I seldom go to the beauty shop because I can do most things myself. Color though, nah. I need you to be licensed, a trained chemist and have a master's in time management. Here's the thing... I love there results (most times) after leaving the beauty shop but it never fails, at some point I want to put my paws on someone. Here's why I love and hate the beauty shop...
1. Ain't nothing ever on time. Time management has been a struggle for most of the beauticians I know. Part of this is troubled by the late arrivals and early comers. I get it, you can't manage it all. What you CAN DO is time out how long it takes you to complete a service and use that as a guide.
2. No, sis who needs to get back to work can't go in front of me. I got here on time, waiting for another press and curl ain't a part of my schedule.
3. One of the things I do enjoy is the great balancing act of beauty shops. The conversations go from Socrates to Savage 21. Where else can you get this diversity of Black women?
4. It's the hub of Black entrepreneurship. Anytime you're at a shop, you can get everything you need for you house. Someone is coming in selling bath soap or laundry detergent at some point. Last time I was at the shop, a man came in with fresh meals. I usually don't eat... actually that's a lie. I live for some street meat. A burnt hot dog or polish has been my most exciting portion of going out on the east side of St. Louis before. Like the club is cool, but that street meat?!? Shiiiii... count me in. Anyways... dude came in with a red wagon filled with fresh fruit, packaged lunches with salmon and chicken, organic juices and some more. How could I not at least get a fruit bowl?
5. At some point the stylists always asks if I'm dating. Girl, I'm busy watching someone attempt to beat Bobby Flay. Interestingly, they never beat him. Ever.
6. I generally don't trust people with scissors. I've been to a few stylists who enjoyed the sound of the blades closing way more than they wanted me to leave with my hair. I sit gnome still and pray every time that they learn to manage that desire to chop. I know it grows back, but hell let me plan to leave with a low cut instead of being surprised. Came here for a press and curl and left with a low cut caesar with the deep waves. From a bonnet to a durag in minutes.
7. There is always a certain type of stylist. You got Brenda who services customers 65 and older. Her curl set is tighter than lace front glue. She has an open face gold and fight you if provoked. You got the hard curler, Kim. She uses pump it up and brown gel to mold her customers. You have Sharay next who listens to Future for relationship advice and dresses in workout clothes despite the fact that she's not planning to work out. She specializes quick weave bobs that she cuts with clippers instead of shears. Lastly, you have Lisah with a silent H. She's "too good" for this environment. She wears a Black smock because it's slimming. Her clients are told that this is a temporary shop location as they clench their designer bags. She specializes in the same 6 curl pattern that she's been doing since 97. Her clients have healthy hair so they don't challenge her to actually try something new. She's been giving folks the same copper highlights and her boring, uppity clients think it's the bees knees. Then there's Gigi. Gigi travels to all the hair shows and specializes in high dimension color. Her sleeve of tattoos is too much for Brenda's clients who are approximately 6,496 years old and Lisah's who are unnecessarily pretentious, but secretly want a little thrill. Gigi has a budding IG following of women who like blunt cuts, but she smokes weed and forgets their requests. Lastly, there's Charlie. Born Charlene, she changed her name to accommodate her limitless barbering talent. She bring the boys and the androgynous baddies to the yard. She's petite and natural, with good looks that reinforce her clientele. She listens to UGK and gospel at her station.
8. You can always tell when folks don't love their hair. Face gets all plain and stoic like Tina Belcher. When they start teasing at it and trying to see it under different light. That was me the last time I went to the shop. My hair was cool. Just cool. I won't go back, but I also want to leave with the hair I came with. I never get into it with folks I need to render me a service with hair, drinks or food. You not about to put a little Shug Avery pee in my blue mai tai.
9. I don't trust stylist who use social media to complain about their clientele finding a new stylist. Here's the thing, if you deliver a service folks can't forget they'll return the gesture in some way. Whether that's a referral or coming back for that tax return finger wave. Deliver a good service and folks will come back (If you build it, they will come). I can say this as a kitchen curling, residential hall sew-in doing, kid whispering, home stylist. I'm not saying don't discuss the extremes, but going in on folks without examining yourself is out of place.
10. On a serious note... Black women who service Black women and Black women who require the service of Black women, let's find a way to be a little more tender with each other. Hair stylists are therapists, life coaches and hair engineers. They make miracles happen. Let's be kind when we patronize them. Stylists, let's also be conscious that folks are paying for a service. If you increase your prices, increase your service in some way. Unsubstantiated increases leave everyone upset. And schedule a lunch for yourself. Watching you scarf down a hoagie between wash and sets ain't good for you or your clients.
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