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Original poster

Why don't hairdressers learn about curly hair? (rant)

152 replies

sweetmama11 · 17/05/2021 20:18

Ugh... I'm just so sick of crap hairdressers. I have thick, wavvy hair and I've NEVER found a decent hairdresser in like, nearly 30s years! I always get them to blow dry my hair straight because they never seem to know how to properly style curly hair. It's so frustrating. I never wear my hair straight, as I actually prefer it in it's natural state. But it's always a nightmare when a hairdresser tries to style it naturally. I don't get it. Do they not learn about curly hair? It's not like it's some totally unique, rare condition! Lots of people have curly hair! What is going on?! I've been to high-end, expensive places and those super cheap, no appointment needed places too. Always terrible. Why does no understand curly hair?!

Don't mean to offend any hairdressers out there but I'm just so sick and tired of it. How can you be a professional yet still be so clueless? I've honestly never found a hairdresser in 30 years who knows how to style curly hair properly. The one I usually go to is ok, but I always get it straightened. She did a balayage which is again, ok but not brilliant. It'd be nice to pay for a service and be really happy with the results. Most of the time I just cut my own hair, especially during lockdown. It just seems crazy to me that hairdressers can be so clueless about curly hair. I know that curly hair has its moments and that sometimes it's out of fashion and then it'll come back round again, but it's always the same in the hairdressers. I feel like a burden or an annoyance because of my hair :(

OP posts:
ChrissyPlummer · 17/05/2021 20:22

There are some specialists but they’re expensive and I think have long waiting lists. Whereabouts are you?

www.hanzcurls.com/curly-hair-routine/curly-hair-salons-uk/

TheLovleyChebbyMcGee · 17/05/2021 20:22

Yep, I'm currently waiting on an appointment with a specialist curly hairdresser, its not till mid July and an hours drive away. I've been on 4 different waiting lists for places for months. I feel your pain!!!

Original poster
sweetmama11 · 17/05/2021 20:25

[quote ChrissyPlummer]There are some specialists but they’re expensive and I think have long waiting lists. Whereabouts are you?

www.hanzcurls.com/curly-hair-routine/curly-hair-salons-uk/[/quote]
Oohh thanks! This looks good. I'm based in Essex but will travel into London x

OP posts:
ForensicFlossy · 17/05/2021 20:25

Google curly girl hairdressers, I drive 40 minutes to get to my hairdressers who are curly hair specialists. It has taken me years to find someone who understands curls. I completely agree with you op, why don't all hairdressers understand curls??÷

applespearsbears · 17/05/2021 20:26

Completely agree! Luckily mine has curly hair so understands!

ChrissyPlummer · 17/05/2021 20:28

No probs, I know there’s one not far from me in Manchester that gets rave reviews but I guess that’s a bit too far! X

wingsnthat · 17/05/2021 20:28

You might have better luck going to a black hair salon or at least one that specialises in curly or Afro hair. Obviously you don’t have Afro hair but the stylists would be better equipped to handle your hair than the average high street.

RaisinforBeing · 17/05/2021 20:31

A good option is to try to find a hairdresser who has curly hair themselves. I’ve really struggled with this too though.

leekandpotsoup · 17/05/2021 20:33

I'm exactly the same. I've got thick wavy hair and I've been to endless hairdressers and am rarely satisfied. I've had it straightened, cut short, razored, layered but rarely does a hairdresser know how to cut my hair - so I've decided to grow it to about shoulder length and by then I might have found a person who knows how to cut curly hair.

I'm East Midlands if anyone has any recommendations

Kottbullar · 17/05/2021 20:35

I used to travel two hours on the train to go to a curly hairdresser.
I remember telling a friend about going there, she is a hairdresser who has curly hair and she was gobsmacked, and she'd never met anyone who cut curly and straight hair differently.

leekandpotsoup · 17/05/2021 20:35

I was advised that the older more classically trained hairdressers are more likely to have the skill

SingleDontWantToMingle · 17/05/2021 20:36

I'm the same. I drive about 30 mins to the other side of Manchester. To go to a hairdresser who has curly hair.

Hereforthedramaz · 17/05/2021 20:41

I have lots of wavy/ loose curly hair and hadn't ever had a haircut I was pleased with until I went to an amazing salon in Birmingham where they only cut curly hair.

springisinthehair.com

Great place, I always see Matt the owner and couldn't be more pleased. It's also a lovely, relaxed salon.

The only problem is getting serious curl envy when I sit amongst some amazingly curly heads!!

squirrelnutkins1 · 17/05/2021 20:44

Yep.... pick a hair dresser with curls!

Fkrkrodps · 17/05/2021 20:45

I am very sympathetic. I have never ever walked out of a hair salon with decent hair. No hairdresser can style my hair. Leading up to lockdown, I was becoming increasingly unhappy with how it was cut. I bought my own scissors and have been snipping away and I’ve been happier with my own cuts. I have zero skill, but I know my hair and I can snip a little and go back another time to snip some more. I appreciate this isn’t a solution for everyone though.

bookworm14 · 17/05/2021 20:48

YANBU, it’s shit. I finally found a hairdresser who knew what to do with my thick, wavy, frizzy hair, but then he went and moved back to Ireland. Still looking for a replacement!

TopBlogger · 17/05/2021 20:48

Totally agree.
Facebook CG groups have a huge list for the country.
Trepadora in Maidenhead is fab, not sure how far from you

sugarlost · 17/05/2021 20:48

Try Curl Talk in London.

megletthesecond · 17/05/2021 20:51

Yanbu.
It took me years to realise they were messing it up blow drying it and cutting the wrong layers in.

Ypsilanti · 17/05/2021 20:52

I share your frustration OP. It’s taken my years - and countless hideous experiences - to find a good stylist. My recommendation would be Unruly Curls - unfortunately it’s in west London, so about as inconvenient as possible for you, but they are worth the trip (I live in east London so it’s a trek for me too).

FTENGINEERM · 17/05/2021 20:55

I think you could fit ‘curly hair’ in a few more times tbh.

Dingleydel · 17/05/2021 20:55

I’ve been cutting mine for 2 years now. Im sure its not the best cut in the world but it’s as good as any cut I’ve ever had done from a professional. I got so sick of coming away feeling so meh. One hairdresser wrecked my hair with the thinning scissors, and she had thick curly hair herself!

Changechangychange · 17/05/2021 21:01

I’ve had three I really liked: one was a very old-school bald gay man in his 50s, who cut my hair amazingly - it just always grew out perfectly. Sadly he moved to Berlin with his new husband.

One who was Cuban, and told me that loads of women in scuba have curly hair, so it was what he was used to. Again, great cut. Sadly he was in Toronto, so no good to you either.

My current one is a woman with curly hair in a random S London salon. She’s not as good at cutting it as the first two, but definitely knows how to style it properly.

Original poster
sweetmama11 · 17/05/2021 21:03

@Ypsilanti

I share your frustration OP. It’s taken my years - and countless hideous experiences - to find a good stylist. My recommendation would be Unruly Curls - unfortunately it’s in west London, so about as inconvenient as possible for you, but they are worth the trip (I live in east London so it’s a trek for me too).
Thanks, I'll give them a go!
OP posts:
CoffeeWithCheese · 17/05/2021 21:06

@leekandpotsoup

I'm exactly the same. I've got thick wavy hair and I've been to endless hairdressers and am rarely satisfied. I've had it straightened, cut short, razored, layered but rarely does a hairdresser know how to cut my hair - so I've decided to grow it to about shoulder length and by then I might have found a person who knows how to cut curly hair.

I'm East Midlands if anyone has any recommendations

Mine has a child who is mixed race and so has a mass of Afro hair so I think she's more clued in than many, and she's bloody amazing with cutting my hair which is the complete opposite of curly - poker straight, dead fine and fuckloads of it and I have never had in a cut I liked till I met her.

I'm on the Notts/Derby border if that's any use?