Allow Me To Vent: Why I Can’t Take The Black Salon Culture

May 31st, 2012 - By Kendia

Why can’t we keep appointments? If I make an appointment for 10am, your doors should be open at 10am! You shouldn’t stroll in at 10:30 with a cup of coffee in your hand or bump me because someone you know or deem more important, who doesn’t have an appointment, walks in.

If I get the same style done, it should cost the same pretty much all the time, barring inflation or a jump in product cost, which should be explained prior.

I know people have a lot going on in there lives and want to share but let’s not over share, it makes me uncomfortable and watching you get agitated or upset over said story, makes me a little scared about the outcome of my hair.

If you’re going to snack at least make an attempt at cleaning your hands before putting it back in my head or better yet, why not save the snack for later?

When someone walks into the salon and they’re new, smile; greet them. This is what good business and obtaining new customers are all about.  The blank stares and waiting for them to speak is only going to scare them off…

There’s no need to put down someone else’s work. I understand that you’re trying to keep me as a client but telling me my prior stylist ripped me off, makes me feel not so good about myself and makes me wonder whether you’re just saying that to rip me off.

Does this list sound absurd? Are these ridiculous things to hope for?

I’m not saying that this is the case for every black salon and the reason I’m writing this is because no matter how much I groan, moan and complain, I put up with it. I would never imagine abandoning it, because at the end of the day there’s something familiar about it. It feels like my grandmothers living room on a Sunday afternoon. The comfort, the familiarity…but even with that, just imagine just how much it would be if Grandma had a sweeter disposition and her house had more some snacks.

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  • Wow

    What’s wrong with learning how to do your own hair? Trial and error, try something if it doesn’t work try something else. Our hair is not as complicated as we make it out to be, don’t believe the hype, it’s hair, develop a relationship with it, understand it, have fun with it, you’ll like it.

  • http://profiles.google.com/xokmrob2xo Kaylee Robinson

    I definitely don’t miss the days of heading to the salon for exactly the reasons mentioned above. And yes, this is not just at Black salons, examples of these practices occur around the board. However, Hair Cuttery always did me right re: trims and a quick hair styling, very professional.

  • geneive

    All of these reason were part of my decision to do my own hair in my home…where I can be seen on time, im happy with the result and i even get to get chores done in the process.

  • New2this

    One tip to solve this problem is by going to a smaller salon. My last 2 hairstylists (1 for at least 5 yrs & the other for almost a yr now) have had salons set up in their homes. It may sound weird but these 2 salons had everything that bigger salons have. My current hairstylist had 1 shampoo bowl & 3-4 dyers. She doesn’t overlap appointments and have people waiting because she knows that she is the only stylist. I liked these 2 salons better than the larger one I regularly went to a while ago. My experience at the bigger salon was similar to this article.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1684301895 Gail Jack- Joiner

    Black salons have always been a place where one could go to get a style and a smile. Everyone knows each other and they are usually very friendly to one another. I think there are a few bad apples in the bunch, but not all salons are bad. Personally, I have been frustruated by the service of a few salons, but I simply refuse to put all salons in the bucket. If I am not happy with the services I receive at a salon, then I simply take my money and my beauty needs some place else.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000614211150 Verna Bonaparte Mitchell

    I can relate to the writer’s experience and will do my own hair before going through yet another salon experience. Between over-bookings, the bootleg DVD dudes and the mind-blowing rudeness I’ve dealt with, I’ll take a pass on Black-owned salons.

  • Frustrated

    I have to agree with a lot of the ladies who are tired of the non-sense that comes along with patronizing black salons and beauty shops. My biggest peeve is the ever-changing prices. I will never understand why you charge more because I have four inches of new growth instead of three. On the phone, the price for a wash and style was $45 dollars, but when you see me roll up in the kind of car I drive, it’s now $65. Lastly, I do not want to help you do my hair. I do not want to pass you the rollers as you roll my hair. Talk about making blood boil.

  • JLHsays

    I have left many a salon because of the unprofessional manner in which it was run…gossiping, having to wait around for hours for no good reason and overbooking. I go to the salon to get my hair done. There is no reason I should be at the salon more than 2 hours for a wash and blowdry.

  • Leela

    Check out Smartstyles in Walmart. They have set prices. I relax and dye my own hair and get it cut for $12. In and out. Very professional. I can work around my stylist’s schedule easily. No waiting 30 minutes for a scheduled appointment. No kids running around. No peddlers. I’m very happy.

  • quest

    I agree, I live in the south, TN but from NY and it is ridiculous. You can buy a bootleg movie and a fish plate in 75% of the salons/beautyshops out here. And I am not downing my people. But I want my haircut and I want to leave. I don’t want to talk about nothing but the weather.

  • HairDresserSmairDresser

    And here I thought I was the only one to give up on the ‘hair dresser’ (that’s what it was called when I was growing up.) I got tired of the uneven hair cuts and chemical burns. I figured I could do as well if not better – and I did just fine. I get my hair professionally cut, but I’ve been perming it myself for twenty years. I went back one time eight years ago for my grandmother’s funeral (I was too upset to do it myself) Biggest mistake I’ve made in twenty years. I had to go home and rinse it for forty minutes, then straighten it because the perm didn’t actually take. Do you know that woman wanted a TIP? Like I don’t KNOW when my hair is only straight because she straightened it with the blow dryer. I don’t care about your skin color, I care about workmanship, and unfortunately I’ve run into incident after incident of shoddy workmanship.

  • tracklessonline

    I agree with Run with Sissors!
    I am a stylist and I do not believe in that foolishness. However I get the exact opposite! I am always on time for my appointments , heck I arrive early to set up. I get people that are always late…this cuts into my next appointment’s time. Oh and I forgot to say I don’t overbook. I actually use quality products and I specialize in a variety of extensions while maintaining your hair’s integrity but all of the Black clients are looking for “hook ups” or Dominican prices. They fail to realize that most Dominican salons do not have licensed professionals and you can get a wash for $10 because they use dishwashing liquid and they are illegally in this country so they will work for minimum wage.

    The bottom line is that it is a cheap fool that puts up with that crap. Salons will never step their games up when people accept that crap simply because it is familiar. The next thing is there is truth to the saying “you get what you pay for”. You can’t expect to get royal treatment and professional, service and knowledge for $20 for over 2 hours worth of work not to mention the costs of the chemicals. That equates to less then minimum wage yet that is what most Black people want to pay when they know damn well they wouldn’t work for those wages.

    I say that Black women need to step their game up and expect and demand more. Stop making idiotic excuses like “I put up with it because it is familiar” and venture out to a true professional. Yeah you might have to pay a bit more but….

    Lastly “like attracts like” so if you are frequenting a place like the one above and you don’t find a better place, the truth is that you are on the same wavelength as the unprofessional stylist!

  • Ursula Mccormick

    I remember when i was living in maryland, i was faithfully going this salon and i liked it alot and one day i had an appointment, waited, told the front desk about the appointment and she nodded w/approval of the appointment. mind you the appointment was at 9 am and i was a half an hour early. here comes my stylist with her Starbucks coffee after talking with her police officer boyfriend/jump off. she then walks into the salon, looks my way (w/o acknowledge) and keeps on going to her to her post. i sat & waited for her to come my way for about ten minutes (w/ great patience. she was greatly lucky!!)…so i goes to the front desk (again) and i say to her did you let the chick know i was here???..she didn’t acknowledge me at all. so i proceed to leave. now, the chick decides she wanted to acknowledge and i told her i’m going somewhere else. and at the end of the story i spoke w/the manager and i told her as long as she had people who had no common courtesy, i will not return..

  • ItISwhatITIS

    when i had a perm, i went to an older black woman- she and another older woman worked there and never had an issue- when i first went natural and had a twa- went to jc penny got the best cuts from a white lady who knew how to cut any type of hair she was that good- and was the one who turned me on to kera care and products that actually worked for my hair type and made it less dry.. now i do my own hair- learned to cut my own hair and for salons- um no i will not pay 100 + to get rude service and lip no mam

  • Arrica

    This is 100% true, I dread going to the majority of black salons. When you walk in you don’t get a hello can I help you, instead u have to walk over to a stylist who’s sitting in a chair talking on the phone. The rest are giving you screw faces like you’ve done something wrong and you shouldn’t be there. While I don’t get weaves I do get wash and sets (which is a crime to ask for in a black salon) I ask for a wash and set I get a look like I spoke in a language that the stylist didn’t understand after I ask how much and I get this outlandish price of $35. So now I am a permanent customer to Dominican salons. Their fast, friendlier and the prices are half of what the black salons are charging. It balls down to lack of customer service in black salons!!

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Sharee-Moye/100000512666019 Sharee Moye

      You think $35 is outlandish for a shampoo and set? lmao. Yet you want professional treatment? Those statements are hilarious because they are contradictory the one to the other.

  • mikalee2

    I don’t have this problem.. My hair stylist never keeps me waiting, she is polite, sweet and she explained all her prices up front, plus snacks! She does not tolerate disrespect so her other clients are pleasant and nice too! Styles by Kenya in South Tampa, FL is where it’s at.. She owns a loft at Salon Lofts.. best invention ever btw… ;-)

  • http://www.facebook.com/RosarioRed Rosario Stefania Scarsci

    I have dread locks and I really do not like other people touching my hair unless it is my mom or aunt. I do my own hair and it is kept very well. My aunt has dreads and so does my mom (since 1998).

  • Cocochanel31

    Try going to Hair Cuttery! I admit i was scared to go to a non black stylist, however, my usual black girl was not in that day and all I needed was a rollerset , and let me tell you the ASIAN lady hooked me up honey!! i asked for a black person when I arrived and the woman at the register said well everyone knows how to do roller sets! And she was right! Not to mention HC has locked in prices..definetly go to them for low maintenance looks!

  • bimc

    I am in total agreement with this article’s perspective of visiting a black salon.
    The blank stares and side eyes alone will cause you to walk the hell out. 

    • Same all the time

       right because “others” just smile wide in your face and ridicule you behind your back..Get over yourself

      • tam

        wow..how ignorant you sound. we all can agree to disagree..

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