Any hairdressers here? Is cutting curly hair not taught at hairdressing college?

[FanGirlX]

After yet another visit to another hairdresser and another disaster, I'm wondering if cutting curly hair isn't taught as standard?

Looks like I'll have to go back to an expensive city centre salon, as they are the only hairdressers who seem to understand how to cut curly hair. Suburban hairdressers don't seem to have a clue.

Curly hair isn't that unusual, so I'm wondering why so many hairdressers seem to struggle with it?

When I was learning hairdressing we were taught to cut all types of hair. Curly hair is more difficult to cut depending on how curly it is but I'm not sure if every college teaches it but they should teach it as it's part of hairdressing and as a stylist surley you can't say I can't cut that clients hair because it's curly and I can't. It's like a lady going in a salon for a perm and booking a trim the week after (like the elderly ladies do or even young ones now the perms are back in) you can't say I'll do your perm but I can't cut your hair because it's curly now. Definitely go somewhere with more experience.

Thank you. I'm guessing the more expensive salons do more on the job training then? Just a bit galling to have to pay £80 for a cut and blow because I've got curly hair, whereas someone with straight hair can get away with £30 at a local salon.

“you can't say I can't cut that clients hair because it's curly and I can't.”

It’d be a lot better to do that than just keep cutting curly hair badly, which is what most hairdressers seems to do...

as a stylist surley you can't say I can't cut that clients hair because it's curly and I can't.

But they can and do. Most often the head stylist/owner will allocate a specific stylist to someone with curly hair.

And permed hair is very different, regular curls, consistent bounce etc.

@tabulahrasa

“you can't say I can't cut that clients hair because it's curly and I can't.”

It’d be a lot better to do that than just keep cutting curly hair badly, which is what most hairdressers seems to do...

Yes, this is the problem.

I'm going to phone round some local salons and ask if they have any hairdressers who have curly hair themselves. I suspect the two options are expensive city centre salons, or only going to a hairdresser who has curly hair themselves.

In my experience they don't.
My friend is a hairdresser with curly hair and was amazed when I told her how they cut it at a specialist curly hairdresser I went to. She was taught to cut all hair the same but dries it differently.

Most hairdressers want to wet your hair and then cut the ends so they're straight. I have no personal experience, but I expect this also works for permed hair, because the curls should be fairly uniform.

It doesn't work for naturally curly hair, but you generally wouldn't see this as a hairdresser IME as you either leave the hairdresser with your hair damp or with a straight blow dry. My hairdresser tries not to fiddle with my hair too much when she cuts it, and she cuts it dry. That way she can see what the curls do and line them up when dry. I imagine if it were combed wet it would look like it had been cut with a knife and fork!!!

@mafted

In my experience they don't. My friend is a hairdresser with curly hair and was amazed when I told her how they cut it at a specialist curly hairdresser I went to. She was taught to cut all hair the same but dries it differently.

Specialist curly hairdresser? Tell me more... Are these advertised?

They don't. They get taught to cut all hair the same way. You need an experienced hairdresser. I have a rule that I don't let anyone under the age of 40 near my hair don't let them straighten it before they cut either.

@tiredanddangerous

They don't. They get taught to cut all hair the same way. You need an experienced hairdresser. I have a rule that I don't let anyone under the age of 40 near my hair don't let them straighten it before they cut either.

Good point. I'll add experienced on to my list 😀

Ihave this exact problem OP and I have rung Curly Cut specialists all over the country and cannot get an appointment! I live in Cumbria and my nearest listed specialist is Manchester,p… not taking on new customers.
I love my regular hairdresser, but she cannot cut my hair! 🤦🏻‍♀️

@GoofyIsACow

Ihave this exact problem OP and I have rung Curly Cut specialists all over the country and cannot get an appointment! I live in Cumbria and my nearest listed specialist is Manchester,p… not taking on new customers. I love my regular hairdresser, but she cannot cut my hair! 🤦🏻‍♀️

There seem to be a good few of us curlies with the same problem. Like I said in my OP - curly hair isn't that unusual.

I have considered driving to Ulverston to get my curly hair cut as a friend lives in Cumbria and recommends a specific hairdresser at a salon in Ulverston. I can pm you if you like.

A 4 hour round trip for a hair cut may well be on the cards for me 😂.

Specialist curly hairdresser? Tell me more... Are these advertised?

there's some listed here

“Specialist curly hairdresser? Tell me more... Are these advertised?”

Yes... I go to one, but they’re expensive...though because they cut it to suit my hair it lasts a lot longer.

I do a 2 hour round trip though, lol

I have just googled and there is a curly hair specialist near me. They are very expensive! What questions should I ask?

I meant what kind of hairdresser should say I can't cut curly hair if they are trained to do so. We were trained in my college but it was a while ago and maybe nit every college is the same I'm not sure. Yes you do get recommended a certain stylist for certain hair styles but I think going through training at college you should be taught all aspects of hairdressing. If they are well trained and have the experience they should beable to cut hair. There are salons who are more trained in certain hair and you certainly shouldn't have to pay £80 that's ridiculous for a cut and blow.
Also I wouldn't say the more expensive salons are better I decided on a brand new doo a while back and paid alot of money (first hair cut and colour since having my lo) should have paid 160 and it came out bright orange, broken and wonky.

My dd has curly hair and goes to a salon thats specialises in 'ethnic hair', their words not mine. They seem to have better availability than the high end salons saying they have curly hair specialists.

I am mixed race but my hair has a slight wave, dds is curly so it wasn't something I was used to and did have a few hair disasters when she was younger, because salons assumed they could cut it the same.

Plenty of hair dressers do refuse to do it. Which I prefer, to them saying yes and messing it up.

@mafted

Specialist curly hairdresser? Tell me more... Are these advertised?

there's some listed here

Thank you @mafted

I can get to two of those within 1 hour each way.

@GoofyIsACow

Sorry, can't figure out how to DM on the app.

www.thesalon.org.uk/the_team/

Tony is highly recommended by a friend.

My dd has lovely bouncy curls. I took her to a curly hair specialist that did a 'curl by curl' cut and the difference was incredible! Very expensive and takes longer than a straight hair cut but so worth it.

Thank you! 🤩

@GoofyIsACow

Thank you! 🤩

Might see you there 😁. I think a day trip to Ulverston may be on the cards for me. 2 hours each way for a bloody haircut!

@GoofyIsACow I feel your pain and I also know which hairdressers you’re referring to - I live in manchester. They told me to follow the stylist on Instagram and message them as they use their insta messages for cancellations. I managed to get one!

However, there is another place in Leeds which looks amazing. All appointments are booked until January, but based on pics i prefer their finish. So I’ve got my appointment booked for manchester but if I can get an appointment in Leeds I’ll go there instead. You need to sign up to their mailing list and you book via the link they send when appointments are released.

Hope you find somewhere @FanGirlX I waited three months for my first appointment and it was well worth the wait, the cost and the two hour journey. My hair was curlier than I ever imagined it could be

There are some good Facebook groups for curly hair and not all of them do the curly girl method. There definitely are specialist curly hairdressers. For example, Spring in Birmingham and Nuala in Bristol. I’m sure there are plenty more too.