why are black hair salons so expensive?

[Jasmataz]

it's one thing to complain and want better customer service, but for someone like me that is in the beauty industry, i have very real and honest issue with black folks. black folks don't like to pay. when it comes to nails, makeup, hair, food, etc... black folks don't even begin to understand how much it cost to run a business and make a profit. and they are always looking for a hook up.

I hate to say it, but I agree with you on this.

 

[LivingInPeace]

These posts seem unnecessarily contentious.

 

[DaiseeDay]

shortdub78, That's a gross generalization. I pay for what I want and it's not mediocre or a stylist I don't trust in my hair - that's the main reason I DIY. And to be completely honest when I have gone to a salon during my HHJ, they've been more white oriented. There are good black stylists who give A+ customer service I'm sure, just like there are black people who are willing to pay their prices.

ETA: People around here sure do pay for Reniece's services. Not only that but they also wait months and then travel some serious miles to see her. I wonder why...

It seems like black people can't ever win. People either say we pay too much for our hair, or that we don't want to pay at all rotfl.

 

[TopShelf]

because they know we will pay...most of us anyway

 

[sounbeweavable]

I've actually had better luck at beauty schools (Toni & Guy specifically) in terms of quality, pricing, and timeliness than any salon period. I used to pay $75 to have my hair relaxed bone straight to the point where it looked Asian with the relaxer overlapping my pre-relaxed hair, etc... but at Toni & Guy's academy they were very careful and took their time, but I was in and out pretty quickly. They would also take the time to ask me about my hair instead of just immediately going to town with the creamy crack. However, I do relax my own hair now and only go to a salon if I'm feeling lazy, which happens maybe once a year.

 

[Chanteuse]

You could also ask your stylist if she could work something out for you. As a student and a weekly client you have some leverage to do so. Tell her that you would like to continue to come every week but the cost is becoming prohibitive for you. Additionally, since her salon is usually empty outside of you, she may be more willing to work something out. If she isn't willing to budge then maybe you should search for a more affordable salon.

 

[emilymichelle]

i will say 80% of the time i have AA clients that have a problem paying. always looking for a special, always want me to trim down my prices, always want freebies. i am a licensed professional. i have a degree in business. i have spent thousands on product and equipments. i have taken additional training classes and certifications. i have a family to feed. i am worth what i charge and i don't like what i do being discounted. it burns my soul when someone request my services, but start giving me a sob story how they can't afford me, so maybe i can work something out with them. Do folks do that with the YT man? do folks go into the white man's place of business and start complaining how he is charging too much? nope, you don't hear a peep.

that's funny, i find black stylists often want to charge prices that their services don't warrant. tomato, tomahto.

 

[sweetcapri]

I wanted to refrain from commenting but could not. I am a salon owner and proud of the quality of work and customer service I provide. I feel on this board hairstylist are definitely disliked and are looked down upon. If you are going to a salon that provides bad customer service stop going at some point you have to take responsibility for waiting 3 hours for bad service you would not do it any other situation why do it for your hair?
I charge what I am worth and I believe most stylist do. You get what you pay for in most cases. Also as a customer what are you bringing to the table?
Ex: Customer makes a appointment for a twist style I block off two hours. She comes in with hair that has been in a weave for three months UNwashed matted and almost loc'd she needs more than two hours time.
This happens all the time to stylists I think there are two sides to every story maybe just maybe the hair salon isn't the problem.

 

[Evolving78]

shortdub78, That's a gross generalization. I pay for what I want and it's not mediocre or a stylist I don't trust in my hair - that's the main reason I DIY. And to be completely honest when I have gone to a salon during my HHJ, they've been more white oriented. There are good black stylists who give A+ customer service I'm sure, just like there are black people who are willing to pay their prices.

ETA: People around here sure do pay for Reniece's services. Not only that but they also wait months and then travel some serious miles to see her. I wonder why...

It seems like black people can't ever win. People either say we pay too much for our hair, or that we don't want to pay at all rotfl.

i can only speak from my experience. and that little personal dig you just threw at me wasn't necessary. also, i am esthetician. so just imagine how i have to convince people that skincare/makeup is a necessity. i have folks wanting me to give discounts or not pay traveling fees because they paid too much to a caterer, want me to stick around their wedding to touchup makeup for free, or can't afford for their wedding party to get services, but just want me to put some lipstick for free on everybody. i take my craft serious and deserve respect.

 

[Saludable84]

Something I have noticed is that a) Dominican salons only do at most 3 types of services on mostly everyone's hair b) Dominicans use super cheaper products that you don't even know they are using due to refilling bottles and c) Dominicans are likely to be employed by the salon owner while black salons usually work for themselves i.e. renting chairs and stuff.

I personally don't prefer either but neither know anything about try hair care. Dominicans can buy a gallon of the cheapest shampoo for $8 while the black salon will buy motions for the same amount so there becomes one difference there. IMO though, it's still hard to find a good salon that uses quality products with either race. When I used to go to the salon, I always had to bring my own products because I never trusted theirs. I still came out with the same head of hair and I still dealt with the same scissor happy people.

After seeing no change in either I learned to do it myself. It can be taught and it can be learned.

Please excuse my iPhone; it's trying to get it together

 

[dicapr]

I wanted to refrain from commenting but could not. I am a salon owner and proud of the quality of work and customer service I provide. I feel on this board hairstylist are definitely disliked and are looked down upon. If you are going to a salon that provides bad customer service stop going at some point you have to take responsibility for waiting 3 hours for bad service you would not do it any other situation why do it for your hair?
I charge what I am worth and I believe most stylist do. You get what you pay for in most cases. Also as a customer what are you bringing to the table?
Ex: Customer makes a appointment for a twist style I block off two hours. She comes in with hair that has been in a weave for three months UNwashed matted and almost loc'd she needs more than two hours time.
This happens all the time to stylists I think there are two sides to every story maybe just maybe the hair salon isn't the problem.

Set rules! Like every relationship there needs to be guidelines. The best stylist let their customers know what their expectations of their clients are. My stylist had it posted in the front of the salon that payment was expected at the time of service. She would do phone consultations when you called for an appointment. This gave her an idea of the condition of your hair and how long your appointment should be rather than just going with an average. If she got behind she would call her clients and give them the option to reschedule their appointment or wait before made it into the shop. She was also the highest earner in her shop. Yes, she had to turn some clients away. But every client isn't a good client. There should be a mutual respect for both the business owners time and services and the clients time and money.

 

[sweetcapri]

Set rules! Like every relationship there needs to be guidelines. The best stylist let their customers know what their expectations of their clients are. My stylist had it posted in the front of the salon that payment was expected at the time of service. She would do phone consultations when you called for an appointment. This gave her an idea of the condition of your hair and how long your appointment should be rather than just going with an average. If she got behind she would call her clients and give them the option to reschedule their appointment or wait before made it into the shop. She was also the highest earner in her shop. Yes, she had to turn some clients away. But every client isn't a good client. There should be a mutual respect for both the business owners time and services and the clients time and money.

ITA and actually implement some of these practices.

 

[prettyinpurple]

Everybody is giving generalizations on both sides. If we can make blanket statements about black stylists, then why can't a stylist make blanket statements about their black clients?

Tit for tat and both go to extremes at times.

So maybe everyone needs to do better.

 

[Wildchild453]

I pay for good service and not everyone out there is giving it. It can be expensive depending on where you go. Salons are more expensive in the city than in Brooklyn, but my favorite stylist's salon is in the city. It can be expensive, which is why I don't go that often especially once the long hair charge started going into effect.

On the other hand, I would never ever step foot in a natural salon because their prices are highway robbery. What the hell I look like paying $100+ for some twists. I can do that for free.

 

[LivingDoll]

See, for me the thing is this...

I don't mind paying, and if a service is worth it to me money is no object.

In my experience, most of the stylists that I have been to often times feel that their services are worth it, when they are not. They offer subpar services, products, attitudes, the overall experience is piss poor. But they don't see the problem. If I were a stylist, I would solicit constructive criticism in order to nuture and grow my business. Most stylists don't ask how their client's experience was. They don't care. Instead of listening to the numerous and monotonous complaints of scores of women, they choose defense rather than introspection. I would be wondering, "wow, have I ever done any of these things that these women are complaining about?", "are my charges commensurate with my services/skills/expertise?", "do I offer a total experience for my client?", "am I as knowledgeable of products and new techniques as I should be?", "how could I have made that visit better for my client?"....if you are certain that you are doing your best and that there's nothing you can improve upon, you aren't the problem and your clients should agree.

The bottomline is this. If I'm not happy, I take my money elsewhere...because I can. Better yet, I keep most of it in my pocket...because I can get results as good as any stylist ever could. I'm not saying that I'll never go to a salon again, because I will. I just recently went to Reniece's salon and I could not be happier. Why? Because I believe the services she offers are worth the money that I am spending AND she offers a total experience. Well worth the travel and the $ IMO.

Someone upthread also asked, as a client what I'm bringing to the table...well besides my money, my hair, a good attitude, and a great tip for a great service...what else is required?

 

[Jasmataz]

Everybody is giving generalizations on both sides. If we can make blanket statements about black stylists, then why can't a stylist make blanket statements about their black clients?

Tit for tat and both go to extremes at times.

So maybe everyone needs to do better.

Exactly .

 

[sweetcapri]

There's a difference between constructive criticism and bashing / outright disrespecting a whole class of people because you think they charge to much.

 

[DaiseeDay]

i can only speak from my experience. and that little personal dig you just threw at me wasn't necessary. also, i am esthetician. so just imagine how i have to convince people that skincare/makeup is a necessity. i have folks wanting me to give discounts or not pay traveling fees because they paid too much to a caterer, want me to stick around their wedding to touchup makeup for free, or can't afford for their wedding party to get services, but just want me to put some lipstick for free on everybody. i take my craft serious and deserve respect.

shortdub78 I didn't take a personal dig at you, girl I don't even know or your services.

I'm speaking for myself and never did I say anything about black stylists in general. Being a "black person" your comment felt like a dig to me. I'll stand by my opinion that stylists need to take their beef up with clients they have issue with, not all black people especially if they expect return customers.

This thread was going in the direction of helping op with her hair, I'm not here to argue about "black people" or "black stylists" - that's pointless.

 

[CurlyMoo]

Because people are greedy. I'll be damned if someone is going to charge me a grip and walk in an hour late, triple book appts, run to the store, sit down, and take breaks while clients are waiting...no ma'am. That's why I stopped frequenting Black salons.

ETA: PLUS...I would always have to go home and re-style my hair. Totally not worth it. I have had a few decent stylists over the years, but no one that was worth my regular patronage.

Did you and I go to the same people? The price wasn't really a problem for me, as much as all that other crap you mentioned. Especially the part about me having to restyle my hair. You know it's sad when you no longer care what style they put it in, because you know you will just restyle it later.

Some stylist were so ill mannered I never went back after the first appointment. I've see a lot of stylist, I'm good now.

 

[LivingDoll]

Did you and I go to the same people? The price wasn't really a problem for me, as much as all that other crap you mentioned. Especially the part about me having to restyle my hair. You know it's sad when you no longer care what style they put it in, because you know you will just restyle it later.

Some stylist were so ill mannered I never went back after the first appointment. I've see a lot of stylist, I'm good now.

Girl, how about that...it sounds like it right?

 

[LivingDoll]

There's a difference between constructive criticism and bashing / outright disrespecting a whole class of people because you think they charge to much.

@sweetcapri...I agree and the same goes for Black people not wanting to pay for anything..."always wanting a hookup". I feel that is very disrespectful and stereotypical as well (I'm not saying that you said it, it was mentioned and cosigned in the thread though.) While I don't agree with that statement, I definitely understand where it's coming from.

I apologize if anything that I said offended you or any of the other posters. I'm just speaking from my personal experience. It wasn't my intention to generalize a whole group of people, but we all know that one bad apple...that goes for clients and stylists alike.

 

[LovelyNaps26]

i have had great black stylists and not so great ones, in queens, ny (being specific so stylists in other parts of the country don't get offended). i don't generalize on that issue but from the standpoint they are more expensive that dominican salons. like almost twice the price. that being said the dominicans i've been to use loads of heat. i haven't stepped foot in a salon in years b/c i didn't want to mess up my hair growth journey but if and when i do it'll probably be a black owned salon that specialized in natural hair...even if i have to pay a grip for a press n' curl.

 

[BostonMaria]

i am terrified of doing my own hair and possibly screwing it up, making it shorter.

i run 3 miles every other day so i like to be fresh every week.

naija24 I see you're new to the forum. Welcome!!! I used to go to the salon consistently for about 10 years and my hair never EVER grew past shoulder length. Once I started to take care of it myself my hair grew long (see my avatar picture).

Really the only difference between you doing your hair and a stylist doing your hair is that she'll flatiron and sizzle the heck out of it, but you will never find out. My hair always looked shiny and pretty, but it never grew. Or so I thought! All that heat was causing breakage.

Most of us on this forum don't go to salon regularly so please don't feel like we're ganging up on you. Buy some oils (coconut and olive oil are great), deep conditioner, and some shower caps and that's half the battle right there. If you don't take ownership of your own hair care I can tell you right now that your hair might not thrive the way it should. I'm Dominican and I go to Dominican salons MAYBE 2x a year because they (and all these other stylists) fry hair and ain't nobody got time for that

Again welcome to the forum!

 

[TamaraShaniece]

naija24

I read all the post and so many women gave you advice on DIYer and saving up money and that doesn't seem at all an option for you because you don't want to damage your hair in any way.

Based off your response to me, you seem to be very experienced in hair care. So I don't think you have a hair issue it seems.

What I quoted you on, yes I thought it was insult. I used a banana clip because I couldn't do buns, braids, or wigs. Did I have an attitude, heck yes girl, reading through this thread I couldn't figure out what you want. I've had a few LHCF be straight up w/ me a few times, it's all hair love.

HHJ

 

[spelmanlocks]

I was told by a stylist because it's more expensive to live in the DC area it costs more to get your hair done. In Atlanta I paid $35 to get a flat iron and press. In the DC area you'll be paying like $80+. The cost of living is very, very high in the DMV nothing is cheap. I used to be scared of doing my own hair as well, but after watching so many youtube videos I am a 100% DIY stylist now.

 

[Fenaxa]

shortdub78

Wow, generalize much?
I hope for your sake that you don't have any Black clients.



i will say 80% of the time i have AA clients that have a problem paying. always looking for a special, always want me to trim down my prices, always want freebies. i am a licensed professional. i have a degree in business. i have spent thousands on product and equipments. i have taken additional training classes and certifications. i have a family to feed. i am worth what i charge and i don't like what i do being discounted. it burns my soul when someone request my services, but start giving me a sob story how they can't afford me, so maybe i can work something out with them. Do folks do that with the YT man? do folks go into the white man's place of business and start complaining how he is charging too much? nope, you don't hear a peep.

...Just jumping out of the woodwork for this one. I was recently talking to a fellow server of mine at a restaurant and he felt the same way about "most black folks" and what I tried to explain to him was that, instead of grouping a group of people together by something as superficial as skincolour, why not just look at them as individuals? It may be coincidental that every time a dark skinned minority chances upon you seeking goods and services, they want to give you sob stories and negotiate prices/services, that's just the price you pay when you work dealing with lots of people.
Honestly, there are cheap people out there, there are people that don't know any better and there are sheisty people out in this world. Deal with it as it comes but don't let negative people jade your perceptions about folks and then group them up...
Plus, you really just don't know if people do that to "the white man". I know many people do, so making certain comments about 'who does what to who' is false, unfair and unjustified.
Makes me sad when people always isolate us as "can't do this", "won't do that", etc.
I'm sure you're a good stylists plus you've got decent credentials but never keep such a narrow minded view of things.
Sorry if that was kinda hostile but I swear, every time I see something written or hear something like that I feel a bit defensive lol. /endrant.

 

[karenjoe]

the few I tried was always in a bad mood cause they didn't like their jobs. I guess
so they didn't care if it was too expensive. or not...
I realized NO ONE was going to take the time & patience w my hair but me....
some
hairdressers seem to over book & r always rushing...

then charge 40.00 extra for their 5 min conditioner....
Personally I've seldom seen ladies w hair past their shoulders
(that wasn't sewed in).... just sayin

 

[Evolving78]

...Just jumping out of the woodwork for this one. I was recently talking to a fellow server of mine at a restaurant and he felt the same way about "most black folks" and what I tried to explain to him was that, instead of grouping a group of people together by something as superficial as skincolour, why not just look at them as individuals? It may be coincidental that every time a dark skinned minority chances upon you seeking goods and services, they want to give you sob stories and negotiate prices/services, that's just the price you pay when you work dealing with lots of people.
Honestly, there are cheap people out there, there are people that don't know any better and there are sheisty people out in this world. Deal with it as it comes but don't let negative people jade your perceptions about folks and then group them up...
Plus, you really just don't know if people do that to "the white man". I know many people do, so making certain comments about 'who does what to who' is false, unfair and unjustified.
Makes me sad when people always isolate us as "can't do this", "won't do that", etc.
I'm sure you're a good stylists plus you've got decent credentials but never keep such a narrow minded view of things.
Sorry if that was kinda hostile but I swear, every time I see something written or hear something like that I feel a bit defensive lol. /endrant.

but it's ok to group black stylists? the title alone does that. everything was fine with people coming into this thread complaining about what black stylist do, but the minute someone throws it back, now folks are generalizing and people are getting offended. i stand by my statement.

 

[Amarilles]

Dominican salons are low-budget as hell...they have whoever at the washbowl who most likely isn't licenced, whoever doing rollers, and half the time the owner only graces her fingers on your head just style.

I'm not certain if black salons are generally this way also, but I've recently went to one black natural place and the ambiance was amazing, everyone there was capable and licensed and it felt like a beauty salon. I did pay a whole lot more and did so gladly.

 

[Coffee]

I paid $27 + tip for a trim today at JC Penney's. It was done by a Black lady and she listened to what I asked for and cut only 1/2 inch off!!