 Inexpensive service can cost you
Written by hair-nista from New York City
When I first moved to N.Y., N.Y., I wore my hair in a short bob haircut. New York City is an expensive place to live and maintain a short haircut-both would strain my meager salary. At the time, I worked at an after-school nonprofit group located in a low-income housing development.
I had asked a parent volunteer at my job for salon recommendations near our office. I figured the salon location would be convenient especially if I could get a lunchtime or after-work appointment. She had insisted I go to a local shop where "all the parents" go to get their touch-ups for $25. As I looked over her own ponytail ‘do and side hair laid down with brown gel, I wasn't entirely impressed. However, I needed a tight relaxer service and a cute style that wouldn't break my pocketbook.
A few weeks later, I arrived for my appointment. The place was PACKED! There was not one empty chair. They were all occupied either by waiting customers, or fidgety children ordered to sit down because they were running all over the shop knocking things over.
The salon was hot, unkempt, slightly dirty and smelled of burnt hair and hairspray. Two different telenovelas blasted on separate television screens mounted in two corners on the same side of the walls for easy viewing access. Amidst of all the chatter, very little English was spoken.
After waiting 45 minutes, I finally sat down in the chair of the next available stylist. When she started the relaxer, I don't remember her asking me what strength I used or her even doing a consultation with me to discover what strength I needed. I was naïve. I was used to going to salons where the stylists assessed my hair by sight.
By the time I was finally able to see what she had put in my hair-a super-strength Revlon Realistic relaxer for thick, coarse hair-it was too late. The relaxer burned my scalp. Then, she further burned my scalp with the hot hair dryer. She poked my poor tender head forming the requisite doobie. I walked out of the shop nearly in tears. Within days, the hair along the crown had broken off in large clumps, and my scalp was covered in scabs.
As soon as my scalp healed, I ran to get braids in my hair, which I kept for the next six months. I paid $125 per visit for three visits. I quickly found a stylist I could trust, who cut off my damaged hair, and helped guide me through a two-year natural phase. During that time, I learned how to take better care of my natural hair, and make better choices for when I chose to re-enter the world of relaxers.
Eight years later, I don't blink about spending at least $60 for a relaxer. Had I spent a little extra money in the beginning, I wouldn't have lost my hair. I also wouldn't have spent nearly twice as much as I might have paid had I taken the time to find a stylist who practiced healthy hair techniques, and not just worked on keeping a packed salon.
After all, you really do get what you pay for.
.
Do you believe in the concept of "you get what you pay for" at the hair salon? Leave your thoughts below by adding a comment.
Copyright 2010 © My Salon Scoop, LLC
 |
Subscribe to this comment's feed
