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!
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I think that for many salons/ stylists its simply the fact that they have NO IDEA how to take care of natural afro hair. They put ‘afro salon’ at their shop fronts but when an afro walks in they have no idea what to do! Its ridiculous. Surely afro salons should be able to take care of and style afros- duh
Since going natural I’ve stopped going to salons and do my hair myself. In fact I’ve stopped weaving/ braiding my hair because it caused more harm than good and for me its all about the health of my hair as opposed to getting ‘the look.’ Plus there are loads of tutorials on youtube for learning how to braid/ cornrow/ twists etc so its not too hard to take the DIY approach.
And if you think the salon experience is bad in the states, try the UK- its bad here for curly/ afro natural here period.
My experiences so far have shown me that most black hair stylists have no clue. For example, they wouldn’t know the difference between growing hair and retaining etc, so why bother whith them? Of course there are probably some good ones out there that I am yet to find. Lets hope some Chicago natives will recommend some to you, bella.
Bella,
I live in NY, one fo the meccas for natural hair and the scene is still the same. And for all the natural hair salons around you are hard pressed to find one who will offer services for less that $80. Its INSANE and that is why I do my own, and that is also why I encourage other naturals to barter their services and offer what you do best to a sister in need. I can two strand twist and groom locks like nobodys business gimme 2 hours and a good movie and I will have you twisted out in no time. Im actually starting a barter site just for this thehaircoop.com (under construction) cause aint no way on Gods green earth Im paying $150 for some twists especially when they are going to wash and condition my hair with same products the use on my relaxed counterparts…UHHHH NOPE CANT DO IT.
Girl, I and another Natural were just complaining about the same thing. For what we get done, naturals are undoubtedly overcharged.
My natural stylist, Imania, at The Abyss, does a great job. And they publish their prices. Ggogle the salon and the website will come up. She’s under $100 for twists, and it’s right downtown.
Honestly, I assumed that I would always have to pay high salon prices because I’m natural now. That reason is mainly why i started learning how to do my own hair. I thought it was only me that felt $60+ is too much for two strand twists.
Wow, I am very so dissapointed to find that you are having difficulty finding a salon in Chicago.. I thought there HAD to be some salons that cater to natural hair and that are also professional. I planned on trying to find a salon when I come to Chi to visit in the future. If it helps Why Knot was on my list because I think I read quite a few people that reviewed them and were very happy but I have not personally been there yet. It is so frustrating not being able to find salon because I would LOVE to find one simply for routine trims…
Bella, good luck with the hair salon search!
~~From Upstate NY
My sentiment is pretty much the same as most posters…
I transitioned with micros and paid $70 for my first set of two strands on hair no longer than 1.5 inches, not to mention the quality of the products that was used for the twists…
I started doing my own and they ended up looking a helluva lot better than the salons…
Haven’t looked back and that was over 10 years ago…
Sometimes I just want the treat of going to the salon and getting my hair “did” but I refuse to pay more to get my naps done than I did with a relaxer…
So other than a trim…it’s all on me!
I have to take the opposing view here. I live in Philadelphia and there are a plethora of natural hair care salons here including a very well-marketed one. My post would be extremely long if I detailed my natural hair – shortcut-twostands to locks journey, but suffice to say this – I have gone to four different salons and probably dealt with eight different stylists. My experiences ranged from totally unprofessional (and that salon is now closed) to extremely professional and brilliant with natural hair (the one I have now.) The irony is that the hairdresser I have now was referred to me several times by women whose locks I admired in the street, but I went to the highly marketed one first. Why because when I first made an appointment with my current hairdresser, I was turned off by the fact that she worked out of her home. However, ironically enough years later she handed me a card at an event and I realized that she was the one I’d be reccomended to over and over again, and now I spend extra time hanging out at her home shop engaging in the always stimulating discussions!
I admire all of you who do your own hair – but I never will do mine. My hair’s too thick and I like it to look a certain way. On average, because I also get color and a set/style, I’m in that salon for four to six hours. My hair looks like I want it to, and any request is met with either a solution or explanation of why it might be challenging or unhealthy for my hair. I do pay my hairdresser over $100 per visit and I’m sure I’m a major contributor to her daughter’s college fund, but I don’t mind. (I like her daughter anyway LOL) I respect her craft, I get the service I want and my hair looks great. I think we need to be careful before we undervalue people’s work. There are folks paying $500-1000 for a weave and not blinking an eye. If you have the time, skill and energy to do your own hair, bless you. But do not undervalue the skill and time it takes for locticians who are professionals pursuing their livelihood.
MsKaos, where is your salon in NYC and is there a particular stylist to request, if you don’t mind my asking?
Hi Shones,
I would be interested in the names and locations of the natural stylists you mention in the Raleigh-Durham area. Thanks
Oh, I really hope Jasmine comes back here! I also live in CT and would love to know who she’s going to, both her regular “loctian” and the “hood” place.
I’m in Waterbury, and I’m very wary of getting my locks (almost to my knees now after nearly 9 years) re-twisted here. One salon in town actually put NAIL GLUE in my hair and tried to tell me (even though I’d obviously had the locks for years even then) that was the only way locks would stay twisted on me due to my hair’s texture… which brings me to another issue, the looks *I* get when I walk into a salon. I’m mixed, and my skin tone and hair texture (loose curls/waves) owe more to my Italian grandfather than anything else in my ancestry. It’s been gratifying that in almost 10 years of wearing my wonderful natural style only once has a stranger with darker skin than mine reacted negatively to my hair “on the street” …but way too often I walk into a salon, even one that advertises doing braids or twists, and I get ugly stares, and/or told they can’t work on my hair.
My fiancee and I had been going to a fantastic salon in Newark, NJ (near her family) called Tanya’s. It was worth the trip especially before she moved up to CT with me because their twists/locks/braids stylist, Malika, was always in, was able to juggle multiple overlapping customers, was incredibly good, and only charged $35-45 for re-twisting — and only $5-10 extra for a braid style like I like to get to hold my newly-twisted roots in place. My fiancee wears her hair in a natural, but likes to get hers bleached down to a sunny gold, so anybody at the salon (which also does any black hairstyle you can think of including all the relaxer and hot-roller ones) could work on her hair… sometimes Malika even did it. We’ve heard Malika left Tonya’s to open her own salon, but we haven’t made it down there in a while.
I’d just re-twist my own locks, but my arms just aren’t up to it; I have MS, and one of the ways it most affected me has been killing my arm strength. Some days it’s all I can do to brush my teeth, and my hair weighs a lot more than a toothbrush.
There’s actually a salon right near us here in Waterbury that claims to style “all textures of multi cultural hair” but their posted prices for braiding & twisting make us suspicious. My fiancee wants to get her hair locked in time for our wedding next year, but finding a place to do the upkeep once she’s got them started is beginning to worry us.
I’ve reached the conclusion since relocating from DC to Chicago….that you’re gonna pay. You don’t want to treat your head like a science project so you might as well head on over to AMAZON and get it done right. I’ve gone to a zillion places here and believe me your hair is not something you want to experiment with. I ended up getting sisterlocks. I’ve had them 4 years and I’m happy.
that’s interesting Gina, because the majority of the reviews for AMAZON are very negative.
If you are ever in New York (Brooklyn) Khamit Kinks is wonderful. A little pricey but the results are fabulous.
this is the norm, and sadly so. unless you are getting a perm it costs an arm and a leg. I recommend you look on craaigslist! that has been a big help
i think it probably has something to do with the amount of time the stylist has to spend with you (that and they can’t be working on multiple people at once, the stylist is trying to make money, after all). if i were you i would be looking for stylist, not salons. if you’re new to the area just look around for people with hairstyles that you like & ask them who does their hair.
also, i don’t know exactly how it works in Chicago, but in the midwest it really isn’t unheard of to go to someone’s house (that you trust) to have them braid or twist your hair.
YES Bella I hear the pain,.. the irony is I am in the transitiong state and I too live in Chicago ( southeast side) I have went to different salons as well, and nothing. Either the price is insane or the stylist doesnt look as if she is really ” into” natural hair care. Braiding or twisting too darn tight, can I please leave the salon with my edges , thank you!!!! Or lastly they are Africans that are not licensed and ‘pretend” not to know English..really???? LOL My late father is from Senegale and HE KNEW EXCEPTIONAL ENGLISH… you know how when you go to the nail shop.. all of a sudden no one speaks English… OKAY then I just take my money some where, where the business can understand clearly the tupe of service and price to match. LOL
I am going to call Why Knot, Van Cleef and Glo on Braid, got all these from this blog I will defintely keep you posted on my outcome/experience.
I can’t understand how unreasonable most of these posts sound! I am not a braider, but I get my hair done in those styles all the time. The price was always the same whether my hair was natural or straight. Can you honestly imagine being a braider how has to stand for hours on end doing ONE person’s head? And on top of that, it requires more than one person to do it so a person can get out within a reasonable time. Getting a perm takes what? Maybe 20 minutes? Braid can take 3-8 hours! And on top of that… braided styles can hold up for a good amount of time. People tend to come into the salons to get their hair washed or styled between touch ups… how many people with braids/twists do this? And yes… I am mad that I paid $190 to get my last set of kinky twists done…. so where I am I consider $125 to be a good price.
Welcome to Chicago!! I have yet to find a salon who is affordable so I had to learn to do my own hair and learn all the different styles and techniques.. Will be looking forward to reading when you find one!
Try Christian Fields, 6550 S. Cottage Grove. I went to the site today and I plan on visiting them. My cousin gets her hair done by Tonya and it always looks amazing.
@Nik do you know what type of styles they specialize in?
I’m based in Liverpool in Engalnd. The hairdressers here just suck their teeth and shake their heads in pity if I ask for any hair treatment that doesnt involve chemicals, heat or Korean hair.
I cant even buy tights for my skin tone.
So pay thet $125 and love your hair.
I have not read the rest of the 60 responses. I hope I am not repeating something another bella already said. But here is my advice. I went natural in college and as a young professional still find college students, high school students and parents of young children to be the best and most affordable stylists for my hair. College students are used to doing younger siblings unpermed hair for free. + natural hair is popular in the youngest educated generation so sistas on campus think it is the norm to know how to color, style, twist, and wash natural hair. I pay college students about $20 and a tip. They are eternally grateful. And they take pics of their “work” (my hair), to get more businesss. High school girls are usually very good braiders in Indianapolis. I basically let them twist and braid fabulously cool designs on one side of my hair and then style the rest of my free flowing curls myself. They too are used to handling younger siblings unpermed hair. They think its no big deal and want to say they have “experience” with natural hair to get more business. They too are extremely cheap and fabulously creative. The final group, parents of small children with unpermed hair are usally used to doing individual twists and braids for their sons and daughters. They do a great job too. The down side is they cost more and of course have less time (constant child interruptions lol). My final and possibly most helpful and cost effective: Motowngirl.com. This natural sight taught me tricks of styling my natural hair without EVER steping foot in a salon. Two strand twisting your own hair is very easy, although tiring and time consuming at first. After mastering it myself, I taught my boyfriend who now can two strand my hair as well. No worries Bella! See if these tips help until you find the salon of your choosing
omg I just re-read my post. So many spelling errors. Sorry Bellas!
Hi Bella,
My recommendation would be for you to ask anyone you see with nicely styled natural hair who does her hair. That’s how I found my loctician, who charges $55 for wash, condition, palm rolling and styling. I travel 40 miles once per month to see her, and it is well worth the time. I don’t want to do my own hair because the salon is the only pampering I get! I am nowhere near Chicago (I’m in Northern Cali), but Chi-town is my home town, and I am so sorry to hear you’re having a difficult time finding a professional in that huge city to do your hair! I’ll ask my large contingent of relatives that live there if they know of any good natural hair stylists, and get back to you!
I really expected more from the Chi! I have an EX-boyfriend who lives there. We got back in touch via FB (aka the devil). When he asked about the hairstyle shown in my profile pic, I told him with pride that my hair is natural. He replied, and I WISH I was lying, that “We dont do that here. We wear weaves!”. I fully expected that perhaps the natural scene there was larger, but I guess not?!
I just stumbled onto this site and think it’s great. I’m in Chicago and have locs (but she also does natural hair) and currently go to Reginald Von’s at 79th and Artesian. The owner is Patrice and her number is 773-863-7915. It’s not downtown, BUT I’ve had such difficulty finding professional natural hair stylists that I make the drive from the Northside. I think that it would be hard to find many natural hair places unless you go to the Southside. Good luck!
I am having the same trouble! I live in Brooklyn, NY, and while there are many natural hair salons, they are all expensive! I only decided to go natural three months ago, and I am ready to do my big chop, but I need to find a stylist to cut and possibly give a treatment.
For all those that live in NY, can you please help me out and recommend someone!? I would greatly appreciate it.
Here in the suburbs of ATL, it is a rarity to find someone who will deal with Black hair at all. The people that I have found won’t do anything for under $150. I’m not making a one hour trip to the West End or College Park, just to get my hair braided. It is a pain having to shell out so much money just to get my hair braided.
Check these pics of Christia Donaldson, author of Thank God I’m Natural. Her hair looks great and she gives contact info for her stylist: http://thankgodimnatural.wordpress.com/2009/12/17/kinky-twists-update/
I live on the southeast side of Chicago where there is a salon purporting to do natural hair care. I say purporting because the whole time I was there this last time in March, the stylist I ended up with kept telling me about how well she could blow out/flat iron my hair. I’ve been to this salon a total of 5 times since I went natural in 2007. They change stylists so often that you never know who/what you’re going to end up with. In February, I rolled the dice and again went to get two-strand twists. That time, it was the salon manager who did my hair. I was in LOVE. She didn’t take my hair out combing it and the style she did looked great (flat twists in front and two strand twists in the back). My hair looked healthy and well-moisturized and it looked like it had been professionally done. I received a lot of compliments from strangers and people I knew. So this last time, about 4 weeks later in early March, I called to make an appointment with the salon manager and I asked for her by name. I was told that she could do my hair at 11:00 on a Saturday. I went in for my 11:00 appointment and salon manager is there finishing up someone’s comb coil out (which looked absolutely gorgeous, I might add). While I’m waiting, a stylist comes over to me in the reception area and says that she’ll be doing my hair. I asked why I couldn’t have the salon manager do it. She gave me a sourpuss look and walked back over to talk to salon manager who was still finishing up her client. She then comes back and again says that the salon manager couldn’t do my hair. I wasn’t even given the opportunity to wait for salon manager or to reschedule. Silly me, I should have left at this point. But I really needed my hair done though, so I went ahead. As I’m walking back to the shampoo bowl, salon manager said, “Sorry, I’m running behind.” Still, no opportunity was given for me to wait or reschedule. Long story short, hated my two strand twists. It looked amateur and I could have done better myself. Should have known better when Stylist asked me before she combed me out to shampoo, “Uh, do you have to have these in the front?”(referring to my flat twists). Clearly, this indicated that she didn’t know how to do them. Stylist was totally unprofessional. Went on and on about how she had to kick her daughter out of the salon because her daughter complained too much when she burned her with the flat iron. Turns out that salon manager went out partying the night before and had a hangover and that’s why she didn’t do my hair. Salon manager was there the whole time I was getting my hair done. After she finished her comb coil client, she spent the whole time lying down and bemoaning the previous night’s drinking/partying adventure, when she wasn’t ordering/eating Harold’s Chicken with the other two stylists there. Stylist wanted me to make an appointment with her and, much to my surprise, salon manager didn’t even intervene and say, “No, that’s my client. I’ll handle her future appointment.” Salon manager just said, “Make sure you put her in the book.” So I guess it was either a bait and switch or salon manager just hated doing my hair so much (which isn’t even thick or long) that she couldn’t care less about any repeat business from me. Never seen anything so unprofessional in all my life. Highly disappointed after that experience and will be doing my own hair from now on. I certainly can do it better than this last stylist. I just didn’t want to spend a huge chunk of my weekend doing my hair. I’ll be doing it from now on, though. Good luck, bella!
Why are you ignoring the big ugly elephant in the room? Um, black people have issues with their own natural hair, especially women who do not just cut it off.
It’s very simple and obvious. That’s why there are fewer places to obtain he style. End of subject.
Well said, a greater truth has not been spoken!
This is the reason that I choose to work from home, and am in the process of looking to rent my own space. The cost of services in some salons is ridiculous, their customer service is horrible, cleanliness is an issue in some and some dont take pride in their work.
I get ridiculed for my low prices. People always say that I am under-charging, but I’m a mom and I understand the need for affordable hair care for the entire family.
I’ve also had a hard time trying to find an affordable and competent stylist.
I have visited the following salon on the city’s west side:
NuBeginnins
5914 W Roosevelt Rd
Chicago, IL 60644
(773) 378-6858
I had a great experience!
I’ve also been told there is a woman in this shop that does natural hair.
Ron’s Barber Shop of Oak Park
6058 W North Ave
Chicago, IL 60639
(773) 836-2887
Best of luck!
Good luck finding a spot Afrobella!
Your experiences in the salons you visited sound less than stellar, but we have to keep a couple of things in mind.
A stylist isn’t looking you up and down out of malice–he/she is sizing up your hair to come up with pricing.
A price of over $100 isn’t necessarily unreasonable–caring for delicate, unprocessed natural hair will take more time and attention than simply blow-drying another customer’s hair, or putting a relaxer in someone’s hair.
And since many stylists have to cover the price of their chairs, time is going to be a factor in deciding the price.
Be grateful– you may have to spend $150 to do your hair at the salon every now and then, but the girl next to you with relaxed hair is spending way more on relaxing, rolling, and blow-drying on a regular basis to make her hair do something it won’t do naturally.
Hello Ladies,
If any of you live in Connecticut, please consider joining our Natural Hair meetup group: http://www.meetup.com/Connecticuts-Natural-Hair-Meetup-Group/
Hi Afrobella!
I live in Chicago and I have a fantastic stylist who does do natural hair. I don’t know how much she charges to do twists. I used to wear my hair in a super short TWA and she would cut my hair with scissors. And let me tell you – it was AMAZING. I have seen her do twists and they were gorgeous. Please email me and I can send you her contact info. I absolutely adore her but now that I am growing my hair, I don’t get to see her that often.
I’d be interested in your stylist’s info, I need my TWA trimmed. Thanks!
Hello, I would love to have contact info for your stylist.
Thanks!
Do NOT go to Van Cleef!!!! I went there on the recommendation of friends and the experience was sooo bad that it set me down the path of going completely natural and learning how to do my hair myself. I went in for a texturizer (I didn’t know I didn’t need chemicals for the look I wanted) and left in tears. You know it’s a bad sign when the stylist says “well you’re pretty so you’ll be able to rock it.” UMM so unprofessional, she knew she messed up my hair. None of the other stylists would look me in the eye, I’m assuming they were embarrassed by her shoddy work.
I’ve had similar experiences in Philly. It’s RIDICULOUSLY expensive to get hair done at a natural salon. Especially considering there’s not necessarily any hair to buy a whole bunch of sprays, products and tools. All they need is a couple combs and some hair oil…
Hi Aisha, I am so sorry to hear that you have had a hard time finding someone in Philly (my hometown) to get your natural hair done. You may want to check out Craigslist in NE Philly. My daughter’s name is Cynthia.
I am in Kansas City,Kansas and if you ever come to the Midwest look me up.
Good Luck Bella!
this is not an ocurance exclusive to “black” salons. i have a friend who is multi-ethnic, of italian decent, and get her hair done at “white” salons. she has coarse(thick strands, 3b curls, that i would think would straighten with ease. she would get the occasional blow out, and pay a heft price. after a certain friend( i wont say who)texturized it for her, she found that her blowouts, at the same salon were significantly cheaper. i believe it is coomon practice for certain services to cost more depending on length and texture of hair when it effect the time it takes for these services to be completed. i think we forget that stylist rent their chairs/space and make their money from the number of clients they see each day, if your hair is longer or kinkier than the usual client and takes longer, it will cost more, is sucks but that is the natural of the business. one of the reasons why i do my own hair, that and i don’t trust anyone else!! but i hope you find a salon to meet your needs!!
Yeah, unfortunately there are not much salons, that cater to natural hair that isn’t locs. I live in Brooklyn,NY, and I went natural two years ago. Finding a salon, that doesn’t charge you 100 for a wash and twist out, or tell you that your natural hair can’t be cut unless it’s blow dried straight it’s impossible to cut hair so coarse. I laugh at the ignorance and lack of education towards natural hair. It’s very very frustrating. I wash deep condition and twist my own hair which can take half a day if I’m not busy, but until I find someone in the tri-state area that will wash deep condition trim style and is focused on the health of my hair and not just styling and won’t charge me 100 +. I’ll do it myself or pay my friend to twist my hair. I do wish you all the best in your search.I will be grateful however, if anyone in the NY/NJ/PA area knows of any affordable salons where I can get my natural tresses trimmed/cut is highly appreciated. Thanks God bless
thats busted. i’d be pissed. that’s why im all about DIY i got tired of that kind of treatment!
Personally, I think salons charge more for natural hair because they know that you aren’t dependent on them for haircare services. You might get twist or a roller set done from time to time, but for the most part, you probably won’t be running to them every two weeks to style your hair. So why not charge $100 bucks and try to get as much money as you can? When I first told my stylist I was going natural, her first question was why? (and not a postive “why”) and she suggested that we blow it out and curl it with the curling iron…the same process we did with my relaxed hair. She didn’t understand that I wanted my natural nappy hair..I’ve been natural for six months now and have been doing my own hair…money out of her pocket.
hey patrice
I came across this listing of services for really cheap prices and wanted to pass it on:
http://chicago.craigslist.org/sox/bts/1794746729.html
72ND WESTERN AVE:: 773-983-1397 Maria
press and curl $35 and up (DEPENDING ON LENGTH) done with actual pressing comb
designer cornrows $30……blowed dried, pressed then braided..
straight to the back cornrows $25…… blowed dried, pressed then braided..
extension cornrows $35 and up (NO MICROS OR KINKY TWIST)
braid outs $25
twist outs $25
crochet braids $80 >> lasts up to 3 months with proper maintenance, takes 3 to 4 hrs to do
tree braids/interlocks $90 >> lasts up to 2 1/2 months with proper maintenance, takes 3 to 4 hrs to do
flat twists $35
double flat twist $40
individual double strand twists $45 (NATURAL HAIR ONLY)
knotted twist $40
braid, weave or your natural hair mo-hawks $30-$40
straw sets $45 and up
spiral sets $35
micro- braids, weave or your natural hair pin-ups $20-$30
wash & blow dry $25-$35
I haven’t gone to her yet, but was looking for haircare and found that on craigslist.
I am not sure if u were able to find a stylist or how far u r willing to travel. I have been natural for 8 years and I truly have had my ups and downs with these stylist in Chicago re: natural hair. Fortunately, I have found the most amazing stylist. His salon is in Westchester, A Salon Bizz, his name is Ryan. He specializes in natural hair. 9834 1/2 W Roosevelt Rd,Westchester, IL 60154-2748
(708) 681-9834,www.asalonbizz.com.
Call me. I’d love to do your hair! The right way. 708.441.1696.
HI,
I read your post on visiting hair salons and I wish I lived and worked in the Chicago area because I offer exactly what you are looking for (minus the salon. I’m currently working with a small business agency to secure a loan to get a commercial space. I currently work from home). I offer my clients a great atmosphere that welcomes natural hair. I love doing natural hair, everything from locs, to two strand twists to, braids. I also offer straightening for my natural clients but I also provide education on heat damage so they can make informed decisions about their hair. My purpose is to provide options for my clients and to encourage them to embrace their unique and individual beauty. I’v have been doing this work for some time now and as a natural sister myself, I understand how hard it is to find affordable, professional service.
Hopefully I will be expanding and maybe open something in Chicago. But in the meantime, if you’re ever in NY (Harlem), look me up. I would love to invite you to my grand opening
http://www.imenainc.com.
Currently building a Loc & Retwist business in VA with an additional speciality of Loc repair; I spent today researching ‘All Stars’ in natural hair care and came across your site! My charges are $45-$65 (adding fiber pumps the price up because of the time). My mission is to encourage all to live with healthy hair, remove those damaging chemicals, stop the tremendous hair loss, and proudly display our naturally gorgeous locs.
Never again will I ponder if i’m too cheap and doing the wrong thing. Thank you for those uplifing experiences. It would be great if all of you were here in Hampton Roads,(7-9 city area depending on whose stats are used)VA; however, my website- irepairlocs.com is under construction. Further promoting healthy hair and protective styling, I make my own gel, blend my own oil and use black soap shampoo.
Thanks for letting me know that my path is blessed.
Peace and Healthy Living to All
Trisha
Thats a crying shame smh
I have a cute tutorial showing how to style three, quick, easy hairstyles.
If you or anyone else likes it, check out my other tutorials c:
http://www.youtube.com/user/BlackWomenHair#p/u/5/XM9-BsQY7c4
I very much think we blacks don’t really appreciate our nature. I recently had a reality check. And I gave up all hair extensions that I had invested a lot of fortune in. And for the first time in a long long time I feel better knowing that I could carry off my natural hair. Spend time and money maintaining it. And I haven’t loved my looks as much as now.
Very few saloons, care about Afro textured hair. And even the so called black saloons don’t help matters.
I say wearing extensions is totally a complex thing.
Am glad to be part of this blog.
I think you should go on youtube and do it urself. Then u cab have it perfect.