The Natural Hair Tax
The painting you see here is called Extensions by Annie Lee. It’s available for sale here at BlackArtDepot.com. And you can learn more about this phenomenal artist at her website AnnieLeeArts.com.
I’ve been on a mission to find the ideal hair salon here in Chicago — somewhere I can get my hair styled into kinky twists or Senegalese twists for an affordable price. I’d like to go to a salon, not to someone’s home (yes, I’ve had that offer made quite a few times. Please don’t be mad at me, I’m sure your grandma is talented and her home is wonderful).
In this mission, I’ve had some interesting encounters. Allow me to share the most recent ones with you.
Experience #1 – I walk into a salon that looks like it can accomodate my needs. It’s filled with beautiful black men and women, doing hair and getting their hair done, but I see mostly relaxers and heat straightening techniques being used. When I walk in, you can practically hear the sound of a record player screeching to a halt. Everyone turns to look.
“Hi, do you do natural hair here?”
“Our natural stylist isn’t in today. Here’s her card. Call to make an appointment.”
“Oh OK…well, can you let me know how much she charges for twists?”
“I don’t know, but *looks at me with raised eyebrows* I’d say about $150.”
Experience #2 – I walk into a beautiful, brightly colored, black owned salon. Some of the stylists have natural hair done up in intricate styles. The walls are adorned with African-inspired art. I feel like I’m in the right place. I look at the price list — relaxers cost $65. Hair color starts at $45. Rates for natural hair all begin at $100. And there’s an asterisk after that last zero.
I’m finally able to speak with a stylist, who is busy flat ironing someone’s hair.
“Hi, can you let me know how much it would cost for me to get twists? Two strand, kinky, Senegalese…”
*looks me up and down*
“I’d say $125. Around there.”
Experience #3 – visiting a salon that boldly has “natural hair” painted on one of their windows.
I walk in, and nobody even acknowledges my presence. After a while a receptionist makes her way over to me.
“Hi, I’ve got a question. Do you have a price list, or a pamphlet with information about the price you charge for natural hairstyles?”
“You mean to press it straight?”
“Uh…no. I was looking for twists, a natural hairstyle. I don’t want heat on my hair.”
*blank stare* “Oh. Cause that’s what we do. Let me go ask somebody.”
Receptionist returns with a male stylist. When he sees me, he utters a concerned “oooh,” and proceeds to immediately put his hands on my scalp, to feel the roots of my hair — without even so much as an introduction.
Me: “Hi, uh…do you do twists?”
Hairstylist: *still feeling my hair* “I mostly do maintainance. Do you want to start locs or something?”
“No, I just want to get twists.”
“Oh, no. I don’t do those from the beginning, I can help you maintain them though.”
All three experiences ended the same – with me leaving dejectedly, unlikely to return.
So right now I’m 0 for 3 in the informal poll of hair salons I’ve conducted around downtown Chicago. And I’m curious about what one reader who e mailed me referred to as “the natural hair tax.” From my experiences, I’m left with questions.
Why do salons charge so much more for natural hairstyles than chemical or heat styled hairstyles?
Is it possible to find a nice salon that does twists and other natural hairstyles for less than $100?
Or am I being unrealistic, you get what you pay for and that’s that?
I’ve still got many, many salons to explore here in Chicago. Ideally I want to find a salon I’d be proud to feature and review here on Afrobella, a hair salon and a hairdresser I’d be happy to refer to as “mine.” For now, the quest continues on.
Have you had similar natural hair experiences, in your quest for a hair salon? If you’ve got any Chicago recommendations please let me know!
Subscribe
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it.
well i think that beauty schools teach relaxers, colors and cuts. and therefore stylists assume it is extra work. especially since it is perceived that natural hair is something that needs to be fixed or drastically altered.
I think you need to look exclusively for Braiding salons. I don’t know about Chicago, but there are a ton of them in New York’s urban areas. They only do braiding, if ask around you can problably find the ones that charge low.
That’s terrible, but something I’ve experienced even when trying to get my hair straightened. I think they assume that my hair will be hard to deal with, so they try to charge more. They also know that they can get away with it, so take advantage of those of us who are natural. I think we also have to pay for their time … the difference between straightening quickly and twisting a whole head of hair. Regardless, people shouldn’t be left to feel dejected, especially if these shops are pubbing natural this and natural that. Posers! Lol. Great post. Stay hopeful.
I don’t have any Chicago recommendations but I say KEEP LOOKING! There’s got to be someone. I pay about $55 for a wash, trim and set (whether it’s twists, rollerset, press-n-curl, etc.) at a very nice salon. Those $100+ prices are ridiculous.
I am in Baltimore and I noticed that you have to have hair like Tracy Ellis Ross or dreadlocks down past your backside in order to be serviced. Many natural salons do not adhere to appointment times, charge exorbitant fees, then use products that are not necessarily best for your hair. As a woman with natural hair. I have reduced myself to investing my monies in quality products and working diligently to maintain my own hair. Unfortunately, there are scores of natural hair care salons in the MD/DC/VA area but many (NOT ALL) are lax in salon etiquette, customer service and respecting personal space (i.e., referring to the attack on your hair by the stylist at salon #3). At this point, my main problem is not how white people react, it is how OUR OWN PEOPLE treat it, even in a salon setting. It is truly a sad state of affairs.
Oh, Bella..you should already know the answer to that! The additional price is so the hairdressers can a) discourage you from those services B) to make a hefty profit. All products and services are marked up for these reasons in hair salons. Extra money for conditioner, though you must wash the hair. Extra money for longer, thicker hair. It’s a scam. Good luck in your salon search!
OMG Bella.. I am sorry you have had such horrible experiences.. In my neighborhood I found the same issue when investigating salons..not only do they charge more for natural styles, it’s also on the length and density of your hair..
My stylist is the same one I have had since I moved to this area.. She did my hair when it was relaxed and also now that it is natural.. and I didn’t pay anything extra for transition styles nor now that I’m fully natural and my hair is very thick.
A lot of my friends who are also natural couldn’t believe that for a wash & style I’m only paying $40 and no more than $55 if I got a straw set.. I tell them it’s because my stylist knows how to do all kinds of hair and does it well that she doesn’t have to overcharge for services just because it may take more time to deal with natural hair.
One other thing that I love about my stylist she knows that all natural hair isn’t the same and works with you to find a regimen that works well for your hair type so the trial and error with products is minimal.. and just as the old west indians say.. her hand agree with my head! and that truly is all that matters to me!
I also live in Chicago(all my life)and have noticed the same thing. I have a little past my butt dreads and everyplace seems to think A) I want to cut my hair off for a perm
B)too long and therefore is extensions
Or My favorite “wash, condition and twist costs at least $175 For that length of hair. hair terrorist mumbles, “she needs to cut that nappy shit” After that experience I wash, condition and twist my own hair.
I am right there with you. I have been natural for about 6 years and I’m at the point where I don’t go to a salon unless I am getting a blow out or hair cut. Other than that, I do my hair at home, because in Chicago, the dearth of salons that cater to natural hair and natural hair styles is frustrating. When I did get two strand twists about four years ago, it was in Oak Park and I think I only paid $70, but I no longer have the information for the person who did them and I believe she switched salons.
Other than that time, I’ve gone to other salons for natural hair services and some not so natural, including roller sets. I’ve been told that my natural hair could not be put in a roller set. When I challenged this, they told me that it was “impossible”.
I hope that you can find somewhere in Chicago that does natural hairstyles, but it is tough. If you do find some places, I hope that you will share them with us readers!
Outrageous. I know how you feel.
I went to get a hair cut and went to a black hair salon that several people recommended to me (there are not that many in Rome).
Everyone there was getting a weave or relaxer. People looked at me like I was a unicorn.
The woman who cut my hair didn’t say a word to me. True there may have been a language barrier. She was Dominican and I don’t speak Spanish but I did know enough Italian to at least say hello, etc.
At the end of the day I found a non-ethnic salon/stylist I love for hair cuts. I saw a person with an amazing ‘fro in a store. I ran in and when she turned around I realized she was not black but Italian. She gave me the name of her hairdresser.
It’s the first time in my life I have had someone who is not black cut my hair. She’s Italian-Australian and sat down with me for a long consultation about the health of my hair before I made my appointment.
I don’t understand why a black salon would not be able to do all types of black hair. Natural hair is not something to be “tamed”. Wake up salons. It’s 2010 not 1810.
I haven’t been to Chicago but I’d be very surprised if there aren’t plenty of braids/twist/locks shops to choose from. For example a quickie google search for Chicago braid salons turns up quite a few options. BTW I can understand if you’re hesitant about going to a stranger’s house to get your hair done, but keep in mind that some kitchen stylists are very good at what they do and not just bumbling grandmas as you imply. They work out of their homes because they are freelancers who don’t have the time or desire to own their own salon or to pay chair rent in someone else’s salon. And if they don’t have to pass the cost of their rent on to you – then you benefit.
You should try Van Cleef Hair Studio! They offer all kinds of natural styles and work with a wide variety of hair types. I am loyal to this salon and encourage you to give it a shot!
It’s amazing I feel the same way in DC. Two strand twists, flat twists, and strawsets all with my natural hair, costs me about $100 – 200 dollars. But to get my hair blown out it only cost $55. That’s insane to me because it’s a lot more work involved to blow it out than to twist it. Also – STAY AWAY from BRAIDING SALONS. I’ve had more than one experience with damage to my hair because they are only used to working with extensions.
Bella, the ease of finding natural hair stylists led my mom, and my sister to teach themselves to do their own twists. I am a huge believer in the fact that natural hair care for black woemn is an untouched niche. There is no formal training available for it. (I’ve even thought about adding little girl natural plaits as a side hobby for myself as soooo many women either don’t have the time to braid and/or twist their babies har or simeply can’t comb the hair when it is in it’s natural state…so they perm it. Sad.)
Also, I think many of the natural hair salons open and then close simply because they don’t know how to market their business. There are sisters willing to pay for maintenance but they can’t find the stylists to meet their needs.
I have three recommendations for you, and timehairgallery.com is the first! Kenyon is the owner and although I have not been yet (I have had to reschedule twice) I have witnessed Kenyon helping a lady grow her bad habit perm out into a natural state over the course of two years. The menu on the website states the salon handles twists, and it seems moderately priced.
I found this website as a resource, http://www.treasuredlocks.com/salons.html, but cannot personally recommend any of the salons.
And last, Why Knot Concept Salon, 851 W Randolph St.
Chicago, IL 60607, 312.421.6580
I have not visited Why Knot in a long time, but previously they mostly focused on loc-ups and loc maintenance. Hopefully they have branched out and started servicing other natural styles.
Giiiirl, every place that I have ever glanced at charges at least 60.00 and up. The few times I have had someone do my twists, I went to my co-worker’s sister who charged me $30. Try to find someone who does hair in their house!
My experience of being charged more happened at a hair school a few years ago. I have been natural for 7 years and there wasn’t a plethera of hair blogs then. I went to this beauty school to get color and they set me up with an asian woman. When I asked the price ( it was like 25.00 on the wall—but I knew that wasn’t meant for me) she said 50.00. The “teacher” then proceeded to mumble something about her needing to charge more, but the woman didn’t hear her. This woman, along with another woman, proceeded to DRY COMB my hair out! While she was coloring, the “teacher” had the enough to come by again and say ” see, I told you to charge more for her hair”!The woman left the color on too long in areas and it wouldn’t take in others. When she finalaly washed it, she says ” oh your hair is curly, not like most…” silence. My hair turned out to be a brassy, hot mess. I had to use rinses over it for weeks before it was presentable.
BK, who is your stylist?
I actually spoke to a stylist once about this imposed “hair tax.” She explained to me that many stylist charge so much more for natural hair is because of the actual hands on time it takes. She said in the time it might take her to 2 strand twist one client, she could have slapped some perm in at least 3 different clients and rotated them through the process of rinsing perm, washing, conditioning, and roller sets.
I don’t necessarily agree with it but from a business aspect I guess I understand where she’s coming from. That still doesn’t excuse the horrible customer service you received at the salons you’ve visited. (they need Tabitha’s Salon Takeover. Do you watch that show on Bravo?? I love it!! LOL)
Good luck in your search. The natural bellas I know in Chicago have locks, and I’m pretty sure they pay an arm and a leg for the upkeep. But if I hear anything I will let you know.
I don’t know about going to braiding salons, unless you are very careful. I live in NYC, and the braiding salons in my neighborhood are no-frills operations where you can get braids, preferably with extensions, but no real hair care to speak of. There are natural hair salons in NYC that style, groom and maintain a wide variety of natural hair styles (locs, twists, knots, etc.) and yes, I do find the services to be pricey. But in a true natural hair salon, you receive full service and treatment, not just styling.
Hi Bella,
I’ll be watching this post closely. I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve been to a salon, and I thought I finally found solace in a braider who really cared about the health of my hair and nourished while I was transitioning. Now she’s with child and on bedrest indefinitely.
Try Glo-On Braids & Natural Hiarstyling 773-910-3035
I’ve had the same experience with my mid-back length locs but was determined to find a weekly maintenance salon here in CT. A couple of months ago, I packed my products in my purse, went in/out of about 4 ‘hood spots’(not the best neighborhood, but not the worst either) and was able to find one and get a wash/dry and style for $30 (tip included). The stylist didn’t retwist my loc, but she did wash, deep condition, dry, and style (a braided updo, no less!). The customer service wasn’t great at first (no receptionist to speak of, the stylist didn’t bother to introduce herself, etc) but when I told her what I needed done and let her know that I had my own products, she quoted $20,sat me at the sink and did her thing. I didn’t get any disturbing looks or comments (though she did try to put a plastic cap around all my locs for the deep conditioner ) and was pretty drama-free. I still go to my loctian every 6 weeks for $60 a visit retwist and I use my hood spot for weekly maintenance. So what you’re looking for exist, you just have to be willing to explore a little.
Sounds like a horrible experience! Sounds like you need to make a trip to Detroit for service!!!
It is strange that natural hair cost are high & Ive never understood that.
The woman that maintains my locks works from her home & Ive been going to her for years. I was apprehensive at first but its all good really.
She also does my oldest daughter’s twists & only changes 55 bucks. Other places around Detroit charge around the same rate.
I say let go of your reservations of home salons because you just might strike gold. Seriously!!!
And yes, I know all about salon experiences so I know the deal.
I second the comment made by ‘pets’. After a ton of bad experiences (mainly with professionalism and/or timeliness), I stumbled upon Glo-On. Shavon is wonderful!
Definitely look into it.
I live in new orleans, and two strand twist after a deep condition and trim cost $50, but I work at a University and I said if I loved my hair I would tell every natural girl at the HBCU where I work, she liked that…… I was quoted a price over the phone once and I tried to tell the lady I had thick very kinky coily hair, but she promised a price of $40 and when I came it, and it took half the morning and her sitting down to finish my hair I was surprised that she never raised the price. I loved her for that and tipped well. \
keep looking Bella there is a new up and coming person who wants business and a good rotation of natural haired bellas that is waiting for you to walk into her place.
maybe she’ll read this today!
( still laughing at the guy feeling your scalp)
I’m sorry but these people should be ashamed of themselves. This is something that I would expect from non-black hairstylists but the fact that a black woman who wears her hair natural can’t even be serviced in a black hair salon, or worse yet, is charged unreasonably high prices for something as simple as twists just sends the message home that we have a very long way to go before we can finally be rid of the ignorant stigmas that are attached to natural hair. What kind of black hair stylist can’t work with natural hair anyway? I’m not even talking about what they learned in beauty school. I thought that all the various forms of braiding and twisting and the multitude of intricate styles that I see on black people was just another facet of our culture and that even if we could not do it ourselves, there was always someone that we knew who had the skill. I guess I just thought it was one of those things that are passed down since I always knew of someone who knew how to do the most intricate things that someone requested. Heck, in the summertime you can see people getting their hair braided while sitting on the front stoop. It can’t just be an NYC thing…
I hope you can eventually find the kind of salon that you are looking for, but maybe you shouldn’t write off the home based ones just yet. You never know, they might be able to do exactly what it is that you want at a fraction of the cost. Maybe they might even be the types that are doing it out of their home until they can open up their own salon.
If you find a spot let me know. I am a homegrown Chicagoan who has been natural only since December 2009 and don’t know of any places that I would recommend.
I’m rushing to get ready for the Red Pump Project fashion show – photos and fab post to come! Just wanted to say thanks for the commiserations and suggestions, and I wanted to make it plain – I didn’t mean to in any way diss at-home stylists. I was merely sharing my own experiences, and often it’s someone I’ve just met saying “OMG my aunty so and so will do your hair” or “my grandma does great twists” but with no further info than that, which has made me skeptical based on past experience. I don’t mean to cast aspersions on anyone. Who knows – my best experience could come in that form. I’m not ruling anything out!
I had my natural hair braided with extensions before I decided to start locks (for some crazy reason, I thought it would be easier to care for once my first child was born… ain’t ever doing that again). I went in with freshly washed hair in a twist out. I have very thick coarse hair and I knew it would be easier to work with. Well, the lady insisted she wash my hair, which made it coil up and was hard for her to comb. The braids took 3 days, and she charged me $150. I never when back.
I think they also judge how thick and kinky your hair is when they add the natural hair tax. At least, that’s been my experience. After all the “oh, your hair’s so thick. it must be so hard to do” comments, anytime I go anywhere for hair care, I prep myself with comebacks to their stupidity. Sorry you’re going tthrough that, Bella.
Hi there,
I’ve never had my hair twisted or braided at a salon. I do it myself and I do my friends’ hair from time to time. I’m not sure and I’m not condoning the exorbitant prices or anything but I will say that perhaps (I’m just guessing) that the price may have to do with the amount of time it takes? It takes me sometimes 4 to 6 hours to do my own hair in very small braids and if I estimated my cost to be anywhere from $10 to $20 an hour I could see that if it was my profession I would definitely charge about $80 or more to do it for someone else.
OMG, I’m so sorry to hear about your experience
and at 3 salons! You’d think only one would stink.
I don’t really have any advice to offer you about hair stylists for natural hair, but I’m sure you will be able to find someone.
When I first moved to Tampa, I couldn’t find a decent salon to save my life! I always like freaky colors in my hair, and every person I saw here would charge me about $130 for cut and color, but then the color would wash out right away, so I’d have to complain and get re-done. I finally just started coloring my hair on my own again and got better results. It can be SO FRUSTRATING to find a good stylist.
You are not alone SADLY! I live in NYC (the LAST place I expected to have trouble finding a natural hair salon) and every woman I know who is natural but doesnt have locs has the same story to tell.
I have pretty long hair — about 7 inches off my shoulders and I’ve been transitioning from relaxers for the last 10-11 months. I chose not to do a big chop; rather, getting it cut every other month as the relaxer grows out (only a few inches left which are going bu-bye on Sunday!). At first getting a blow out wasn’t a problem then as the “new growth” got longer and longer, my reg hair dresser kept pressuring me to get a “touch up”. That’s when I knew it was time to find a natural hair salon.
Luckily I have a few natural haired (is that the right terminology??) GFs who have already done the leg work around NYC to find the right salon, so I collected their referrals and called/visited to find the right place and stylist for me and my hair. I also had someone invade my space and my follicles without even saying, hello first when I told her what I wanted. I was so annoyed and walked right out.
In December, I finally found a place that works for me. It’s more expensive than my previous place but I haven’t spent more than $75 for wash, set, and cut. I found another place that was about $25 less for the same service, but it was a walk in place and I don’t have all day to spend in the salon on a first come first serve arrangement, so my time is worth the extra $$.
This whole experience has made me learn to do my own hair better. I now have more tools, products and accessories than I ever did when I relaxed my hair!
Natural hair tax? How about hair tax period? Thickheaded girls like me always get charged extra. When I used to relax my hair, I’d always get charged $20 EXTRA when the stylist realized what they were dealing with.
It’d be really great to be able to find a reliable and affordable place to get my hair done. Especially since I’m not good at doing my own hair(Even when it was straight!!); and I’m poor!
Gurllll…do NOT get me started. Chicago has hair salons up the wazoo and yet I experienced more than my fair share of unprofessional treatment…and this was BEFORE I went natural. I’d been to salons from the Gold Coast to the edge of Englewood…didn’t matter. In fact the #1 reason why I went natural was because I was sick and tired of being dependent on salons and stylists. So I know how you feel and it’s a DAMN shame that Chicago can’t do better in 2010.
Back in the day there used to be a salon called Amazon’s that had natural hair services. They cost a TON but they did a really good job. They were really the ONLY salon that gave me consistently good results. In fact they were the ones who put in my last set of extensions back in 2000…and I didn’t step foot in a salon again until 7 years later when I cut off my locs.
Long story very short: If you’re looking for extensions, look for a braiding salon that’s willing to work without heat. (It helps if your hair is fully stretched ahead of time.) However, for other services on your own hair, you might do better to find a “non-ethnic” salon that specializes in curly hair care. I hate saying that because like you I want to patronize black business but seriously…your time and money is valuable and you need people who are going to RESPECT that.
One more quick thing: I live in Iowa now and just recently BC’d again. It was done by a young white woman at the local BEAUTY SCHOOL and for $12 she did a REALLY good job. It helped that she did exactly what I told her to do.
Just sitting here shaking my head. I have been natural for almost twenty years. about ten years aago I walked into a salon with my natural fro out to there and asked if someone could wash, condition and trim my hair. Honey, they just about ran away screaming (even though I have so-called “nice hair”). Haven’t set foot in a salon since and I likely never will. Should have known learned for my former adventures in Creamy Crackland that finding a professional salon that respects you is a needle in a haystack prospect. I learned to do my own hair. Do I sometimes long for a pampering “salon experience”? Yep. But not worth the epic search required to find a salon that serves my natural hair needs.
It saddens me to realize that ten years later, little has changed.
Being here in Chicago a trip to the salon will just cost you if it is to be done right. I have been to the braiding salons just to get braids while natural here and they have tried to kick me out. I have to blow dry my hair straight before hitting those places up. So I would say no to that as well. I did find a non black salon on the north side that had a stylist who I found on the Deva care site. She was great. I would say look up the stylist who have taken the Deva curl learning courses and start there. .
Philadelphia 2006.
Me-a transitioning bella. Her-the stylist who stylist my hair every week for 2 years.
Week 1 of transition, twist out -$50.
Week 2 of transition, 8 cornrows-$140.
It was the end of our relationship.
I had a similar experience. Before I locced I couldnt find any reasonable natural hair stylists. I actually went to a lady who did relaxed hair and after persuading her that roller sets, twist sets, braid outs.. etc worked the same way on natural hair and bringing my own product (sometimes) we were able to form a natural medium. I finally found someone that did the two strand twists for 75.00 and I would do those for 2 0r 3 weeks and then take them down and wear the twist out.
but it was hard and the prices are ridiculous.
but i was able to find someone that worked with me so I think if you keep looking you will find someone. try some of the braiding shops? or try the online hair communities to find a referral. the lady i eventually found was a referral from napturality and she has now been doing me and my daughters hair for 4 years.
Hi Bella,
It’s a shame…but I haven’t been to a salon in years…I had to learn how to do my own…but that said, I did some research at Natural Curly hair website where there are salons which do multi-racial hair and curly hair and here is a link to the Chicago area salons. Check them out and blog about your experiences. This subject interests me.
Here is the link:
http://www.naturallycurly.com/curlsalons/search/219/United%20States/34/Illinois/Chicago
I would say try an African Braiding shop. Usually there you can find a reasonable price (between $80-$125)for the twists. I live in New York and the city is full of shops that cater to african braids. I don’t think you’ll find a price cheaper than that unless you learn to do them yourself. Lastly, here in New York (and I know this may or may not help much) the salon may be a little crowded, and slightly annoying, but your hair will come out beautifully, it’ll last 6-8 weeks with proper maintence, and you won’t feel like you’ve been hookwinked.
I’d say do a search solely for African Hair Braiding in Chicago and see what you come up with.
I have dreadlocks and although it is not difficult to find a salon to have my hair done where I live (Nairobi), I do find that there is some disdain for natural hair. I mean like treating the hair roughly, having the hairstylist shampooing with all her might etc. I experienced that also before I had dreads when I just had natural hair.
What if there were an Afrobella Hair Salon? Looks like you’d have some customers.
I am happy to live in germany`s biggest city and even here it is not easy to find a natural hair salon, I then found my stylist throufgh a reference of a good friend who is also natural. And this stylist is godsend. She has specialized in cutting curly hair but will offer a blowout as well. She is not strictly natural, she also relaxes hair if her customers wish this, but she alwasy mentioned . And her service is brilliant and affordable. A deep treatment, scalp massage and a cut cost 20,-€, which is app. 40,-$. I really like her philosophy which is
Bella, I am sorry to hear about your experience in Chicago. I would like to chime in and big-up Raleigh-Durham for having at least four reputable natural stylists I know of who do NOT inflate their prices, because natural hair is all they do (no flatirons). I can get a deep treatment and trim for around $35-40, and two-strand twist style for an additional $20-30.
Hey Shones..I just stumbled on this thread after sticker shock here in the RDU area…$60 (low estimate..they needed a ‘consult’ for a final price)for wash/trim/condition on short hair?!
Holla back (isleofcapri@gmail.com) with the stylists you recommend in the Raleigh area.
And here’s a question..I understand about twists, specialty cuts, etc. taking longer…but how does a trim for a man w/ medium hair cost $15 @ the barber and the same trim for a woman..with similar length..cost $40 and up?!
Your description of those scenarios made me laugh! But I feel your pain.
I stopped going to salons–even supposed natural care ones–and taught myself to handle and style my own hair.
I liked and wore kinky twist extensions a few times but it wasn’t worth the price tag and all that “extra” you described. (I’ll learn to do them myself if I decide to ever wear them again).
Good luck in your search though!
I feel your pain. I stopped going to hair salons years ago because stylists always wanted to flat iron my hair. I’ve been natural for almost 20 years and I’ve learned to take care of my hair myself. I twist it, braid and cut it. I even make my own natural hair products.
well, since no one has commented representing for natural stylists, i guess i will.
i have had locs and been a natural stylist since 1997. at that time i was still in college, and only used to charge $10 for my services.
now, i work out of my home, and can comment that i do not have the same overhead costs that a salon does (rent, utilities, employee payroll, etc.) so i able to undercut their pricing and pass some of those savings on to my clients.
that being said, i have had my trials and tribulations with clients and their aversions to my pricing. i had one client who balked at me raising the price for her hair maintenance two years after i started her locs! from this i learned the importance of educating your clients about your pricing structure. many people with natural hair believe that the first price they pay should be the only price they will ever pay…kind of like with relaxers, etc. at salons. however, as a natural client accumulates more length, this will require more styling time, and eventually result in a price adjustment.
i have also learned that it is just as important not to price your services too low, or people will not value your work, they might be coming to you only because you’re the cheapest ticket in town, not because of the quality of the work you do.
i feel that the best thing to do is a consultation. i offer those free of charge, and have learned ONLY to quote a price AFTER a consultation! I’ve definitely been burned by clients whose hair looks one way dry, but wet, it’s a whole different story. and trust me, there’s nothing worse than busting your butt for 4 hours and making $50 or $60.
in the end, my styles are based on time. it’s the most fair and defensible strategy for me. i have a timer that i start once the service begins, and ends when the client leaves the dryer. the price may be adjusted depending on hair length, thickness, and other factors i would have been able to assess during the consultation.
i have attended natural hair workshops and they always have a session on pricing. the first thing that is explained is that natural stylists work on each client from start to finish, and aren’t usually able to rotate among clients like in a regular salon, therefore the pricing is structured differently. i will admit, even at these workshops, the pricing seems to be very subjective. and prices are always more expensive in the major natural hair cities (nyc, dc/md/va, atl) because there’s a larger market for it.
the best thing to do is get referrals. if you see someone with dope natural hair, ask who did it. i’d say it is possible to get a natural style for under $100…i’d say around $75 or $80. but anything less than that may not be worth a salon stylists time.
best of luck with your continued search!
When I adopted my 2 girls from Ethiopia they were 10 and 11. Both had LONG natral hair.
I lived in Chicago for 5 years with them and we asked around and found a group of Nigerian ladies who cornrowed for CHEAP (like $30 for cornrows). I can’t remember their names
Our favorite two were sisters who were also grandmothers who lived with their daughters. They would typically come to our house, if we could pick them up or pay for their transportation. They are amazingly fast. I will try to get their info for you. (FYI- they always gave me VERY low prices e.g.-$25 for 4 hours worth of tiny cornrows. So I always payed them more.)
We could not find a salon that wanted to braid my 11 year olds hair because it is thick, long and nappy. It also is mid to lower-back length when stretched, but is an AWESOME afro if we put a little moisture in it an puff it up.
Reading these stories indicates there is a market for these services. One could find a nice place, decorate it and then charge natural hair stylists for seats. I understand keeping your overhead low; but in today’s world where people are moving a lot it helps to have salons available…thanks everyone for your insights and stories. I appreciate they stylist chiming in.
Sorry to hear about your bad luck finding a salon/stylist in Chicago. I assumed services like that would be easier to find in a place like Chicago, but I’m not surprised. If you are ever in Atlanta, I highly recommend my stylist and friend, Ayo Smith. She’s wonderful. I always time my visits to Atlanta to include an appointment. It’s a must for me. She has become the only stylist that touches my hair (aside from me, of course
) Ayo is warm, attentive, creative and an amazing stylist. She started my locs almost 4 years ago and styled my natural hair before that. Ironically, I met Ayo after my natural hair had been scorched (read: destroyed) by a Domincan blowout. She had to cut off the damaged hair and help me start over (and restore my trust in stylists in general). She does braids, twists, color, extensions, weaves and loc extensions. She is a licensed beautician and can do pretty much everything, but I’ve only ever seen her do natural hair. I think she may even be participating in the Natural Hair show in Atlanta in April so you can see her in action yourself if you go. Her website is here:
http://ayohair.com/services.aspx
Bella,
I work with celebrity glam squads in LA/SF/NY and still I have hella difficulties in finding stylists to do my natural hair. At this point, I do my own and have fun learning styles with Youtube videos. I would contact a stylist that works with the Deva Chan (DevaCut) style for a cut with shape and for consultation/checkup on the health of your hair. The next thing I would do is flag down every person you see with a hair style that you like and take notes/numbers/email/whathaveyou. I recall how insulted I felt after every salon stylist responded to my natural hair request with a dollar analysis only. It hurt, I felt manipulated, underwhelmed by their nonchalant energy, overwhelmed by the astronomical costs and cynical about the whole experience. I wish there were more Tabithas around to takeover and add finesse to salons everywhere. It sucks to be discouraged by our own haircare professionals time after time, but like most things nowadays you gotta keep at it until you find a process that suits you. And when you find someone that epitomizes HAIR. CARE. PROFESSIONAL you won’t backslide to someone who only “styles”. Trust.