God protects fools and drunks so my salon horror story is the horror at a near miss problem.
I'd been going to JCP for relaxers for all of my adult life. Hey. I had a credit card there. I never really selected a stylist. I would just call when I was desperate for a relaxer and take whoever was available.
In the last few years I'd gotten a bit more selective. I'd found a lady I liked and saw the value of sticking with her. She moved on however and once again I was back in the tide pool.
When I called and asked for Rachel, I was told she'd moved and would I like Ms. So and So. The only problem with Ms. So and So is that she didn't speak English. I said no, I'd rather work with someone I could speak to. I was then given to a nice, if dull-styling, black lady.
Well eventually I called a few months later, and the black lady they'd given me to the time before as supposedly unavailable and the only person that could do it was Ms. So and So and she still couldn't speak English. I was desperate once again for a relaxer (I thought my dry, brittle hair was a sign that I needed a relaxer back then.) So I accepted.
It was weird because the black lady I'd asked for was indeed there. I told her I'd asked for her and she got this "Mmmmm hmmm" look on her face. I think the folks who answered the phones were peddling Ms. So and So because no one ever wanted her (because she didn't speak English.)
I guess it went okay. It was the second to last relaxer I've had. The black lady kept hovering and checking me and making sure things went right.
That was Nov. of 2008. In Feb. of 2009, I found the HHJ crowd. I didn't go back for another relaxer until the last week of April in 2009. The black lady I'd found before was gone, but I went to an older white lady who had cut my hair (SHORT!!!) in Dec. I liked her.
Anyway... she does my (very last) relaxer and all is fine, but she tells me that Ms. So and So had wreaked much havoc on people's hair. Lots of burns and hair coming out and screaming and very upset clients. She'd eventually been "let go."
I was horrified that that could have been me. I think the luck that the black lady was there that day watching over me saved me. Or like I said, God protects fools.
I haven't been back. I went to the white lady in late June for color and she expected me back for a relaxer. But heck. I've since learned that a 6 dollar box of Miss Clairol Touch Up took care of my color issues, and I've learned that my hair needs moisture, not relaxers.
I know she's wondering, "Where's that fool black lady at? She was good for an easy 170 dollars for relaxer, semi-perm color and a cut. And a tip too!"