bigredapmi

The purpose of this is for you to pick qualitys that speak to you, and find a stylist where you are and start a conversation!!


You all bring up alot of great points, and alot of expectations. Some are avalible tou you, some can be done only over time. I am talking about a first visit consultation, which is what it seems the only chance a stylist can get sometimes. Especially with curlies.

Let me tell you my backround, it may help to know where I'm comming from. I am so uncomfortable tooting my own horn, but it is what it is. I only tell you so you can try to find a stylist with a common thread. Not all of them, but one or two.
I became a hairdresser because I had curly hair, people think I have beautiful hair. I do not, I am a good hairdresser. Find a hairdresser with curly hair and wears it that way.
My early training began 27 years ago in L.A. and worked under, trained with a Barber ( this is important) who is a nat curly and worked with Paul mitchell and Sassoon. Look for a stylist who is or trained with barbers. Barbers cutting is much more organic, intense, goes into greater detail of head shape, angles, physics,tension, growth pattern. Cosmotology is a one size fits all cut. Any training from Europe or European influence is also good. Sassoon training is amazing. These things are not out of most stylists reach. They must go beyond beauty school, have influences, passion for learning. Even if it's only from the web.
I have worked every aspect of this industryfrom receptionist, shampoo girl assistant, high end low end, rollersets and updo's. Don't laugh, roller sets and up dos require a good eye for curls and hair direction from scalp. Find a stylist who's worked all aspects of the industry, it shows a love of people and hair.
I have taught and trained, shows and teaches communication skills. It's one thing to know what your doing, it's another thing to be able to get it across to someone else.
When out of the bussiness, raising the family, I did hair at home, gave me a chance to learn and try and experiment all kinds of things in my own time. Find a stylist with this kind of love for the industry, who would do hair even if she didn't get paid.
I have worked retail, corporations, and small family salons. Freelance and self employed, and hourly.
Works well in groups and one on one. Big money, lil' money.
I've donated my services, worked with look good feel better. Again some one who just wants to make people feel good, be beautiful, see's beauty in every person no matter what the situation.

Most of these things I have just fallen into naturally, just because I love hair and talked to other people who loved hair. I am just a normal middle class small town girl. Nothing fancy. So I know there are others out there, you just haven't found them yet. We need to find them and they need to find us.

I need to get ready for work now, I'll bring this around, back on subject, hope I'm makin sense, not enough coffee........

__________________
3a/3b coarse and thick.....big and red

Advanced Deva inspired Stylist

proudcurlygirly

Wow, I've just read your post! Don't feel uncomfortable tooting your own horn, blast away, your achievements sound amazing! It's nice to hear from someone with such passion for what they do and concern for the people you are serving and wanting feedback, I take my hat off to you!

__________________
UK Curly
Curl type : Boticelli, 3a, loose curls
Porosity : High
Texture : Fine/medium (I think!)
Co-wash/rinse out/leave in : L'oreal Full Restore 5, GFR&S, Schwarzkopf Bio Pomegranite
Gels : Umberto Giannini Flirty Curls Scrunching Jelly
Finish product : Boots Naked Style Frizz Fighter Serum or a pea-sized blob of condish smoothed over canopy
CG since Feb 2011

bigredapmi

I have to admit..... I may say this to you......with a big smile on my face........only after I know you really really well.......

__________________
3a/3b coarse and thick.....big and red

Advanced Deva inspired Stylist

bigredapmi

I'm not great with wording questions, but here is my best attempt at feedback. I'll warn you, I'm honest by nature. *Honest is code for a B-.*
Overall the questions seem to have a negative feeling. So I'd suggest rewording to make the feel more positive.

I love honesty!! That's exactly what I'm looking for.

Why do you feel the Q's are negative? or what about them is neg.?

Question 1)
I'd loose the word hair'story. It could be interpreted as either "crazy hippy" or "overly perky cheerleader". Either of which could turn someone off before they meet you. Maybe: What should I know about your past few hair cuts? What should I know about your hair?

ok

Question 2)
The question is good. But your average person doesn't know hair properties, and isn't concerned about products you will use one (unless they are CG). What they think they know about hair properties may be wrong anyway. You'll probably know texture and thickness 2 seconds after you see them anyway. You may also want to add something to this question like "What are you hoping for (looking for??) from this hair cut?" (better definition, volume, more curl, etc.) This gives a more positive spin.

Nothing is Average about us curlies Most of my clients are cg, or I am teaching them about it. I am sitting with my client while going over these Q's and it is a discusion, not a test. I do not have the time to go through all of these things in one appointmment, so knowing what is most important to them, what they know about or do not know about is extremely helpful.

Your Q on definition, volume,curl....is an expectation issue. A cut alone will not give you these things. A cut gives you a shape. Now, a cut may encourage some volume or curl, but only if the hair is styled to encourage it. This is a big divide between stylists and clients and exactly why I want us to have these discussions.

Question 3)
Average person will have no idea. Honestly, IDK how I'd answer. This question might make a person feel like they should know this stuff, but are too stupid.


Again, I am discussing these things with the client. It tells me alot about the clients expectation of the visit. It's a very important Q, and something I need to know. Are you wanting hydration, you would be happy if your hair was in better condition, you have dryness or tangles or breakage that you want adressed. Or definition, more clumps to encourage curl or volume, hold of product, styling tips. It tells me what direction to go and what to emphasise.

Why does asking a Q make someone feel stupid?? Please, help me understand? Every once in a while I will run into this. How can we overcome this? I want to help you and give you everything I can. I'm not testing you, but I need to know what you want so I can give it to you.
Question 4)
I think this is good.

Thanks

Possible question you may want to reword and add.

Are your curls/waves consistent? If not (most people), where are your waves/curls looser? Where are they tighter?

o.k.

I wrote most of this before IAgirl and lucyprimrose posted. I think they have great ideas and better ideas then mine.

Your feed back is great

I'm sure being a stylist must be frustrating. We clients don't speak hair. It must be like a game of charades trying to figure out what we want.

yes, but it is just as frustrating for you, this is why I am posting! I want to fix it and give us tools to communicate.

And, "I'd like something new. But I don't want to change my length, or get layers, or get bangs and don't change my hair color." That has to get old quick.

You don't do this....do you??? lol

__________________
3a/3b coarse and thick.....big and red

Advanced Deva inspired Stylist

pedaheh

First off, IDK why, but I was thinking this was like a e-mail with questions to answer and send in before the appointment so you could get a sense of someone's hair. I have no idea why I was thinking that. It wouldn't really make much sense. So I take most of my feedback back. Questions asked in person, in the course of a conversation, are completely different.

I thought the questions were negative because they are sort of What is bad about your past hair cuts? What's bad about your hair? What horrible thing are you scared will happen in this hair cut?
But now I know that the questions are conversational and not written *smacks self in head*, I think the questions are fine.
Never mind. Hair story is good when used in a conversation and not written.
Again, this is all good in a conversational context. You are right. Unless someone is coming in with no layers at all, you probably can't give them a lot of volume or curl enhancement.
Q3 would have made me feel dumb pre CG. I wouldn't have known what the terms meant. I started CG knowing my hair was dry, but not having any idea it was wavy. The "what do you need most" part was also throwing me. Like I need to put stuff in numerical order. IDK why. IDK where my brain was when I responded. Again, in a conversation this question is fine. Most people who have known their hair was curly or wavy all their life will answer with no problem. And if they don't know what you mean, you'll see the questioning look instantly and explain.
If my fine, naturally porous hair hair could take it, I'd change my hair color a couple times a year. If I didn't have the slowest growing hair on record, I'd change the style every other hair cut. No, I'm not that client. I'm a different breed of crazy.

__________________
http://pedaheh.blogspot.com/p/how-do-i-get-started.html (blog to help new wavies)
2a (nc.com) 2bFi (Fia), very fine, thin, low/normal elasticity, porous, CG, doesn't get weighed down
Cowash: Tresemme naturals
Rinse out/leave in: Renpure Organics (red)
Curl enhancer: FSG
Gel: BRHG, Salon care aloe, Ecostyler Krystal (normal dews)
PT: ION effective care, IAgirl's gelatin PT
Low Poo: renpure (red), Ion swimmers

plunkybug

And up into Canada?? Pretty please with cherries on top?

__________________

bigredapmi

I'd loose the word hair'story. It could be interpreted as either "crazy hippy" or "overly perky cheerleader.


This is really funny. I've been both.

Pedaheh, Do not take your feedback, back. I am so happy you gave it and we both now understand. It was wonderful feed back either way. Your responses make me think, and I hope mine do the same. Thinking is always good....we should all do it together more often. lol.

To those of you who want me to do your hair..... Thank you.

It still amazes me though that you have no idea what kind of work I do. Now, I believe I do good work, and I know I do the best I can with what I know, and I know I care. I also know alot of stylist just like me.
But I can tell you, I can get just as many bad reviews and I'm sure I'm apart of some horror stories, and have had clients leave unhappy with me.

What I want the most is for you to find a stylist for yourself, to help you know what to look for and expect and how to talk so they understand. I really feel there is a need for it.

I've recieved the most replies and interest from you 2's.....does that mean you guy's are the most chatty or does that mean you are having the most trouble finding a stylist? Hmmm.

I see so much discussion about hg product and yet some are not happy. If you do not have a good cut, no product will be great. No style will work. Our expectations are off. And then we are expecting our stylist to understand our products and language, and they have never heard of us or what we are talking about. They make you feel dumb, because we are making them feel dumb. Bleh, nobody wins....

Just thinkin' through my fingers.....
Thanks for listening and replying

__________________
3a/3b coarse and thick.....big and red

Advanced Deva inspired Stylist

IAgirl

.

__________________
Fine (ii), not very porous, elastic-y waves and curls (IA = Iowa)
http://scienceyhairblog.blogspot.com/

bigredapmi

I could not agree with you more!!!!!

The only thing I would add is that most hairdressers just do not know!!!!
And how should they? They are actually trained the absolute opposite.
Please forgive them. They have no idea what to do with us or how to do it.
If you look at the curly stylists with the best curly reviews and curly passion it's because they have curly hair.
We do it for ourselves first.

I am lovin' all the wavy love here. It is giving me great insite for my mom, who has not yet embraced her waves.
If I could finally make her happy......well

__________________
3a/3b coarse and thick.....big and red

Advanced Deva inspired Stylist

lazyloops

So, where can we see your work? Where can we find you? I'm in Macomb County.

__________________
CG since 5/2010 Intro

bigredapmi

Lazyloops, you found me
You can find my salon reviews here at nc.com under Anthony's hair inc. or pics on my fb : There once was a curl.

__________________
3a/3b coarse and thick.....big and red

Advanced Deva inspired Stylist

dannegerous

This just changed my life.

__________________
CG since May 2012
Curl Pattern: 2c, Texture: coarse, Porosity: low, Density: thick, Elasticity: low