asking me how I was doing and if I liked what they did throughout the appointment. Though I probably ended up having an inch or more trimmed/cut, my hair is still past my shoulders and is a bit longer than the length I seemed to be stagnating on up until I got into these hair boards.
Whew. Okay, that was long. In the future I'll be posting more frequently, and they'll be much shorter.
He applied the relaxer really fast and did not leave it on too long. I think there was some overlapping because I believe there's no way you really can't overlap at all, but I couldn't see exactly how much since no mirror. But I was not so much worried about that with him, because the relaxer was in and out so fast (especially compared to the woman I just decided to stop going to - she would put the relaxer in fast but let it sit for a long time. In fact, the last time I went to her I told her I thought it was time to rinse, and she told me to wait. So, I had to lie and say it was burning to get her to rinse, and even then she had me wait a few minutes. The container said leave the relaxer on for 12-18 minutes, and it ended up being on 20 minutes. If she had her way it would have been 25 to 30 or 35 minutes like I timed her other clients). With Marvin, my scalp did start to tingle, but he took relaxer out immediately when I told him (well his assistant rinsed me).
Marvin did remark that I seemed to have a lot of breakage on the ends when he was ready to trim. I noticed this too. I hadn't had a trim in 4 months, so I was long overdue. There's nothing I hate more than scraggly looking ends, and even though I have thick hair that is a decent length, my ends were starting to look like that. I think I would rather just cut a little every relaxer than a lot every 3 or 4 months. I'm starting to believe that what people say about having your ends trimmed every 6-8 weeks has merit. It's very consistent with Wanakee's philosophy (along with protective styling). Her point is that a lot of people have a cycle of grow-break, grow-break, once they get to a certain length, and stagnate there rather than a cycle of grow, grow, trim.
Marvin did make comments with me as well like he assumed that I wasn't taking care of my hair that well, i.e. not deep conditioning or blow drying and not wrapping. That bothered me too. When he said this in my mind I was like "Okay, buddy I do all of these things." I've been reading books and lurking on these hair boards for several months now, and I deep condition and moisturize all the time per that advice. I gave away my blow drier and curling iron last October, so I don't use those things either.
Marvin recommended some products to me, and I will be using them. Specifically, alternating between hot oil and protein conditioners each week. The protein conditioners were the same ones that I already know and use from what I learned here (ORS and Motions CPR, plus one other that I forgot). The hot oil is one thing that I actually never really did get into, so I think I will pick up on that. In fact I have done it with one on my washes since the touch up (L'Oreal's hot oil per his rec), and it came out great.
All in all it was a decent visit. I was not blown away, and it was not cheap, but I did feel like my hair was in good hands. I tipped his assistant but not him because the majority of my time was spent with her, and it was expensive, but still not sure if I should have tipped him. I think I will go back when it's time for my next touch up, assuming I have no problems from this touch up he just did. Also another bit of advice I'm going to incorporate into my regimine is to protect my ends. I really do believe that is why I can never get beyond a certain length. So I'm really going to up my game as far as protective hair styles, and in my friend's words, I will become a "slave to the wrap." Whenever I am at home I will keep my hair up in a wrap or braided up, and when I am out, I will do protective hair styles most of the time.
Since my appointment with Marvin, which was 10 days ago, my hair looks great. I've washed my hair several times (I work out a lot), and I've still been able to maintain a high level of moisture and shine, which I usually have a hard time doing. I've also noticed that my hair is not as limp after the relaxer as it was with the last lady I was going to. Also I noticed that the new growth where Marvin relaxed is not bone straight like with the last lady. I'm really glad about that. So even though while I was there I was not doing cartwheels, I think the results are good. It IS hard to find a decent stylist in New York City, or anywhere for that matter. Given this and the fact the my hair has done well since the appointment, even when I've styled it (I even got a compliment at school the other day), I will go back to him at least another time.
One thing I also made sure to do while I was there was to tell them (Marvin and Liz) that my main concerns were preserving length and preventing overprocessing. I definitely think they respected this. Also they both kept asking me how I was doing and if I liked what they did throughout the appointment. Though I probably ended up having an inch or more trimmed/cut, my hair is still past my shoulders and is a bit longer than the length I seemed to be stagnating on up until I got into these hair boards.
Whew. Okay, that was long. In the future I'll be posting more frequently, and they'll be much shorter.
I am glad you had a good experience. After much hypervenitlation, I decided to stick with Marvin. I have no problems and as the saying goes "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" and that is the truth. Everytime I cheat on a hair stylist I always get BAAAADDDDD results!
The thing with Marvin is that he has much experience. I find that if you tell him what you are doing and be very clear and make sure your point is expressed you will not have a problem. When my ends were looking kinda funky I let him know all the things I was doing and he said it was great. It was probably my rollersetting that made my hair look weird, so he suggested I visit a Dominican salon since he is pricey.
My initial trim with him was BRUTAL but I had to convince myself it had to go. I spoke to some of his veteran clients who told me their hair would've never grown had it not been for the consistent trimmings. After the big one the rest are really light. Last relaxer he barely took anything off my head.
I find that he does listen to me and I am REALLY shy, so for him to hear me out is something.
The thing with Marvin is that he has much experience. I find that if you tell him what you are doing and be very clear and make sure your point is expressed you will not have a problem. When my ends were looking kinda funky I let him know all the things I was doing and he said it was great. It was probably my rollersetting that made my hair look weird, so he suggested I visit a Dominican salon since he is pricey.
My initial trim with him was BRUTAL but I had to convince myself it had to go. I spoke to some of his veteran clients who told me their hair would've never grown had it not been for the consistent trimmings. After the big one the rest are really light. Last relaxer he barely took anything off my head.
I find that he does listen to me and I am REALLY shy, so for him to hear me out is something.
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