Are Hairstylists NECESSARY?

I'm curious as to what you guys think.  Do you think it's necessary to go to a hair stylist for basic maintenance? 

I used to go once a week and spent a pretty penny when you added it all up.  I haven't been to a stylist since last June when I got royally pissed off by one and since then I've been learning about my hair as if I were preparing for a thesis. 

In February, I got a good cut and then...I started growing it out using the information I'd learned.  It's seven months later and the growth is very noticeable.

When I wear my hair down...women are always asking me where I get it done and are very surprised to find that I do it myself and no I'm NOT a stylist. 

Because of what I've learned...I don't think a stylist is needed for anything besides trims, cuts, color and highlights (if you have it...I personally don't believe in ANY color anymore), updos and, if you can't do it yourself...touch ups. Or...if you're rocking a short cut and want to keep it short.

When I think about my past stylists...none of the women had long healthy hair.  Why?  Prolly cuz they were doing the same things they did to MY hair to their hair but everyday instead of once a week.  LOL!  My hair never retained any growth while going to the salon weekly.  BUT IT WAS GROWING CUZ I WAS GETTING TOUCH-UPS!  Had I taken a pic of my hair Day 1 and then again on Day 365...same length...no growth even if I was trying to grow it out longer.  And then...when I asked what the deal was...it was all MY fault as to why my hair wasn't growing or something about the blah or the blah even though THEY were the ones maintaining it.  Unh huh.  Yeah.

The misinformation I've received about black hair care could and DOES fill a book.  The truth is so simple it's crazy.  LOL!  It's pretty basic really.  If you want your hair to grow...don't cut it.  LOL.  Simple. If you see split ends...get it dusted...but no "shape up trims" that stylists are famous for giving you after every touch-up.  Your hair grows a half inch a month.  If you're cutting off a half inch to an inch to shape it up...YOU'RE CUTTING OFF YOUR NEW GROWTH!  Simple.  So very, very simple.

Normal black hair is naturally dry and when we use chemicals on already dry hair...it gets DRIER!  When we put MORE chemicals on top of that like color and highlights it gets EVEN DRIER!  Simple.  Dry hair is prone to breakage.  When you comb it and you see those pieces of your hair...it's your dry ends breaking off.

Right now I'm right at what's called arm pit length.  By this time next year...I expect to be at brastrap length if I keep doing what I'm doing.

But...I digress...back to my original question:  Do you think it's necessary to go to a hair stylist for basic maintenance? Also...does YOUR stylist have long, healthy hair?

Comments

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[foreverloyal]

Are they necessary?

Short answer? No.

I don't go for anything, not even relaxers.

[AltaGid]

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[Desiree]

What was the things you learned to make your hair long like the pictures?

[Sheila]

Came across your blog while surfing.. and you are truly funny... love your topics... Do I think it's necessary to go to a hair stylist for basic maintenance? No... I visit the hair salon every 2 months and thats for a perm and rinse, the same for my daughter. I do our weekly washing and deep conditioning, then Roller set and wrap. My daughter and I have armpit length hair and that came about due to understanding our hair and what it needs. I agree with you, if you want your hair to grow don't cut it. Once a year my daughter and I will get a good cutting. I am a fan of Nioxin products.. b/c of its delicious peppermint scent and deep conditioning properties.. and Creme of Nature. Yes, I acutally use 2 shampoos and conditioners weekly to achieve manageability. As for my hairstylist's hair... I must say that I have constantly wondered why it always looks like its damaged.

[Dijah]

I have only been to a hair dresser once in my life, and they messed my hair up. I may go to one for my birthday, to get a relaxer, but a different one. I don't think you need a stlist to mantain your hair. A stylist just knows how to stlye ,not actually do anything healthy for your hair. I can't wait for the day that someone makes a HEALTHY Hair salon!

btw, your hair progress is GREAT!

[Mary]

Since I was young my sister, Mother and I have going to the salon every two weeks! I first relaxed my hair at the age of 12 and it was thick and past my bra strap. It remained that way till I entered College and couldnt find the time to do my hair or go to the salon. My hair started falling out due to stress and maintenance and has since grown back due to the fact that I go to the hair salon every two weeks. I will admit that my actions have not allowed me to learn how to do my own hair but I am fine with that. I love the atmoshpere of the salon and the same women has been doing my hair for over 10yrs. I think its about finding the right stlyist for you even if you are only visiting them once a month.

[erica b.]

I thought it was just me. I gave up spending "a shift" at the stylist years ago. I just stop by and get a trim every other month, because that weekly standing appointment had to end. I work out, do cardio and when I'm done my hair is sopping wet. I shampoo every three days and it works for me. Lots of people tell you that "black hair" can't withstand that type of treatment. I say, clean hair curls and flatirons a lot better that sweaty, stank hair.

[Honest]

Your hair looks great! I do my hair own hair once a week and only go to a stylist for touchups and trims. I've never been one to go to a stylist every week or even every two weeks because my mom didn't and I can't see myself spending the money.

[Taya]

I do go to a stylist every week for the same reasons that some other ladies said - time, energy, and most importantly skill and the fact that I HATE doing my own hair.

Aziza - would you mind sharing the contact info on that stylist in Bowie that helped return your hair to it's healthy state? Thanks!

[Monica C.]

Just a follow-up ... by no means am I advocating what I do as a hair growth regimen for everyone ... that's just what I have done. Everyone's hair is different, just like everyone's skin is different.

Pink lotion actually does nothing for my own daughters' hair (of course, they are babies, so no relaxer or anything, but still) - so I know it doesn't work for everyone. I just stumbled upon it.

As far as the washing goes - again, everyone's hormonal, chemical and Ph balances, etc., are different. I think plenty of folks actually go 2 weeks between washings (those that visit the stylist every 2 weeks). The length of time that I go between washings varies from week to week (depending on what I have going on).

Finally, Monnie, I agree that a lot of stylists are too trim-happy - as evidenced by what happened to me just last month (GRRRRR!).

[Aziza]

I think a few people may have said that they don't wash their hair for a few weeks, because they have very dry hair/scalp.

Have no fear; there are products out here to restore the moisture. I wash my hair every week, because of all the hair spray and oil I put in it every week. Plus, it seems like the scalp is breathing after a good wash. I use Keracares' Hydrating detangling shampoo and Humecto creme conditioner or leave in conditioner. I've heard that aphogee treatments work, but I'm afraid to apply it, since it seems like a salon product.

[GeckoGirl]

For some people stylists aren't a necessity. Personally, I don't like fooling with my hair so I go to the shop about every week and a half. I suppose I could take time out to truly learn and care for my own hair but there are some things I don't mind paying others to do.

However, I'm boggled by your commenters who say they don't wash their hair for weeks and weeks! How the heck does that work? Your hair picks up grime from the environment and your scalp is skin so imagine not washing the rest of your body for weeks at a time...

[Diva (in Demand)]

I've noticed several people comment on moisturizing their hair. What products do you ladies use? I'm on the search for the perfect combination of products and a good moisturizer is something I don't have. As a matter of fact, I rarely moisturize my hair. Suggestions?

[Roslyn]

I haven't been in a salon since August 1998. In February 1999 I cut my relaxed hair off to one inch of new growth and haven't looked back. I have very thick hair, coarse that grows very fast. So I always had 'healthy-looking' mid-back length hair. I wore my hair loose natural until this time last year when I started locing. Now its getting so long its getting on my nerves.

[Renee]

This is a sensitive topic for me because for over a year, I went to a salon regularly for treatments and relaxers. I had always had thick bra strap length hair as a kid and my aunt took care of my hair. Once she moved away, I was on my own and found a new salon to go to. The stylist's hair was short and thin but she led me to believe that she preferred it that way. Despite my frequent visits, my hair started to look like crispy straw. When it started falling out, I started taking expensive vitamins to rectify the situation and nothing! I even went to a naturopath for an assessment but they couldn't find a solution. My stylist swore that I was doing something wrong to cause the problem and I faithfully continued to see her every other week.

A light went off for me one evening as I watched my husband look at my hair with a funny look on his face. I knew something had to be wrong. I went on the internet and found some websites that addressed black hair and realized that my stylist may not have been as knowledgable as she claimed to be. It took some time but I found a new salon and they had to cut off seven inches of hair to repair the damage done from over processing. Although it's shorter, my hair looks so much healthier and I'm so much happier.

The lesson for me now is that I have to do my own research before I will allow anyone to convince me of anything. At the end of the day, I'm the one who has to walk around it so I might as well take an active role in maintaining it. I only go to her for a relaxer (and trim if necessary) and if I have extra cash, I will go for a moisturizing treatment (because it's been so cold in Toronto lately!) but that's it.

[Aziza]

Just reading the other responses is bringing back "The Incident" that happened to me at the Penney's salon in Columbia Mall. I must admit that I have a bad habit of falling asleep any and everywhere partially because of anemia and down right exhaustion. But that day I fell asleep in the wrong salon chair. The stylist chopped off my hair and when I woke up I saw my hair on the floor. I felt violated because he didn't trim my hair as I instructed him to do. Afterwards, he said that he was trying to achieve an Oprah cut. I was near tears. Okay, I actually did cry.

The people on my job joked that the male stylist had chopped off my hair and weaved it into his own head that night. Everyone was laughing except me. Plus, people kept coming by to say that they couldn't believe I let that guy cut off "all that hair." Aint that a blip? Now I roll with Keracare shampoos and conditioners. All this shop talk is giving me flashbacks.

[Monica C.]

My hair was always just past my shoulders, even as a little girl.

When I was in my late 20s, my hair just started growing EXPONENTIALLY - all the way to about 2 1/2 inches *past* my bra strap. It grew so much that my own mother just freaked about it. Even white people (who often think black hair grows at the same rate as white hair) commented on how *long* my hair was.

After a few years of this steady growth, I realized that I had done some things differently. I stopped going to the hairdresser regularly. Mainly b/c I was then in law school and could not afford to go. But also because I was wearing my hair bone straight (flat ironed), and it was s style that could last a long time between salon visits. When it started getting old, I would pull it back in a ponytail. I was broke, so I had found an old bottle of Pink Lotion in my mom's cabinet that I used to slick back my ponytail. I still use it to this day (about 10 years later, now). Also, I started going weeks between the time I would wash my hair (I have a dry scalp, so my hair didn't get oily).

ALSO, my hairdresser only dusted my ends - she *never* gave me those "trims" that so many black hairstylists are famous for.

OK, so fast forward to the present. I have enjoyed super long hair for the past 10 years. I've been going to my current hairstylist for about a year. He is scissor happy, and we argue about that often. Well, about a month ago, he "trimmed" my hair and cut about 2.5 inches off!! I am so mad, I can't even really talk about it (I did need about 1 inch cut, b/c I have been working out like crazy and the sweat dries my hair out, etc. - but not 2.5 inches).

Anyway, it *will* grow back - and believe me, the next time I see him with some scissors anywhere near my head, they are going right into his neck.

CreoleInDC: Okay Monica...Imma hafta agree to disagree with you on this one. From the research I've done, Pink Oil Moistuizer doesn't have the properties to penetrate our hair to properly moisturize and in actuality just "sits" on top of each strand. Now...whereas this may have been beneficial to you...I have normal black hair that needs a moisturizer that actually penetrates my hair. Also...T-Monnie ain't going for weeks without washing my hair. I moisturize twice a day and the build-up gets on my nerves so I usually wash every 4 days. Like you, on the day I can't go anymore with wearing it down before a wash...it's PONYTAIL USA! LOL!

[Shana]

I don't go to a stylist regularly. My hair is now shoulder length. I used to go more often when it was super short (don't trust myself to trim it) . . . but with longer hair I handle all the routine maintenance on my own. I don't do the whole perm thing and prefer to wash and condition it on my own. As for the lady that I do ocassionaly go to. She has a short hairstyle that seems to be very well-kept. I hate going to beauticians whose own hair looks like hell. I feel like if you're a beautician your hair should be like your own personal commercial for your services . . .

[mOnica]

forgive the double entry

[mOnica]

Dang it miss your hair loooks goood. I need to throw up a side by side too. We started proper care about the same and I also had a big cut and was starting fresh. I however opted to start transitioning in June and when I tell you my hair is a hot mess. I'm just about ready to break down. My hair is sooo hard to care for.

Regarding the stylist question,no. I believe a stylist is only necessary for specific issues. I 've always had a good length of hair without stylist. However, with my new found knowledge(which I did not get from a stylist) I 'm able to increase my growth. Funny when I visit a salon I alway hear "you have a hair full of hair but you need your ends trimmed". I say no, because a trim is code for cut. I see you've made excellent progress keep it going chica.
mOnica

[Aziza]

I go to a master cosmetologist in Bowie every 8 weeks. Maryland has two classifications of stylists. I didn't know this until I experienced a couple of hair fiascos. I ended up at my current stylist's shop on a Monday morning 3 years ago (nearly in tears) after 2 other stylists messed up my hair. One stylist thinned out my normally thick healthy hair, while the other chopped a good 8 inches off when I asked for a trim!!! Even the men at my job noticed. When men notice something, it has to be something really obvious. I was so mad that I was seeing double.

So, my mantra is learn about your own hair and learn how to fix it yourself, because there are some straight up trifling hairdressers out here who will only blame you for their mistakes. I only go to my stylist for things I can't do such as trimming the split ends and doing touch-ups. I'm really loyal about going to my stylist though. She took me 3 years ago as a walkin on a Monday morning, helped me to grow all my hair back (and more), and she "listens" to me when I tell her how I want my hair to be styled.

[Gladys]

I don't think it's necessary to go to the salon for basic maintenance. I go about twice a month for a wash and set with the Dominicans. Otherwise, I'm doing it myself. For a while, I was doing my own relaxers, but broke my hair off. I let the Dominican ladies apply the creamy crack now. I've been taking better care of my hair since reading your hair information. Even invested in some Phytospecific products. Now I just need to combat my VERY bad dandruff problem. Stylists used to say that I have bad dandruff because my hair grows very fast. I DO NOT oil my scalp with heavy grease. I was told to do that by a stylist and all it does is make my scalp itch more and then the dandruff is just dirty! Funny thing, though, is that I didn't have a lot of dandruff this summer - almost none at all. I think it's a combination of my diet and the weather change. What do you think? Didn't you say Phyto had a product for this that's not drying? Thanks, Miss M!

[c2a]

A stylist is necessary for me. I can't blowdry, or press hair.

I've had those stylist who cut instead of trim, but they only get one shot at me. I'm flexible on who presses my hair but when I need a trim I only go to the one who isn't scissor happy.

I get my hair pressed about once every 4-5 weeks. If I wrap it each night it looks good and bouncy for 4 weeks, the 5th week might get a french braid. Within that time I put 0 heat on it, I also use 0 hair products, and a paddle brush only. My hair is super healthy and grows like weeds.

[Angie]

I go to the beautician once every 5 weeks for a relaxer. I am not that detailed oriented, so I know I would truly mess that up on my own.

I've discovered that the biggest threat to my hair is not getting it relaxed on time. My hair breaks the day after 5 weeks, lol.

The second threat is beauticians that like to keep my hair in a 'style'. During every visit they want to cut cut cut to maintain that style whereas I want my hair to be trimmed only so that the growth can occur.

I wash my hair at home every week. I don't have time to go to the salon weekly. I use two conditioners. I plan on doing more now that my income is better. Hey, beauty isn't always cheap, lol.

Lots of moisture. Wrapping at night...those are the best words of advice I can give from my experiences.

Keep up the hair discussions. I love them!

[mOnica]

Dang it miss your hair loooks goood. I need to throw up a side by side too. We started proper care about the same and I also had a big cut and was starting fresh. I however opted to start transitioning in June and when I tell you my hair is a hot mess. I'm just about ready to break down. My hair is sooo hard to care for.

Regarding the stylist question,no. I believe a stylist is only necessary for specific issues. I 've always had a good length of hair without stylist. However, with my new found knowledge(which I did not get from a stylist) I 'm able to increase my growth. Funny when I visit a salon I alway hear "you have a hair full of hair but you need your ends trimmed". I say no, because a trim is code for cut. I see you've made excellent progress keep it going chica.
mOnica

[Diva (in Demand)]

To answer one of your questions, yes my stylist has a head full of long and healthy hair. It's absolutely beautiful. But I still don't go to her for much more than basic maintenance. She trims my ends every few months and if there is an ocassion where I want my hair bone straight then I go to her because her flat ironing skills are much better than mine (you know I'm all natural). That's the last reason I go, as my hair grows longer she has been showing me the best ways to wear my hair in it's natural state. If I had to estimate I'd say I go once a quarter these days.

Going to a stylist for regular maintenance is obviously not a necessity but I think we have to remember that alot of people don't just go for basic hair needs, it's also pampering. Letting someone else do the work for you.

[C]

I see my hairdresser every six weeks for a touch up and trim. My hair has been growing well (after a bout of dryness after surgery w/anesthesia) My hairdresser wears her hair in a short cut, always has...and her hair always looks good. I've been with the same hairdresser for 15 years, since I was in high school...so she is brutally honest with me about my maintenence when things go South..lol. We have a routine, I go in...she assesses the situation up top and lets me know if I should moisturize more, condition more or if things are just right. Lately she has been trimming me every other visit because my ends have been even and not lacking in moisture. I value her opinion, but like I said it has been years! I think if you have the time/ambition to devote to your haircare/maintenence routine then seeing a hairdresser weekly is not necessary...but I personally need a hairdresser for touch ups and trims...otherwise I would wearing a fade...hehehe.

[Cooyah]

I know you missed me cause I missed you. *hugs* my hard drive crashed and ti's finally back up and working now. I need to email you laters for some help on phpBB.

[isha]

Funny, I noticed all of my growth and progress stop and go away just after my girl "trimmed" my ends. I was in the mirror pulling my hair down like G. Union in Breaking all the Rules.

Never again!!! Congrats on the growth. Looks good. I'm in braids for a sec to get my growth back!