Happy Friday, everyone!
Anyone that knows me knows that I can be EXTREMELY picky when it comes to hair stylists. If you're late within my first 3 appointments with you, I will NOT come back. If I feel like you're not concerned about the health of my hair, I won't come back. If I feel like you don't style it any better than I would, I won't come back. If I'm not comfortable in the shop, I won't come back. My admitted "pickiness" is the reason that I usually go through at least 4 or 5 stylists (in each city that I live) before I find my go-to stylist.
Since I've been in Chicago, I've been rocking my curly fro. It's pretty easy to maintain and most importantly, it can withstand the humidity, winds or unexpected showers that I'm starting to become accustom to in this city. The fro is fine, but I'm ready to try something new. And thus begins the process of finding a stylist in a brand new city. Not only a stylist, but a stylist that knows how to style natural hair. Now that my hair is natural, I try to make it a point to only go to stylists that specifically say they care for natural hair.
After hours of searching on Google and Yelp, I came across Van Cleef salon. The place got pretty good reviews. Check. The salon has a Web site. Double check (for some reason, I don't really trust a business that doesn't have a Web site...). And the determining factor? Where is it. I know I didn't want to venture to the South side or anywhere else that I couldn't easily access via public transportation. This place was a 21 minute bus ride from work, and a train ride home. Check mate.
I called and booked an appointment with a stylist named Tia, who is supposedly the natural hair guru of the salon. Based on the Web site, I couldn't tell if this salon catered mostly to black people, or if it was one of the "multiethnic" salons that seem to be everywhere in Chicago.
To skip all the long, drawn out details, I just got back from my appointment. So far so good. I arrived about 25 minutes early for my appointment. The receptionist offered me some tea, had me hang my jacket up, and grab a smock. As soon as I buttoned up my smock, my stylist was standing there waiting for me. 20 minutes EARLY! That NEVER happens at a black salon.
I decided to get 2-strand twists with my natural hair (no extensions added). This is a safe style that will allow me to not have to mess with my hair for a while. Tia started on my hair at about 4:15 and I was out of there a little after 6:00 p.m. She only took 2 hours to style my whole (thick) head of hair in medium-sized twists.
The owner stopped by to meet me and he greeted me by name. Nice!
I don't want to get too excited because I've been known to rave about a place and then something happens on my next trip that makes me never return. But I feel good about this one.
Anyone that knows me knows that I can be EXTREMELY picky when it comes to hair stylists. If you're late within my first 3 appointments with you, I will NOT come back. If I feel like you're not concerned about the health of my hair, I won't come back. If I feel like you don't style it any better than I would, I won't come back. If I'm not comfortable in the shop, I won't come back. My admitted "pickiness" is the reason that I usually go through at least 4 or 5 stylists (in each city that I live) before I find my go-to stylist.
Since I've been in Chicago, I've been rocking my curly fro. It's pretty easy to maintain and most importantly, it can withstand the humidity, winds or unexpected showers that I'm starting to become accustom to in this city. The fro is fine, but I'm ready to try something new. And thus begins the process of finding a stylist in a brand new city. Not only a stylist, but a stylist that knows how to style natural hair. Now that my hair is natural, I try to make it a point to only go to stylists that specifically say they care for natural hair.
After hours of searching on Google and Yelp, I came across Van Cleef salon. The place got pretty good reviews. Check. The salon has a Web site. Double check (for some reason, I don't really trust a business that doesn't have a Web site...). And the determining factor? Where is it. I know I didn't want to venture to the South side or anywhere else that I couldn't easily access via public transportation. This place was a 21 minute bus ride from work, and a train ride home. Check mate.
I called and booked an appointment with a stylist named Tia, who is supposedly the natural hair guru of the salon. Based on the Web site, I couldn't tell if this salon catered mostly to black people, or if it was one of the "multiethnic" salons that seem to be everywhere in Chicago.
To skip all the long, drawn out details, I just got back from my appointment. So far so good. I arrived about 25 minutes early for my appointment. The receptionist offered me some tea, had me hang my jacket up, and grab a smock. As soon as I buttoned up my smock, my stylist was standing there waiting for me. 20 minutes EARLY! That NEVER happens at a black salon.
I decided to get 2-strand twists with my natural hair (no extensions added). This is a safe style that will allow me to not have to mess with my hair for a while. Tia started on my hair at about 4:15 and I was out of there a little after 6:00 p.m. She only took 2 hours to style my whole (thick) head of hair in medium-sized twists.
The owner stopped by to meet me and he greeted me by name. Nice!
I don't want to get too excited because I've been known to rave about a place and then something happens on my next trip that makes me never return. But I feel good about this one.
.SupercalifragalosticexpialodociouS.
ReplyDeleteLOL I'm just seeing this. Thanks, I think? LOL.
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