No One's Hair Should EVER Be This Dirty!

**CoilyHairedBeauty** · 09-10-2012, 02:40 AM

No One's Hair Should EVER Be This Dirty!

I was recently hired at a specialty braiding salon, and had to do a takedown.

The lady was friendly and talkative...But her hair...I cut all the extension hair off to get to the cornrows. Her hair was a matted mess! And girl.......when I started to undo those cornrows, I was horrified! It was like the hair was GLUED together! There was all this white gumminess and flakiness at the root.....It was getting under my fingernails... It looked as though she hadn't washed her hair in 20 years!

Earlier that same day, I took down some micros. That client's hair was clean as a whistle!

Women need to realize that braids and weaves can be washed; only the technique is a little different. It is essential that the scalp and hair be cleansed, by some means. Going three months without washing one's hair is disgusting. Even using witch hazel would be better than that.

One lady also mentioned that she is busy and doesn't have time for hair. Also that "it hurts" to detangle. I believe that if you can make time to take a shower everyday, you can find the time to wash your hair at least once a week; two weeks at most.

I think many women are becoming lazy. There is no such thing as "no maintenance" hair care. The scalp needs to be cleansed and the hair needs to be moisturized.

I find it quite ironic that *some* women with high tech jobs like "computer software programmers" can't do simple things like wash and detangle their hair...

Rant over.

**Olahh** · 09-10-2012, 03:16 AM

I guess just ask her to come in every two weeks to get a wash, since her busy schedule is getting in the way of DIY hair care.

**Olahh** · 09-10-2012, 03:22 AM

Mann I wish we had a natural hair salon here in Columbus. Are the prices reasonable there?

**Akomas_Angel** · 09-10-2012, 03:57 AM

You weren't wearing gloves? No ma'am! Let that be a lesson to you. Wear your gloves until you see the condition of their scalp.

**CoilyHairedBeauty** · 09-10-2012, 04:05 AM

@Olahh: Thanks; we need to show her how to do it at home. The prices are more toward the high end...for example $175 for kinky twists..

@Akomas_Angel: They don't wear gloves....Something about offending the client...I'm going to talk to the owner when I go in on Tuesday about that...Cuz that's just NASTY.

**Scribetastic** · 09-10-2012, 04:07 AM

I don't think her career had anything to do with it, so that's not really fair.

I'm sure there are some women in other professions who could do better with their hair (especially ones like hair pros, those in the beauty industry, health, etc.)

You'd think she'd notice her scalp either with it just being gross or with it itching. Yuck. I agree that she should keep her hair clean and that if she's got time to hop in the shower she can also clean her hair while she's at it. What you had to deal with sounds like a nasty mess.

Did you or the stylist take a moment to coach her a bit?

**Fuzziwuz** · 09-10-2012, 04:09 AM

Welcome to the world of professional hair care?

I think if it's simple for some, they would do it often. But like someone mentioned, suggest they come in for services. I think some women try to prolong styles for economic reasons and neglect the hair underneath, and/or the hair maintenance is time consuming in addition to responsibilities. If patrons knew how to do hair and/or groomed regularly, there wouldn't be a need for your service. So expect the unexpected.

**CoilyHairedBeauty** · 09-10-2012, 04:39 AM

Originally Posted by Scribetastic

I don't think her career had anything to do with it, so that's not really fair.

I'm sure there are some women in other professions who could do better with their hair (especially ones like hair pros, those in the beauty industry, health, etc.)

You'd think she'd notice her scalp either with it just being gross or with it itching. Yuck. I agree that she should keep her hair clean and that if she's got time to hop in the shower she can also clean her hair while she's at it. What you had to deal with sounds like a nasty mess.

Did you or the stylist take a moment to coach her a bit?

Yeah, the salon owner talked to her for a bit afterward. Actually, she made the comment that the lady's hair was "caked up" as I was taking it down.

As far as professions go, what I mean is this: Hygiene is one of those things you learn as a little kid. Bathing, brushing your teeth. I don't think washing your hair should be excluded. It should be common knowledge. I guess job doesn't matter, but I just thought about how someone so highly skilled had issues with that.

Yes, it was hecka nasty. I went and washed my hands oh-so-thoughly...

**CoilyHairedBeauty** · 09-10-2012, 04:48 AM

@Fuzziwuz

I can understand why it would be difficult for someone to remove a weave.

The salon I'm at doesn't do washes like that. It's basically a braiding salon. An assistant will shampoo a client so that one of the braid technicians can do her next style, but washing weaves really isn't part of the deal. That's why I want to show the lady how she can wash her weave at home.

I don't know if this is a good analogy: Say I wanted to get laser hair removal. They'd look at me like I was a fool if I showed up reeking and asking them to bathe me first....

**Scribetastic** · 09-10-2012, 05:54 AM

Originally Posted by CoilyHairedBeauty

Yeah, the salon owner talked to her for a bit afterward. Actually, she made the comment that the lady's hair was "caked up" as I was taking it down.

As far as professions go, what I mean is this: Hygiene is one of those things you learn as a little kid. Bathing, brushing your teeth. I don't think washing your hair should be excluded. It should be common knowledge. I guess job doesn't matter, but I just thought about how someone so highly skilled had issues with that.

Yes, it was hecka nasty. I went and washed my hands oh-so-thoughly...

That's good that someone talked to her. I agree with you 100% about hygiene. I mean really, she should know. However, you never know what someone's background is and what sort of craziness they grew up in. I'm thinking somewhere along the way, she didn't learn the basics or heard from some craziness about not washing extensions. Either way, yuck.

Glad she left with more a of a clue so that you or someone else doesn't have to deal with that again.

**bhop13** · 09-10-2012, 08:15 AM

I've told 2 people this same thing. There's a way to do it but you can wash your hair in braids/twists. They both just looked at me like "whatever...my style is more important than clean fuzzy hair." Ok...fine then...walk around with your gross itchy hair, lol.

**bhop13** · 09-10-2012, 08:22 AM

Originally Posted by Scribetastic

That's good that someone talked to her. I agree with you 100% about hygiene. I mean really, she should know. However, you never know what someone's background is and what sort of craziness they grew up in. I'm thinking somewhere along the way, she didn't learn the basics or heard from some craziness about not washing extensions. Either way, yuck.

Glad she left with more a of a clue so that you or someone else doesn't have to deal with that again.

So true. I remember buying a guy a back loofah because he didn't get or know about washing his back. I saw another guy get introduced to cleaning his ears and I swear this dude had a Q-tip in his ear for the rest of the summer, LOL. A college roommate used to use the sponges from the kitchen to clean the bathroom and she put the sponges back in the kitchen...she saw nothing wrong with it because they did that at her house.

**Olahh** · 09-10-2012, 12:25 PM

Originally Posted by CoilyHairedBeauty

@Olahh: Thanks; we need to show her how to do it at home. The prices are more toward the high end...for example $175 for kinky twists..

@Akomas_Angel: They don't wear gloves....Something about offending the client...I'm going to talk to the owner when I go in on Tuesday about that...Cuz that's just NASTY.

I wanna give a real nat. hair salon a try this fall/winter and It seems like Columbus aint catching on to that even though Im seeing alot more naturals. My unit is located in ATL area. Can you PM me prices for trimming and style w/o extension like bantu knot or regular twist, thanks?

**Karibana** · 09-10-2012, 04:06 PM

Originally Posted by bhop13

So true. I remember buying a guy a back loofah because he didn't get or know about washing his back. I saw another guy get introduced to cleaning his ears and I swear this dude had a Q-tip in his ear for the rest of the summer, LOL. A college roommate used to use the sponges from the kitchen to clean the bathroom and she put the sponges back in the kitchen...she saw nothing wrong with it because they did that at her house.

You are reminding me to get a pair of loofah gloves.

Anyhoo this weekend I put my big girl panties on and finally told a buddy of mine to call the local university's dental school and schedule a check up and clean up. He started talking about getting an iPad and he is one always getting all kinds of designer clothes (on eBay but still) and I told him before he did that he should be looking get his tartar build up under control, I've been wanting to tell him this for years and now it's just plain disgusting and I'm surprised guys want to stick their tongues in his mouth

**Claire76** · 09-10-2012, 06:37 PM

@ the OP: I'm glad you mentioned teaching this woman to do her hair at home. Everyone should know how to take care of their hair at even the most basic of levels. I'd rather teach someone how to do something themselves than have them rely on me.
And if nothing else, wouldn't she want to know how to do her own hair just for her own sake?

A college roommate used to use the sponges from the kitchen to clean the bathroom and she put the sponges back in the kitchen...she saw nothing wrong with it because they did that at her house.

**CoilyHairedBeauty** · 09-10-2012, 07:17 PM

@Olahh Sure, let me find out for you

@bhop
@karibana

Those people are just nasty! Ugh, it's making my skin crawl right now!

I've been "washing" or (co-washing) my hair many times a week since I've been natural. The longest I can go without it would be a week. I learned that because I have yarn braids in.

A person can create some really bad problems for themselves if they allow sebum to buildup on their scalp--Yuck! Add to that product buildup, dandruff..... O_O

I wonder, do people who have caked up hair feel strange when they get out the shower with a clean body and a nasty scalp?

**caprimom** · 09-10-2012, 08:54 PM

Originally Posted by bhop13

So true. I remember buying a guy a back loofah because he didn't get or know about washing his back. I saw another guy get introduced to cleaning his ears and I swear this dude had a Q-tip in his ear for the rest of the summer, LOL. A college roommate used to use the sponges from the kitchen to clean the bathroom and she put the sponges back in the kitchen...she saw nothing wrong with it because they did that at her house.

I think I just threw up in my mouth.
I am borderline OCD about cleaning tools & sponges and stuff. I don't wash dishes with the sponges used for wiping counters and other surfaces. All the sponges are washed daily in the dishwasher. Mops get washed after each use (I have removable, washable mop heads). I just can't do it.

Re: scalp hygiene. When I was younger, I wasn't taught how to do my own hair or care for it. My mom styled my hair wehn I was little but I knew virtually nothing about caring for my hair when I started doing my own hair. I had to learn on my own. I didn't know you could wash your hair in braids but the itching would become unbearable for me and I'd take them down so I could wash my hair. I wish I would have known because then maybe my braids would've lasted a lot longer.

**NappyButUnique** · 09-10-2012, 08:54 PM

Originally Posted by Olahh

I wanna give a real nat. hair salon a try this fall/winter and It seems like Columbus aint catching on to that even though Im seeing alot more naturals. My unit is located in ATL area. Can you PM me prices for trimming and style w/o extension like bantu knot or regular twist, thanks?

So true.... There are a select few of natural hair salons in Columbus that I would let play in my hair.

I'm a DIY girl myself. But on special occasions and for color treatments, I used to go to Studio 54 when I lived in Columbus. It's located off Steam Mill Rd, closer toward Shirley Winston Community Center. It's also a spa, but they specialize in natural hair as well. I enjoyed the service I received on every visit, but they can be a little pricey.

http://studio54hairsalondayspa.com/

**NappyButUnique** · 09-10-2012, 09:02 PM

Actually.... After looking at the website, it looks like their prices have dropped some...

I wish I could make a visit when I come up in October, but I have two clients that I have to do myself...

Anyway, the prices aren't bad at all for a natural hair salon...

Twist Loc $55.00
Relaxer $60.00
Colors $25.00
Perms $85.00
Natural Hair Styles $45.00
Shampoo & Sets $40.00
Press & Curl $45.00
Perms $85.00

It's cheaper than prices here....

**Olahh** · 09-11-2012, 12:12 AM

^Thx for the link. I let one experience screw up my views on salons that do relaxers and naturals because they "claimed" experience in nat. hair care.