She couldn't do my hair

[HawksAreRed]

Mobile hairdresser, she came to do a consultation, but on meeting decided that she hadn't had the training to be confident in colouring it. She was happy to cut it though.

Is this a thing? Does afro hair react differently to hair dye? I've never heard this before.

I feel undeniably sad. I'm also sad that my DC watched the whole conversation and my 6yo asked me "But why? It's just hair."

Surely it is better that she was honest about her skill level rather than wing it and possibly do a terrible job?

Thanks for your comment. Doesn't answer my question though.

Afro hair is a completely different texture to Caucasian hair so it may be that it takes dye differently. I would be searching for an afro hair specialist if I were you.

I'm not sure. I'm white passing with mixed race hair and all the hairdressers over the years have commented on how hard it is to bleach without frying it. I've given up now and use dark dyes and coloured hair wax. I just hated being made to feel bad about something I can't change.

A quick google has shown me this. I only use black hair dressers, but I appreciate that you may not live in an area where there are many.

And a hairdresser not being experienced with our hair type does nothing mean anything negative about our hair.

But it's frustrating to not have a lot of options.

Afro hair is dryer, more brittle and darker on average than European hair and considering bleach dries and breaks hair and also is less likely to effectively lighten very dark hair without damage, it would make sense that the approach for lightening Afro hair would be different. I think you'd have to lighten before applying any colour or it would not show up much. My SIL has used red box dye marketed for Afro hair before and it gives a reddish tint but definitely doesn't change the colour.

The colour of your skin is irrelevant, what matters is the texture of your hair. Maybe try going to a black hair salon with people who will know what they are doing with your hair type.

It's shit that hair dressers aren't competent to treat Afro hair as a matter of course though. It should be fundamental in training.

@HawksAreRed

Thanks for your comment. Doesn't answer my question though.

Fair point - apologies.

@emuloc

The colour of your skin is irrelevant, what matters is the texture of your hair. Maybe try going to a black hair salon with people who will know what they are doing with your hair type.

I was saying this in response to Boonlarks post.

@emuloc

The colour of your skin is irrelevant, what matters is the texture of your hair. Maybe try going to a black hair salon with people who will know what they are doing with your hair type.

Why ? Why can’t all hair types be taught about in hairdressing training , in 2021, in the U.K. where there are people of all colours.

Why can’t we just make an appointment and assume the person we book knows how to do all types of hair. Why do we have to always seek out specialist salons. It should be taught how to do ALL hair types

The colour of your skin is irrelevant, what matters is the texture of your hair.

I've not mentioned anything about my skin colour, so not sure what this comment is about?

I'm just wanting to know about having afro textured hair coloured. I've had it done lots of times over the years with no issues. I've had white people not wanting to cut my hair before, but not had any problems with colour.

@MolyHolyGuacamole

A quick google has shown me this. I only use black hair dressers, but I appreciate that you may not live in an area where there are many.

And a hairdresser not being experienced with our hair type does nothing mean anything negative about our hair.

But it's frustrating to not have a lot of options.

Thank you.

There aren't that many black hairdressers where I live. Also, I'm mixed race and my hair is more curly than coiley and my experience of black hairdressers hasn't always been great either.

Honestly I just wanted my hair done and now I feel like some odd species that no one has ever seen before.

When I was at college it was a whole completely different extra years course. If I had booked an appointment and they messed my hair up I would be more annoyed tbh. I think she did the right thing being honest with you

Just to add I have also had to turn clients away who have too much damage to their hair or are wanting something that is completely unachievable in one appointment like a change from black to platinum blonde absolutely nothing to do with the colour of their skin

She was perfectly nice and I'm not complaining about her personally at all. It's just not something I had realised was an issue.

I have no idea where to get my hair done, the high-street salon I used before never reopened after lockdown. I didn't know I needed a 'specialist'.

I can see why you might feel sad, OP, but I would always want a skilled person to know the limits of their experience, in particular with hair where mistakes in actions like bleach and colour can't always be rectified. As you asked, yes it can react differently and people with mixed heritage can have more complicated experiences as the nature and behaviour of the hair can vary according to heritage. Perhaps this can be a positive experience for your DC that it is really good for people to know their limits and that everyone can be different as it's not only hair.

I’m white and have very thick, curly red (Scottish) hair and I’ve had three separate hairdressers down the years (in different salons) refuse to do my hair (cut).

What reason did the hairdresser actually give for not being able to colour your hair? From the OP, it sounds like she just wasn't confident, which I would think is good that she said rather than just attempting it, but maybe there was more to the conversation than you've initially described.

Are you on Facebook ? Maybe post in local groups to see if anyone has any recommendations. Or maybe if you can add your location on here one of the other mumsnetters can recommend someone. Once you find the right one your hair will be amazing ! Good luck with your search 😊

@FelicityPike

I’m white and have very thick, curly red (Scottish) hair and I’ve had three separate hairdressers down the years (in different salons) refuse to do my hair (cut).

Yep, been there!

Thing is I asked her before she came if she was happy to cut curly hair and she said yes. So I just assumed it was all fine, but did still feel anxious about it. Oh well.

I think white hair dressers can often be anxious about Afro hair, some may never had an training in it. I personally only go to black hair dressers. I read recently all hairdressers will receive training in cutting and styling Afro hair.

Sorry this happened to you.

Op I’m sorry you feel so crap but it’s better she didn’t tackle it and make a hash.

I’ve hard to dye hair and I’m only after getting a whack cut off because of a shitty bleach and dye job.

What reason did the hairdresser actually give for not being able to colour your hair?

She hadn't been trained in colouring hair like mine (but can cut it) she wasn't sure how the dye would take. My hair is brown and I wanted it brown 🤷🏽‍♀️

I feel undeniably sad. I'm also sad that my DC watched the whole conversation and my 6yo asked me "But why? It's just hair

But surely you explained to your 6 year old that there are different hair types and they aren't the same? The hairdresser recognised her limitations and didn't do something she wasn't adequately experienced in.
I can't see how that can possibly be something to complain about.