Naturals....Do you ever go to the salon?

[JenJen2721]

And if so, which services do you have done there?

I'm just wondering about the financial aspects of going natural and the care and upkeep of natural hair.

Doing a little research...

Thanks in advance,
Jen

 

[CocoaButterflyy]

As far as natural services I usually go get an herbal treatment, hair steaming, and some two strand twists, flat twists or something like that... when I go its just because I don't want to do it myself, for me being natural has saved me a lot of money because all I buy is shampoo and a few products every couple of months so I don't mind going once a month to spend money on a treatment

 

[TinyT]

I don't go to one. I would love to find one I could go to when I wanted to just pamper myself. I would still do my hair most of the time, but at least twice a year it would be nice to get my hair totally taken care of by someone else. So anybody in houston that knows a of a place to receive natural hair services, let me know.

Thanks,
Tracy

 

[babyblue]

up until a year and a half ago i used to go to salons to get my hair pressed professionally. That is until i learned i could save money, hair and time by doing it myself. Now i just dont trust salons period. At least at home i could condition my hair as long as i want to, and take my time to detangle my own hair gently without paying someone to rip it out of my head and charge me an extra $10 dollars for a "special deep conditioner" that aint nothing but some $1.99 cholesterol treatment. Since taking care of my own hair i've retained more lenght and it looks pretty good too.

 

[DragonPearl]

Natural hair salons charge more. Some salons say that the style they give you will last 1 month or so, but unless someone is putting extension in my hair, whatever they do will be undone when I wash my hair once a week. So for me, it makes no financial sense going to a natural hair salon.

I am a do-it-yourselfer. I had to, because very few stylists know how to care for natural black hair. STYLISTS ARE NOT TAUGHT HOW TO CARE FOR BLACK NATURAL HAIR IN BEAUTY SCHOOL. The only thing they learn in Beauty school is to alter the texture of natural hair by relaxing or pressing, or to add extensions.

I am not saying that people should stay away from salons. All I am saying is, if you're going natural and you want to grow long natural hair, plan on taking charge of your own hair. Do not depend on salons. I don't know any naturals with long hair who depend on salons to do their hair. All of them are do-it-yourselfers.

 

[Bublnbrnsuga]

I will be going to this lady that has a shop near her house. She's very professional and she really knows about hair care,so I will be going to her hopefully monthly,just to pamper myself. She does it all-straightens,twists,cornrows,extensions-you name it,she does it. She's a very well-rounded beautician,since she specializes in both natural and permed hair.

 

[Maestradiva77]

I don't trust salons anymore.

 

[DelightfulFlame]

I don't go to the salon. I would, but I can't find anyone reasonable. Either they are unreasonably priced, or they don't know what products to use. I tried to test my old stylist out when I got my big chop...I asked her about getting some twists, and she informed me that she would have to use beeswax. I love her to death, but needless to say I have not been back for those twists. I was educated enough to know that I did not have to use beeswax, and I'm thankful to the hairboards for that.

So, unless I temporarily loose my mind enough to either pay $70 for some twists or walk around with a head full of caked up beeswax, I will be doing my hair by myself.

 

[JenJen2721]

Thanks for your input guys. How long have you guys been natural and how did you learn to style and take care of your natural hair? Books? Hairboards? Family? Friends? All of the above?

 

[AFashionSlave]

I go to the salon for cornrows and other complicated hairstyles.
I have a couple of very good gentle stylists who hook me up for reasonable prices.

 

[sweetpea5000]

I am lucky enough to have a sister who is very gifted at braiding, we taught ourselves as kids, so if I'm getting anything complicated or time consuming, I go to her. I could do it myself, it would just take longer. I don't like going to salons because I find it hard to trust anyone with my hair. I like being able to do it myself and not having to rely on anyone.

 

[Ipanema]

I've been natural for over a year, and I don't go to salons because I just don't trust stylists at all. If I want to be pampered, I'll just go get a massage or a pedicure. One pedicure isn't going to undo years of good nailcare (as would a bad haircut or procedure from a hairdresser undo years of good haircare).

Actually, this is my third time going natural, and I learned most of my natural haircare techniques through trial & error. I never bought books or got advice from anyone before discovering hair boards. I had an article by Wanakee, and I would flip through hair magazines in a store, but that's about it. The last time I was natural, I would go to salons to get a press or braids, and they would tell me some off the wall type of stuff (like twists were only for those who intended to loc & I had to straighten my hair first before getting the braids). They would try to cut my hair, and scare me by telling me that my ends would eventually ruin the whole length of my hair. Basically, I'm a do-it-yourselfer, especially since discovering this forum last year & nappturality, and starting fresh with a good head of natural hair to begin growing long.

 

[Valerie]

I would like to go to a hair salon, but I myself don't really trust them. So all the hair styles, conditioner treatments are done by myself.

 

[CocoaCure]

When I was natural before and as I go natural again, I will do my own hair! Like many have said, I DO NOT trust stylists to jack up my hair and I can say that's almost certain what's goign to happen! Either that, or I'll just pay a bunch of money for nothing! (Something I could do myself at home - plus I LOVE playing in my hair!!!) Doing my hair is relaxing and enjoying for me! It's not at all "work".

 

[DragonPearl]

I have been natural since April 2001. I learned to care for and style my hair through experimentation, trial and errors, books (Good Hair by Lonnice Britnum Bonner, even though she has a texturizer), and the generous advices from ladies on hair boards such NappyHair when it was good, and currently Nappturality and LHCF.

 

[inthepink]

I think it is possible to find some salons/hair stylists who do know how to care for natural hair.

I am still at an untrusting point right now based on past experience though.

 

[TinyT]

I have been natural since Jan 2003, and I learned to style my hair by practicing alot. I am very good at 2 strand twists, but I would love to learn how to braid, but I think I will save that for a summer project. There aren't any young women in my family who have natural hair. The older ladies in my family that have natural hair wear twa's.

 

[syoulee1]

Nah... I don't go to the salon because they charge an arm and a leg to do something that I can do at home. Plus I don't trust salons anymore... too many bad experiences.

 

[steph]

I have been to salon for over a year and a half. I am probably never going back. I used to get my hair pressed about once-a-month. I do not trust stylists like the other ladies here. They used to rip out my hair, and i would leave unsatisfied most of the time. I do my own hair and have maintain so much length since i have doing my own hair. Also i have been natural my entire life,and i learned how to finally take care my natural hair through hairboards.

 

[mermaid]

Natural since 97, and the only time I've been to a salon was for color, and after going twice, I started doing it myself, because I figured out how to get the result I wanted, with much less manipulation and chemicals on my own.
I do my own braids, so no one is getting paid for that, either.

 

[DahomeyAhosi]

I had my hair braided by an African braider in a very intricate style that I couldn't possibly have done myself. When natural that was the only time I went to the salon but I would've gone for a press if I wanted it to be straight.

 

[Topazz]

I prefer to style my hair myself. The only time I'll get it done at the salon is if I want cornrows and I have found a really good stylist for that.

 

[miss_brown]

Only when I want to straighten my hair or I'm getting it braided. If I'm doing natural styles like twists or twist/braid outs, I do it myself.

 

[Ayeshia]

I would like to go, but as far as i know, there is only one salon here in buffalo. I saw a girl who had twists done there with extensions, but when she took them out she had no edges, so ill stay away and just do my own hair.

 

[CocoaButterflyy]

[ QUOTE ]
JenJen2721 said:
Thanks for your input guys. How long have you guys been natural and how did you learn to style and take care of your natural hair? Books? Hairboards? Family? Friends? All of the above?

[/ QUOTE ]

Ive been natural 19 out of 22 years of (I had a relaxer 2.5 years in undergrad)... I basically only knew how to deal with natural hair, on top of that I read books like no-lye and anything else related to natural hair, I watched other people and I searched the net

 

[Mahalialee4]

My reasons for not going to a salon:
1. I can do better for free based on what is currently available. 2. I believe they overcharge...they should serve wine and cheese at some of the prices and a fashion show or at least free manicures!....(But if some of the long haired natural ladies on this board had a natural hair salon in my area, I would go occasionally for "hair steaming" and "scalp massages" on a regular basis. I would do it solely for the interaction with a fellow long hair lover to exchange ideas. I do believe that a thorough scalp massage would just make my week.) I would possibly order a steamer through the salon for use at home if I was impressed with the performance of the machine.I would proably try out some hair masques as well....sigh....

..oh that scalp massage.....

Bonjour

 

[FlowerHair]

I do everything myself, from cutting/trimming to styling. The only reason for me to go to a salon would be if I wanted some kind of permanent color, high lights etc.

 

[Irresistible]

I made it my mission to learn how to press my own hair as well as my hair dresser does and i can say now after several years of on and off practice, i have finally been able to master it...although it may not make my hairdresser happy(who ive been going to since i was 17) im so happy to have total independence with my hair now. and time is the best teacher IMO

 

[ricochet]

I have been natural since May 2002, coming up on my 2 year mark! I do not go the salon anymore mainly because I don't trust anyone around here to do my hair. I live in a place where all I see are jacked up weaves, weaves and more weaves. I have gotten very good at doing my own hair and it is growing like a weed, so if it ain't broke don't try to fix it ya heard? I got all my info from boards like nc.com, nappturaliy and the book Let's Talk Hair and Good Hair: for colored girls who considered weave when the chemicals became too rough...must haves for ANY newly naturals.

 

[joyous]

I've been natural since December 2002 and I don't plan on going to a salon any time soon. The last time I went to a salon when I took my updo down, I also took a lot of hair with it. I'm cured, I'll continue to do my own hair. I've been pressing my own hair off and on since I was a child and I'm good at it. Why should I pay an exorbitant amount of money to a salon to take care of what God gave most of us naturally.