Since I've been doing my own hair, my standards for hair salons are even higher than ever.
I love and take good care of my hair, and anyone who does it has to have the same pride and love in doing it. Going natural has been more than a hairstyle change, it's been an empowering self-love journey. I've discovered more ways to express myself, get to know myself, and be more comfortable with who I am. This is why each product I use and each salon I visit is so important to me.
If you think about it, our stylists play an instrumental part in helping us maintain our look. We want someone we can trust, understand, and slay. So, when I am looking for a salon or stylist these days, here are a few key qualities I look for to find the right one:
Love For Hair
This may be obvious, but I like for stylists to love what they do. When your stylist loves doing hair, they approach each head with excitement, as if it's a new journey for them too. He/She creates a better experience and is willing to learn and do as much as they can to make you happy, instead of just thinking of you as another paycheck.
Knowledgeable
I feel more confident when I'm in the chair with someone who knows their stuff. I like to get tips and recommendations on how to better take care of my hair. I also love to exchange thoughts and get an expert opinion on current hair trends. As we all know — especially if you're natural — there's always a new oil or a new product to use, and it wouldn't hurt to get a professional opinion. The perfect salon should be your one stop shop for hairstyles, hair knowledge, and hair products.
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Furthermore, it's not enough to just know how to do hair, but the stylist has to know how to do my hair. Any salon I consider has to have experience styling and treating all natural hair types, especially 4C hair. It's important to me that understand the needs and techniques of each hair type.
Budget-Friendly
I look for a salon that is reasonable in price and time. What I've been noticing about natural hair salons is that they are charging monthly membership prices. I personally don't like this for a few reasons: one, I don't want my salon experience to feel like another bill that I have to pay. Salon time is a pampering experience for me and I don't want it to feel like anything else. Two, I don't want to be charged monthly if salon visits are not as frequent. I do my own hair, so I tend to only go to salons for a trim or special treatments. I also expect to have a timely service, I don't want to be in the salon all day, nor do I want to wait hours to get seen.
Accessibility To Products
It's an extra bonus if salons offer the products that they use on their customers. It's also very important to me to learn how to upkeep my style and have access to those resources. I think with the evolution of beauty salons it is becoming industry standards to be the one-stop-shop with natural hair salons.
And since I'm from Atlanta, a city known for hair, I couldn't leave you without a few salons in Atlanta that you should try if you're ever in the area:
What are some non-negotiables that natural hair salons have to check off for you to consider them "the one"? Let us know in the comments down below.
Featured image by Shutterstock
With a multi-layered approach to her artistry, just as she did on that winter day in December 2013 with the infamous digital drop of her self-titled album, she changed the game again on February 1, 2023, when she announced her world tour in support of Renaissance, her seventh studio album. Her cultural impact set the internet ablaze, with everyone trying to gather their coins, barter for presale codes, and figure out which cities to attend. The group chats were lit, and the Beyhive was stressed trying to get their hands on tickets.
Photo courtesy of Dontaira Terrell
Unfortunately, I was in that number. As the concert dates passed by and the one in my city drawing near all roads led to disappointment. With time ticking on the day of the Miami show and less than two hours to spare, my wallet bit the bullet, and I purchased three last-minute tickets, costing roughly $700.00 a piece (including fees) for me, my 9-year-old and 16-year-old nieces in Section 121 at the Hard Rock Stadium. With 10 minutes before showtime, we eagerly awaited the Queen to take the stage. A sea of metallic fringes, cowboy hats, disco fans, and western boots were in full effect and filled the entire stadium.
As the lights dimmed, a flood of emotions instantly overtook my body. It continued with each note she belted, along with nearly 50,000 roaring fans. The reverberating sound of the music through the stadium transported me from one era of my life to the next. As a teen girl in her bedroom daydreaming about her first love to blossoming into an unapologetic Black woman who is still on a road of self-discovery while learning to lean into the power anthem of "You won't break my soul." For over two hours, and with each set, I felt joy, love, peace, and a commanderie with fellow concertgoers. It was therapeutic as I danced like no one was watching and sang as if I were alone in my bathroom mirror.
There were no bars held, and I realized at that moment, "Nobody can judge me but me." The "Renaissance World Tour" proved to be so vast, and my Black girl joy was re-invigorated. It was magnetic and liberating, and I had to attend again, but this time, I needed to be up close and personal; I needed to be on the floor. In the days that passed, I watched more social media clips in different cities and asked myself if I would really splurge again to attend another Renaissance show.
Photo courtesy of Dontaira Terrell
After all, this would be my thirteenth time (maybe more because I lost count) seeing Beyoncé live, whether she was on tour with Destiny's Child, as a solo artist, or doing a live appearance. I contemplated for a while, but it worked itself out on its own. I was gifted two tickets and the next thing I knew, I was off to LA to attend another Renaissance show with floor seats at SoFi Stadium during Beyonce's 42nd birthday weekend! This time, things were different: no kids were allowed. It was adults only this go round.
Although the energy at the Miami and Los Angeles shows was empowering, infectious, and a celebration of life, happiness, and identity, they each provided their own unique experience. However, both concerts were what I needed for my well-being, leaving me with sore feet from dancing the night away, on vocal rest for the next few days from screaming at the top of my lungs, and on an indefinite high on life.
My introduction and love for Beyoncé began in 1996, while my older sister lived in Houston, TX, right before Bey hit the scene in 1998 with "No, No, No" as a budding R&B member. Her evolution twenty-seven years later as an international superstar and into womanhood has been an incredible journey to witness. As Mrs. Carter reminds each of us in the audience every night before the curtain closes, "I want you to remember this moment, where you're standing, who you came with, and take it with you. I hope you feel inspired."
I truly felt inspired, so thank you, Queen Bey. You awakened my inner child, and I will definitely remember these moments and take them with me.
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Feature image by Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Parkwood
