This pisses me off.

[Tanya]

Okay, I work in a salon (just the receptionist, I don't do hair) and I get this from so many people and it burns me up.

Those of you who go to the salon to get your hair done, do you prefer someone of your own race to do your hair? If you prefer it, do you give it voice? Why do you prefer someone of your race above anyone else? Do you think skin color has anything to do with skill??

It just boggles my mind how many people come in and judge someone's skills based solely on their skin. I'll have Black clients come in and the first thing out of their mouths is that a White person can't do their hair. I've had White clients come in and give the Black stylist a hard time then ask for someone White (even if their booked solid already :pissed: ). When they ask me at the time of setting up their appointments, I tell them point blank that the company only hires stylists that are trained to to all hair types and we do not discriminate against anyone.

I have had my hair done by Black stylists and White stylist, and never has it occurred to me to ask for someone based soley on race.

A few months ago, our salon did a special benefit thing for Aids Delaware. They had like 20 Aids patients come in for free hair cuts. Nearly every one of them who were schedualed with a White stylist got attitudes and were very vocal about it. I know it may be mean of me to think this, and if I get flamed, so be it, but the whole time I'm fuming inside thinking, "You should be the last person to be discriminating against someone! You ought to be glad that they're even doing your hair, and for free at that!!"

Grrrrr

[Keri]

well I did have a black woman cut my hair as a child into a style called a "mushroom". Anyone with any amount of common sense should have known that a white persons hair was gonna look way different with a "mushroom" cut than a black womans would.

With that said, I just had my hair cut and styled by a black lady right before I left for disney and she did an excellent job. this is the first cut I have had in years that I really did like a lot(and I tipped accordingly). So no, I would never even ask for someone of my own race to cut my hair.

[Beelzebub]

I worked as a receptionist long ago and I experienced much the same predjudice you have.

I've had people calling up only wishing to meet with someone of their own skin colour.

As this was over the phone they went on the basis of name. One client called up and she wished to see a man who was white because she didn't trust any "blacks or Pakistanis."

Being the bastard that I am; knowing she would base her selection soley on the name I gave gave her an appointment with a Tim Hartley. She came in one day and I personally showed her to his office. She opened the door and was greeted by Tim. Tim isn't white, black or Pakistani. He is Indian; something that I told her on the way out.

[Clio]

(just the receptionist, I don't do hair)

Firstly, I would never put the word "just" in front of the word "receptionist". I think the receptionists job is taken for granted, not just in a hair salon but anywhere.


Secondly I cannot believe people are judging a persons talents based on race. Fair enough, certain salons are frequented by predominantly black clents, some by white but common sense should tell anyone that if you communicate what you want you'll get what you want as long as it's a reputable salon.

I know it may be mean of me to think this, and if I get flamed, so be it, but the whole time I'm fuming inside thinking, "You should be the last person to be discriminating against someone! You ought to be glad that they're even doing your hair, and for free at that!!"

Yeah Tanya I am going to flame you for that. I think that's a disgusting attitude. That makes you no better than them being prejudice towards their stylist.
My friend is HIV+ and if I thought someone felt that way about her, that she should be "grateful" for some to do her hair I'd lose the plot completely.

Why should they be grateful? What possible risk is there to a stylist cutting a HIV+ persons hair? The fact that they are doing it for free is completely irrelevant. HIV+ people are no more in need of charity, whether it be monetary or otherwise, than any other group of the population.

[Scarlet]

I've asked for the Asian stylist to do my hair before. Why? Because my hair behaves like Japanese hair and I figure they have first hand knowledge of how hair like that behaves. Maybe it is a complete coinkydink but every time I've had my hair styled by a Japanese hairdresser I've had a much better cut than usual. FTR I have red hair and fair skin.

[Tanya]

Firstly, I would never put the word "just" in front of the word "receptionist". I think the receptionists job is taken for granted, not just in a hair salon but anywhere.
I said just because every time I tell someone where I work, they ask me technical hair questions and I always have to say, "I don't do hair, I'm just the receptionist." ;)


Secondly I cannot believe people are judging a persons talents based on race. Fair enough, certain salons are frequented by predominantly black clents, some by white but common sense should tell anyone that if you communicate what you want you'll get what you want as long as it's a reputable salon.
My thoughts exactly :)



Yeah Tanya I am going to flame you for that. I think that's a disgusting attitude. That makes you no better than them being prejudice towards their stylist.
My friend is HIV+ and if I thought someone felt that way about her, that she should be "grateful" for some to do her hair I'd lose the plot completely.

Why should they be grateful? What possible risk is there to a stylist cutting a HIV+ persons hair? The fact that they are doing it for free is completely irrelevant. HIV+ people are no more in need of charity, whether it be monetary or otherwise, than any other group of the population.
I personally don't have the attitude that they should be grateful. I guess I didn't word it properly. I'm thinking more along the lines that they know what it's like to be discriminated against. Know what it's like for someone to look at them and think nasty thoughts, so why are they doing it to someone else for no other reason but their skin color. I feel they should be happy with the free hair cuts because the salon was doing something nice for them (the leader of Aids Delaware contacted the salon and asked for this, not hte other way around) Yo, if you're getting something for free shaddup and be happy about it (general you ;)). Especially since the general population would normally act "ignorant" of clients they knew had Aids.

[Val]

You know, come to think of it, I've never had my hair cut by a black stylist. There aren't any in the beauty parlors I've gone to. If there were, I would have no problem utilizing a stylist of any race. I assume if she is uncomfortable cutting my "type" of hair, she'll tell me.

The lady I see now is Korean. She is lovely and always does a nice job. My former stylist was British, and also good.

I will say that around here, there seem to be "black salons" and "white salons". I've never really thought of it that way before, but I say that because there are salons called for example "AfroExpressions" and when you walk by all the models on the posters are of color. I assumed they were specially for African American ladies and never thought to go in one. The salon I go to has primarily white lady posters, but some black and asian ladies on the posters too. I don't think I've ever seen a black person in there though.

It's kind of odd! Are there specific techniques to cutting types of hair?

[mom2burgess]

I really don't care who cuts my hair or styles it as long as they do a good job.

[Jory]

I have never thought about race when it comes to someone styling my hair (very little to style though because it is nearly a buzz cut but color is another thing). I usually look for the most flamboyant, funky, trendy, stylish, alternative person and set an appnt. with them. Since I am in my mid-late 30s, I want someone who isn't going to cut my hair like a soccer mom and someone who is not afraid to get artistic with it. I don't mean to stereotype even in a positive light, but Gay men, and black stylists usually tend to fit the criteria I am looking for.

Now, one way that I do discriminate is, my gyno. I will not see a male dr., unless there is something terribly wrong and I can't get an appt. with my regular female docs. Sorry, but there is no way they can sympathize or relate to the female experience, fear and pain that is the gyno exam (for me anyway).

[Opus]

My sister owns a salon and I will have to ask that question of her because I honestly have never thought os race as being a criteria for cutting my hair

but maybe, just maybe now, it has something to do with maybe thinking that a certain color would know your skin tones and hair fabric better than someone of a different race?

I mean there are obviously differences in your hair than mine and maybe somepeople think the person might not have been trained

IMO I would think all hair dressers, having gone through over 2000 hours of practice to get their license would have been trained on all hair fabrics and textures, right?

now , do you get the same questions about women having guys cut their hair or the other way around also?

[Opus]

the only problems I have had are the hairstylists that want to cut my hair too short or the last one that cut my hair chopped it all to hell and it wasnt even all the way around my head when she was finished and I will nt be going back to her...

[Madelyn2]

Okay, I work in a salon (just the receptionist, I don't do hair) and I get this from so many people and it burns me up.

Those of you who go to the salon to get your hair done, do you prefer someone of your own race to do your hair? If you prefer it, do you give it voice? Why do you prefer someone of your race above anyone else? Do you think skin color has anything to do with skill??

It just boggles my mind how many people come in and judge someone's skills based solely on their skin. I'll have Black clients come in and the first thing out of their mouths is that a White person can't do their hair. I've had White clients come in and give the Black stylist a hard time then ask for someone White (even if their booked solid already :pissed: ). When they ask me at the time of setting up their appointments, I tell them point blank that the company only hires stylists that are trained to to all hair types and we do not discriminate against anyone.

I have had my hair done by Black stylists and White stylist, and never has it occurred to me to ask for someone based soley on race.

A few months ago, our salon did a special benefit thing for Aids Delaware. They had like 20 Aids patients come in for free hair cuts. Nearly every one of them who were schedualed with a White stylist got attitudes and were very vocal about it. I know it may be mean of me to think this, and if I get flamed, so be it, but the whole time I'm fuming inside thinking, "You should be the last person to be discriminating against someone! You ought to be glad that they're even doing your hair, and for free at that!!"

Grrrrr


I have had black stylists, white, Asian, Latino, Iranian. Heck, I have had them all. I don't care, as long as she/he knows what to do.

I have naturally curly hair. And sometimes, I have had stylists that are not experienced with this type of hair. Not good. They don't know that my hair will shrink when it dries, big time, so when you cut 1/2 inch, it looks like 1 inch when its dry. This can have some pretty serious consequences. Trust me. I have had some stupid looking hairstyles, short short bangs usually. And then they don't know how to dry it without it getting all frizzy. Etc. This is annoying.

That being said, I can understand why a black woman might be uncomfortable with a white woman doing her hair. It is not the color of the skin so much as the perception that the white woman will not be as experienced and knowledgable about dealing with thick, naturally curly hair.

[Michele]

I think it is wrong PERIOD to judge someones talent based on skin color. You (generally speaking) have no way of knowing if any person has the specific experience you are looking for unless you ASK. When I lived in MI I know that most salons in Detroit did not take white clients because they did strictly african american hair. I totally repsect that because at least I know they aren't comfortable doing "white hair" because it tends to be more fragile. At least that's what I was told by various salons. That being said, I went to a black male hairstylist for YEARS at Heidis in Fairlane and he was AMAZING! I had great color and cuts every single time. I was so upset when he retired. :(


I suppose if you think a black person can't do a white persons hair and vice versa, how can a male stylist do a females hair and vice versa? It boils down to training and experience, not skin color and personal hair texture.

[Madelyn2]

I suppose if you think a black person can't do a white persons hair and vice versa, how can a male stylist do a females hair and vice versa? It boils down to training and experience, not skin color and personal hair texture.

But can't you see where a black woman would have a logical basis, aside from race, for shunning a white stylist who deals with white people's hair all the time?

Thick naturally curly hair is extremely difficult to deal with. If someone regularly styles and cuts normal textured hair without curl, she/he isn't as adept at dealing with my kind of hair. It takes someone with experience to handle it. I have walked out of salons looking like a goof, b/c my stylist wasn't good at dealing with my curly hair.

And since a black woman's hair is typically just like mine, and if she has a large black clientelle, I infer her experience. So what is wrong with me trusting her more? It is not about the color, it is about experience. And when choosing a hairstylist, without a referral, all we can do is size them up superficially. Look at the salon, the stylist own hair, the clients. It is not being racist, just trying to make the best choice for our needs.

[Opus]

But can't you see where a black woman would have a logical basis, aside from race, for shunning a white stylist who deals with white people's hair all the time?

Thick naturally curly hair is extremely difficult to deal with. If someone regularly styles and cuts normal textured hair without curl, she/he isn't as adept at dealing with my kind of hair. It takes someone with experience to handle it. I have walked out of salons looking like a goof, b/c my stylist wasn't good at dealing with my curly hair.

And since a black woman's hair is typically just like mine, and if she has a large black clientelle, I infer her experience. So what is wrong with me trusting her more? It is not about the color, it is about experience. And when choosing a hairstylist, without a referral, all we can do is size them up superficially. Look at the salon, the stylist own hair, the clients. It is not being racist, just trying to make the best choice for our needs.


all good points

it's all about experience and more importantly, trust

nothing racist about it

[kingclick]

If I was black I would have reservations about going to a white stylist. Especially in my city where the black population is pretty low. Therefore LESS experience with my hair type. On the other hand as a white guy I wouldn't really care who did my hair because the black person would still have pretty extensive experience with my hair type.