Many women who decide to go Natural are quite unsure on how to care for their hair and whether they CAN or should do it alone. It sounds scary and complicated but I promise you, thousands of women have gone through the same doubts you have and without any outside help from a professional like a natural hair, hair stylist. I’m one of them and while it was hard over eleven years ago, it has become an easier path because of all the knowledge, products and persons willing to help.
Best Transitioning Hairstyles For Natural Hair Newbies
Despite all the help, many women who go natural still want a professional in their life to help them with their journey. Whether it is just for trims or for styling or even for maintenance like caring for Locs; some just want a stylist on board. Are natural hairstylists a thing an if so, where are they? Fret not, as they exist but not everyone who CLAIMS to do natural hair actually CAN DO natural hair. Here are some vital tips to find that special professional.
Co-workers/Friends/Family
I have found some of the best professionals to work with simply by hitting up the folks closest to me. They are a wealth of information because either they know someone or they know someone who knows a natural hair stylist. Some of them may EVEN be the professional themselves! You never know until you ask.
Asking Advice From Other Naturals You See
I’m out-going so I have no qualms about asking total strangers questions. If you are the same or really want to find someone good, ask someone who’s hair is laid and find out who they use. Now, they should be natural (of course) and look like they have healthy hair. Make sure it’s not crochet braids or a weave/wig too (they are sometimes hard to tell) and start off by saying their hair is gorgeous and ask if they use a natural hair stylist. Simple as that.
Check out StyleSeat For A Hair Stylist
A great resource of local talent is found right at StyleSeat where thousands of qualified stylists link their profiles so women such as yourself can find them. You can even book from their site and they even have reviews and pictures right on their profile.
We use Google for everything else so why not for a natural hair stylist? Don’t knock it till you try it especially if you’ve run out of resources for finding one. Doing searches for your hairstylist is just as easy as any other search.
Call Hair Salons & Not Just Natural Hair Salons
I found my natural hair stylist right in a Beauty Brands shop and I love Tiffany! She doesn’t work in a natural hair shop but she’s been taught from Ouidad and she actually teaches others about the various cutting techniques for curly/kinky/wavy hair.
Instagram / Facebook / Apps
Many stylists are advertising right on IG and you get to see their work and they offer sales and promotions from their pages. Simply do a search on IG looking for one in your area. You can find them on FB and even some apps specifically created for you to find stylists like the new App, Bantu App. Social media is one of the best place to find them and see their work right now so tap into it and use it to your advantage.
What To Do Next When You Find The Right Salon
Have A Consultation
This is a must! Do not even SIT in their chair until you have had a consultation (in person) and they have had the opportunity to see your hair. Let them explain what they know and how they were trained. When you walk away make sure you know what you can expect from them and what they expect from you. Feeling unsure or getting a bad vibe, walk away and find someone else.
Save Money On Protective Hairstyles & Still Look Fab!
Pick A Stylist More Concerned With Health Over Hairstyles
Some stylists can give you the best style imaginable but if they are yanking your head, applying heat without heat protectant or concentrating less on your hair’s health then leave them be! You want someone who is trained and concerned with keeping your hair healthy. I’ve been in too many chair with persons concerned with a style being laid and ended up with hair on the floor.
Read Yelp Or Other Review Sites On The Salon & Hair Stylist
Hairstylists are like every other profession and are subject to reviews so find some (if you can) and read them thoroughly. Check out apps like Styleseat and websites that may also share reviews of salons and stylists.
You Don’t Have To Break The Bank On A Hair Stylst
Take it from me. I have spent way too much and got taken for a ride. I learned the hard way that you do not have to spend $500 for the perfect cut! Now, if you just want to head to those upscale salons for expert A or B to do your hair, then by all means do it. Just know there are tons of qualified stylists that will do an excellent job without taking all of your paycheck.
What other tips have you found for finding the perfect natural hair stylist?
Sabrina
Since my last stylist moved, I have been looking for a new one to give me haircuts every few months. So I appreciate your tip to make sure you find one that will want to make sure that your locks are kept very healthy while still making them look good. I’ll make sure that the stylist who will give me my haircuts in the future will be sure to give me things like heat protectant and not yank my hair so that it will stay healthy.
Thanks for the advice to be careful around stylists that charge more for certain hair types. I moved to a new area and am looking to find a hair salon that I feel where I can get a good cut. Finding someone that can work with all types of hair and charge the same across the board would be perfect for my family.
You have some great tips for finding the right hair salon. I like how you said that we need to have a consultation before sitting in a chair to get a cut. We just moved towns, so I’ll start looking for local salons to test out.
I do like how you mentioned that getting an expensive hair stylist doesn’t correspond to getting the best service as you are paying for the branding more than your style. That is something I am glad that you stated as it should help me with discussing it with my wife. Before anything else, I would be sure to find the best hair salon for her hair first so that she would be able to see the point. Thanks!
Thanks for these tips for finding a good hair stylist. I’m glad you explained that you could still ask other people to discover who they use. This seems like a good way to not only hear of some places you may not have heard of before but to potentially hear from them of how much they enjoy the particular stylist.
My wife and I have recently moved to a new area and she’s wanting to go to a hair salon. I liked that you had mentioned that it can be important to call hair salons to see if you can find one that will work with your type of hair. I’ll have to start calling around with her to see if we can find one that will work for her hair.
Thanks for mentioning how you should take the time to check with your friends when looking for a hair salon. It is important to remember that doing this can help you find someone you can trust. My wife wants to find a hair stylist she can trust, so I’m glad I found your page.
I agree that you would want to consider sampling a hair stylist’s work before choosing them. Finding someone who is qualified and experienced would also be good. After a recent move, I’ve been looking for a hairstylist, so I’ll have to consider sampling their work first.
My wife has naturally curly hair. She wishes she could have her hair natural sometimes, so I think this would be a great article for her. I’m sure certain hairstyles and hair cuts work better for naturally curly hair and will help accentuate the curls better. I like your tip about calling all hair salons, not just natural ones. You can ask them if they are experienced in cutting curly hair.
I’ve recently moved to a new city, and I’d really like a good salon to go to so that my hair can keep looking fabulous. So I like how you point out that you don’t need to spend a ton of money on a stylist. I’ll have to find a good salon to go to that’s not too much.
It’s so awesome that I stumbled upon your post as I really need a haircut. I have the same concern here, every time I am going to a hair salon, I will just decide once I get there since I don’t know the kind of haircut that will suit me. And I also, I suggest that we should consider what is trending or in by the time we wish to have a haircut.
I agree that you want to Google a hair stylist before you choose them. Going online would be nice because it would help you know more about their qualifications and experience. My sister is looking for a stylist to help dye her hair, so she’ll have to Google them first.
My wife is trying to find a new hair stylist. I will have to suggest she asks her friends and family for suggestions. I agree that this can be the best way to find the right person.
I like how you suggested having a consultation before you get your hair styled. I am going to a beauty salon this weekend to get my hair done. Thanks for the tips on finding a natural hair stylist.
My wife has natural hair and every time we move she always stresses about finding a new hair salon. I think your advice to ask around is fantastic. If you find out that everyone is going to the same hairstylist, there is probably a good reason for that. I never realized how hard it is for my wife to find someone to cut her hair until now. I thought it was way less of a process then I now know.
Thanks for the tip about using Google when choosing a hair salon. Researching them would help ensure that they are qualified. My husband and I are looking for a hair salon, so we’ll have to check online first.
This blog is really informative. Whether you’ve been natural forever or a few weeks, looking for a salon that caters to your hair can be complex. I’ve heard far too many horror stories about curly girls feeling less-than-satisfied with their in-chair experience — hence the boom in DIY treatments.
That is a good point you made about asking the people around you who they go to. In many circles, that could be taken as a compliment too! I think I will have to ask my mother who she goes to for hair styling. I just love her hair!
I know that my wife is wanting to change up her hair style. She wants to find the right stylist for the job. It’s good to know that you recommend first having a consultation in person. That will allow them to see your hair and give you ideas about what to expect, like you said.
As you mentioned, it is good to look for a stylist who can work with all different hair types, and doesn’t charge extra for any specific one. I am in the beginnings of trying to go natural with my hair, and it does scare me a bit. I will have to find a stylist who can help me with the process.
I appreciate that you mentioned that we will need to do some work to find a hairstylist that is at the same price. My wife and I have been talking about finding a hairstylist for our daughter who has wanted to get her hair professionally done for a long time, and it will be important for us to know that we could afford to hire them. To be sure that they will be a good hiring option, I am going to check their prices.
Amazing blog and best selection of words totally informative for every one thanks for sharing!
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