Giavana writes...
Stylists have always complimented me on my hair because it was full of body, thick and healthy. So much so, that this trainee in her last semester of beauty school asked me to model my hair in a show that she was participating in sponsored by Dudley’s. I was elated because the idea of modeling was just so fascinating.
Well, although my hair is gorgeous, my scalp sucks. My scalp hates chemicals and would burn in anticipation of relaxer. Thus, I never (or very rarely) had the bone straight look. I had a relaxer about 3 weeks before she styled me for the show, but when I went to meet her the day of the show, she informed me that she would need to give me a relaxer because my hair wasn't “straight enough” and because it was one of the requirements of the contest. I agreed, but gave her a disclaimer about my scalp being sensitive and the areas that were likely to burn the fastest. I also told her that I wasn’t expecting a relaxer and was scratching a lot.
I would find out that she disregarded everything I said. She left the relaxer on for about an hour. After the relaxer, she tried to style my hair, which meant raking a fine tooth comb through my already sensitive head, using heat to straighten the areas that didn't take and spraying my tresses with extraordinary amounts of spritz. I had a head full of scabs and eyes full of tears. Ironically enough, my hair survived and was absolutely gorgeous (so I was told), but as I sashayed down the runway, I was fighting the grimace of my head being on fire. I really don't know who won the contest that night and I honestly didn't care. I just knew I never wanted to see that stylist ever again.
Most of us have been in this scenario at least once in our lives. If you care about your hair, don't get any chemicals done by a student or by someone whose work you aren't familiar with. Next, don't just sit idly by and let someone do whatever to your hair. If it hurts, it's uncomfortable or something just doesn't seem right — you need to speak up. I guess most women don't say anything because they don't want to come off as difficult. Well, you don't have to be a bitch or anything, but you also don't want to go home bald headed. Lesson of the day: speak up for your hair!
What would you have done in this situation? Leave your feedback in the comments.
Do you have any hair horror stories or any stories on how you averted this kind of situation because you spoke up? Send them to info@maneandchic.com.
that's why only i touch my hair!!! she left perm in for AN HOUR??!?! i was a five minutes tops, girl!!!!
ReplyDeleteI can relate to her story sadly. Well I used to go to the Dominican shop where I live and they love to get your hair bone straight when it comes to relaxing your hair. However, I would lie tell them my scalp was burning to make sure my hair didn't get too straight. I wanted to keep some texture to my hair. They didn't like when I did that but they had no choice but rinse it out if I'm saying its burning.
ReplyDeleteNow fast forward to November 4 2009, I went to a new stylist recommended by my friend. While she was applying the relaxer to my hair she would stop periodically and keep talking to me. As we all know, when applying a chemical you're on time constraints and can't afford to be stopping in the middle of the process. Well because she stopped so many times while applying the relaxer my scalp ended up hurting so bad after everything was said and finished. My hair came out great but I had such a bad head. I even woke up in the middle of the night contemplating putting conditioner on my scalp just to soothe it. My scalp never hurt so bad. I was mad at myself for not telling her to keep applying the relaxer and that she could talk and work at the same time. I haven't had a relaxer since. I'm currently transitioning and feeling tempted to relax a little but I want to stick it out and transition. I've transition in the past successfully...I'm just anxious to see my curls again.
Jasmine
Wow is all I can say. I've been natural ever since 2005. But when I would go to get a perm, she only left it on there for a few minutes and that was it. If someone asked me to model in a show, first off I'd ask what all would you be doing to my hair, like cutting it, coloring and etc. There's always a catch. I hope that Giavana thinks twice of getting a relaxer, I know she said she's tempted but I don't think your scalp has to suffer so. Being natural is a journey, its not a race, and most people start out being mad b/c of a bad situation and say they're going natural. But once the journey starts and you begin to see the two different textures in your hair, that's when you need to be the strongest. I think going natural is a choice that you shouldn't make so hastily, know what you're getting into.
ReplyDeleteI've never had a relaxer in my hair for that long. I always had a time limit and that was normally 15-20 minutes. I don't think I would have allowed her to relax my hair in the first place, because the previous relaxer was still fresh. I guess I wouldn't have been in that show.
ReplyDeleteMan, I know the feeling. But I will tell you this, as soon as she said Dudley you should have ran for the door. It was okay when that was all we had but these folks are notorious for being a step behind lab/science wise. The stylist who use them are just as behind. My first press and curl was with Dudley products. Then the first relaxer I had was by a Dudley Stylist with Dudley products and my hair stayed "broke-off" until I was about 12. My mother finally figured that Dudley was not the it thing.
ReplyDelete