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

[sweetmama11]

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 :(

@SingleDontWantToMingle ooh! Who do you go to? I'm in Manchester and have been cutting my own because I can't bear to hand over money for another cut i'm not happy with!

The problem is you only learn what you learn based on the type of hair your clients have. And many people who have wavy/curly hair wear it straight so many hairdressers just aren’t exposed to curly haired folk to learn what to do. So I don’t think people are crap at curly hair on purpose!

@CoffeeWithCheese I live notts derby borders too - and we have names about food. Who do you go to?

I think because ALL curly hair is different . I have a great hairdresser but I always dry it myself because I know my hair best !

My daughter goes to Fabian at Curl Truth in Southampton. He cuts her hair curl by curl. She will never go to anyone else now.

Yes same experience. I'd have said wavy or curly is more common than straight too.

They're not taught how to cut curly hair. They learn to cut hair that's pulled straight with a comb, and wet.

All the sectioning, layering, and other tricks of the trade are designed with straight or slightly wavy hair in mind and therefore everything they do - including the blow drying and styling - only works for people with this hair type.

YANBU..I have very curly hair but fine not thick and it goes very frizzy, wrong products, wrong layering, wrong styling on repeat. I do know a specialist curly hair locally who gets rave reviews but she's so overwhelmed she's closed her waiting list! I've had a very famous celebrity hair dresser who has their own hair care range cut my hair and mess it up!

@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 for this tip - Unruly Curls is really near me!

They don't learn about long straight hair either IMO.

I have now found a hairdresser who has similar curls to me. She does a good job of not cutting it so it's not too short once dry.
Find another curly person to cut your hair, they understand your needs.

@TopBlogger

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

Which FB groups? I have the same problem- not sure I've ever had a decent cut - they always want to blow dry it & make it in fluff.

@APurpleSquirrel The "Sensible Curly People UK" is really good to find a hairdresser near you. I am on a couple but I am pretty sure that is the one with the list of hairdressers

Thanks @TopBlogger !

I go to mine for the cut, which is almost always very good. I just get her to rough style it with a little product then do it myself a day or so later I air dry mine so it's never going to look as good with a hairdryer and it needs washing every 2-3 days, so I'm not cusses about leaving with it perfect. It's the next however many months I'm bothered about.

I have the same issue. I bought hairdressing scissors started cutting it myself since lockdown and it looks better now; people have commented.

I feel exactly the same op. My current hairdresser (cheap and close to my home is the only reason i go to her) insists on using thinning scissors. When it's straightened it's fine but when curly it looks all straggly. I need to get more assertive, or a new hairdresser!

Trepadora in Maidenhead are great for curls, but as you are near London, I would search for a Spanish or Brazilian hairdresser. I have found over the years that they are the only ones to understand how my hair works

@sweetmama @bookworm14 Grace cuts my hair and she’s brilliant, but you’d be in good hands with any of the stylists. The booking process is a bit of a faff but it’s worth persevering.

The curl clinic in Leeds is amazing. I know it's too far from you but for anybody else around there with curly hair, this is your place !

I can’t believe you’ve gone 30 years without thinking to Google ‘curly hair hairdressers’ to see what’s out there. There are hairdressers who specialise in it and indeed some only do curly hair. These people always seem heavily booked so I’m guessing many other people have figured it out.

Realistically you can’t expect to walk into any old salon and find a specialist. Just like you wouldn’t walk into your local GP’s rooms and then moan that they weren’t a cardiologist.

I go to a hairdresser who cuts hair so that it behaves, and have been for decades.

Your best bet is to ask someone with wavy or curly hair that always looks good where they go.

A £££ salon won't guarantee a good cut.

What do you ask for when getting a haircut for curly hair?

I've been doing the curly girl method since just after my last haircut, and have discovered that my thick hair with an unmanageable wave is actually borderline curly.

But as it's got thicker and longer in the six months since my last haircut, it's got less curly, so I need another one.

I usually (i.e. in my blowdrying it straight days) asked for layers, thinned out, bit of shaping round the face. Would the same cut work for curly hair (I was going to say don't blowdry it), or should I be asking for a different style?

Cheers!

[quote leekandpotsoup]@CoffeeWithCheese I live notts derby borders too - and we have names about food. Who do you go to? [/quote]
I go to Jayne at Square7teen in Stapleford and she's always been fab with me (it's a really decent priced little place as well and amazing with colours and stuff) @leekandpotsoup

@CoffeeWithCheese thank you that's not far from me.

There's one at Loughborough called hair magic - I don't know what it's like as I've not been

Also through my google travels I found one called NUDU up near giltbrook again I've not been so can't vouch for either