I just made my first appointment at an Aveda salon. It's for a special occasion, so I don't want my hair to be jacked up. I've heard good things about them, but I want make sure that they can really tame my fro using LHCF-safe methods.
What have been your experiences? What is your hair type, and are you relaxed or natural?
Well, I went there at the recommendation of a friend. I had washed my hair and worn a combed-out TWA due to shrinkage. I was looking forward to learning how to where my 9-11 inch hair out since all I ever did was braid or twist. I had considered going to Miko (Miss Jessie's) but I was impatient and couldn't wait for Wednesday to make the appointment--the day you could reach Miko on the phone. I was hoping to get a demo of shingling or how to do a good wash and go; just a simple do that I could do again on my own and wear it with ease.
First impression should have been a sign that I ought to run. After mentioning to the receptionist who I was and whom I was there to see, she stared at my shrunken 4B hair and immediately assumed I was there for a press. I wasn't and told her so--I'd told my stylist over the phone what I was coming there for so I reiterated to the receptionist. She looked at my hair again with a look that seemed to say, "Are you serious?" and then said a resigned, "OK!" with a shrug. But she wasn't the pro I was coming to see so it didn't bother me.
When my stylist was ready for me, she asked me if I've considered a texturizer. WT? I reminded her that I had a goal in coming there and it wasn't to change the texture but to learn how to wear my hair out. (You see, I grew my hair in braids and that was the longest I'd ever had it so I really had no clue how to deal with it out of braids or twists.) She kinda felt it a bit and with a sigh of hope (I think it was hope LOL) she shampooed it and DC'd with Aveda DR line. My hair felt oh so good. Then she blow-dried it for the trim. She said I needed one and even though I dust regularly and really believed my ends were good, I didn't argue because I pictured myself wearing a shingle cut in the style of So1913. I imagined walking out of there with big hair that I could duplicate again and again.
Well, I wasn't sitting in front of a mirror, but I didn't care. I love surprises and just made a point to take mental notes of how she'd create the style to replicate. Soon after "trimming" my hair I was back at the sinks (I forget whether it was just for an oil treatment or more conditioning--sorry) then she put some Paul Mitchel foaming thingy in my hair and started to do finger twirls. This was a new do to me and I couldn't imagine how that's supposed to look like waves or spirals (She said it would look like a twist out and I was excited to learn a quick way to create that look). Next she put me under a dryer for a spell. I was so excited that I was texting my gf all the while about what was being done each step.
After I got out of the dryer, my stylist sat me by the mirror for the big reveal. This was the first time I realized how short my hair was. I had lost over 5 inches of length!
But what was worse was the horror that had been created on my head. I later learned that finger twirls are a cool do among a number of naturals, but I must be the odd one out coz in all my life, I've never worn a hairstyle I hated as much as that. But I was holding onto hope that the style would get better with time as I was promised. It didn't. I was also hoping that the length my hair seemed to be was also just an illusion created by the style. Nope, it was all real: I had gotten a BC I didn't ask for and all that sacrifice for naught coz I still didn't learn what I'd gone to learn.
And for anyone who may think I didn't make myself clear, I assure you I did. During my pre-appointment phone call, I had asked if she could shingle. She had said she could as well as do twist-outs. I had told her that I love twist-outs and do them often, but wanted to learn how to shingle from an actual demo on my hair since while I've seen the 101 online, I think it's better to actually see it done. She had said there were other styles similar to shingling and so could either shingle or do one of those. I was open to learn something new and trusted her expertise.
I am sorry but finger twirls on my hair didn't give a shingled look or a new style that I'd want to add to the ones I already knew. I went from
this to
this in less than 2 hours!
Needless to say, I hated my Aveda Salon experience and if I ever let anyone else touch my hair, it will be too soon.
I've had nothing but good experiences. I've been twice and let the stylist trim my hair both times. I'm 3C relaxed. I did have an interesting visit last week, I thought I was getting a treatment and it wasn't quite what I thought...but I digress.
I know it's cheesy but I'm in heaven right now!!
