Snip Snip...

Who here is picky about where they go for a haircut? Who here has entered a salon with a style in mind and left with something completely different and went home with complete disappointment? Have you ever tried to cut your hair yourself because you felt it was best? I bet you have raised your hand for one of them or even all of them! As a curly girl, it’s such a challenge to find the right stylist/salon that understands my hair needs. Each strand has a mind of its own and even a pattern of its own, so I need someone who speaks that language. Unfortunately, this isn’t found around every corner, in my case anyway. Starbucks, yes. Curly hair salons, no. This is a frustrating fact, so let’s talk about it!

To be honest, I didn’t get a real cut until I was in my 20’s. Before this, I did what many people did. I scheduled an appointment for a “dry cut” and gave myself a silk press the day before. That way, I knew the stylist wouldn’t have to “work with” my curls, only my straightened hair. Yes, I was a regular when it came to the old flatiron; however, I understood that not everybody knew my hair needs. Even I didn’t know my hair needs then! I would feel like I needed to explain that my hair was curly and ask them to make longer layers so when I did wear my hair out naturally the layers would blend in nicely. Little did I know then that it didn’t work that way and the moment I washed my hair after a cut I noticed some very long and some very short curls. It didn’t look good so back to the flatiron I went! Still, I felt that to get a proper cut and not get turned away from a salon, I had to make it “easier” for the stylist. This meant, straight hair.

Other times, I felt like I needed to take the matters into my own hands. This meant, scissors in my own hands and do the cut myself. Well, how do you think that worked out? Let me tell you. No matter how many countless videos I watched, I still needed a very clean “fix” to even my hair out. It was always shorter in the front and long in the back. Not exactly a mullet, but not the look I was going for. Besides, I can’t pull off a mullet. My problem was, that I would try cutting each curl to make layers but I couldn’t get to the back. How does one even get the back alone?! I’ve done the “brush everything forwards and cut at the end” routine and just messed up the layers. It ended up looking like a pyramid on top of a larger pyramid. Very nice, I know.  I’ve also done the “make 2 pigtails and cut the ends evenly”, and still, no success. It may work for others, but I can tell you this is a skill I do not possess. To me, this seemed like the better option because if I messed up, at least I didn’t have to spend money on it.

What I’ve learned from my various life experiences is that you have to do your research. First, find salons in your area if that is even possible. Once you find a salon, I would take a look at their portfolio and see what hair types they tend to cut. If you see type 2 and 3 hair and you’re a 4, perhaps that is not the place for you. Another option is if you travel for work or are visiting family or friends, check out salons in their area. It is worth a try. Lastly, if you have the luxury of being able to travel specifically for a cut, there are amazing places that you can go. Again, I recommend research.

With the direction the natural hair community has gone and advocated for acceptance of all curl patterns, I hope that more and more salons build on their ability to cut curly and textured hair. This way, we won’t need to flatiron before a cut. This way, we won’t be turned away. This way, we won’t have to try to take it upon ourselves and end up looking like we did in our fourth-grade pictures.

Much love,

Your forever curl friend, Frecklez_n_curlz.