Do you share LHC knowledge with hairdressers?

[alwayssmiling]

Hello Folks :)

Hope this hasn't been asked before (I did a quick search)

Do you share LHC information with your hairdresser, and if so what reaction do you get?

I was once asked by my hairdresser how often I washed my hair - I tried talking to her about CO washes to which I got a rather sniffy "well conditioner isn't going to clean anything!" :o

The last time I went for a trim, another hairdresser asked me what I used to colour my hair, and it was as if Henna was a dirty word to her. She told me never, ever to use henna again ("terrible stuff"). I tried to educate her about BAQ henna but she just gave a shake of the head :rolleyes:.

The thing is - it makes me not want to go anymore. Like I have to justify the things I do to my hair.

This isn't meant to be a critism of all hairdresses (just the ones I visit :))

Are your hairdresser more open minded?

[x0h_bother]

My young hairdresser is very understanding and helpful with my long hair goals. She understands that I need it to grow, and only takes off exactly what I tell her (usually 1/2 inch every 2 months.) She has seen my hair since it was the most damaged when I never got it cut, abused it with the flat iron daily, when it was broken and had refused to grow. Unfortunately, when I came to her 2 years ago she started with shorter hair than me, and now has way longer! I think she microtrims it herself and therefore keeps her length more than I have. I wonder if she tried to grow it out because of me. She looks awesome and people ask her if she has extentions all the time! I am so jealous, she colors and heat abuses her hair and it's long and great.
I wouldn't know how receptive she would be to henna, but in the way of trims she is great!

[paperwhite]

I found a hair dresser that was really great about understanding the idea of wanting to grow my hair out and treating it more gently than I used to. She said it was great that I don't use heat to style my hair, and I actually walked into the spa/salon with a head full of oil (hadn't planned on getting a trim that day) and she didn't even flinch. She had heard of it and was totally fine gently washing it out. We talked all about LHC related stuff and she was really open to it (no -cones/SLS, stretching washes, oiling, etc.). It (seemingly) just got better from there. She was extremely gentle on my sopping wet hair-no wringing or rubbing with the towel, used a wide tooth comb to detangle, trimmed, and then dried on low using only her fingers to keep things from tangling up.

Unfortunately I noticed a couple days later that she had taken off three times as much as I wanted AND the hemline is uneven. I am beyond angry. I've been wearing it up almost exclusively anyway, but now I feel like I have to because the hem is slanted. I'm just going to go as long as I can until I need to trim it again and ask my grandpa to do it. He used to trim my aunt's hair and did mine a few times and it turned out fine. I'll just bring him my hair scissors and ask him to do just a dusting.

So to answer the question, yes. But sadly I won't be going back since she failed miserably at the main reason for my visit :disgust:

[BattahZ]

Oh yeah! My stylist loves natural haircare. Though she has all the usual stuff at her salon, she also does henna, and we've discussed developing a deep treatment together using natural products. She's started expecting me to bring in my own special conditioners to conditioner-wash my hair rather than shampooing - last time I forgot to bring them, and she asked me where they were :)

[Oskimosa]

As a matter of fact, I do!

But then, I'm my own hairdresser, so I don't believe that counts. :lol:

[Carolyn]

I've been to 3 different Aveda stylists and I've talked about CO washing and cutting back on the number of washes and rarely heat styling. All 3 knew about conditioner only washing before we talked about it. I've discussed all sorts of LHC things with Lance and Jody at Enchantress. I think they are kind of used to the LHC way.

[atlantaz3]

Yes I do, she didn't flinch last time I brought my own shampoo. I think I'm the reason her salon started selling Moroccan Oil. I sent her the link, I know she browsed some, but not in dept. This board can be overwhelming at first! She asks me what my latest experiments are and I share.

[Euphony]

My hairdresser asks me advice LOL

BUT I've known her almost since I moved to this area 10 years ago. I first met her when her shop had a sign outside for haircuts that was quite inexpensive. My son needed a haircut so we went in. 'K' had hair to bsl at the time, she was very pleasant. All my life I've wanted long hair, before LHC it would pretty much look like I played with light sockets on a daily basis by the time my hair got to bsl.

My next hair cut I made an appointment with 'K'. I've almost exclusively gone to her since.

So 'K' has seen the many stages of light socket entertainment my hair has gone through over the years. Suddenly my hair was past bsl and full, glossy, tamed and pretty darned awesome all the way to the tips.

'K' is pretty much shocked each time I go for a trim to see how much longer my hair is and it's still in incredible condition. So she asks me what I do, she asks me what natural remedies will help with whatever. She thought it was amusing and effective the first time she saw me put a vegetable oil in my hair for detangling :D

[jera]

Hairdresser? What's a hairdresser? :p

[Siava]

I've had the same hairdresser for 20 years. She's pretty set in her ways (and I'm loyal 'cause I love her to bits). I've told her my goals and she abides by them for the most part, but we don't go into detail about stuff I've read here. We're too busy gossiping. :)

[Angharad]

Since I haven't been at the hairdressers for quite some time I can't share LHC-wisdom with them, but I do try this when I speak to my collegues at work whenever there are some discussions about wich product to use and how to maintain healthy hair; it amazes me how they all stay very close to their own (in my eyes very bad) hair regimes and aren't even considering a try at some good information on REAL haircare......so I've given up on convincing people and let them do their thing!

[Mutinous]

My hairdresser tells me off for using shampoo all the time, and always gives me tips on how to stretch out washes and not abuse my hair, which is nice.

In rgards to the OP, I can sort of understand why henna has a bed reputation in hair salons. It is a big commitment, once its on, the only way to get rid of it is to chop it out, and I think these type of salons thrive on changing with the fashion. Hence henna being a bit taboo! :P

[Joette]

I broached it sort of sideways the last time I was at the salon and my stylist was vaguely open. She had a couple of questions about my regime, but I haven't gotten into any extreme experimentation yet so there was nothing there to shock her, except that I only wash once a week. And her reaction was "Good for you!" I did let her sell me some too expensive smoothing serum because it's quite oily and so far my hair has loved loved loved it...but I think when it's gone I'm going to try just some plain old oil. My poo, condish, leave-in and now smoothing serum/oil all have cones and I'm noticing my wurls are looking a little weak. I think I may donate the leave-in I'd been using to a co-worker and just go with the serum and see what happens.

[Kristin]

My aunt has been my stylist since I was...9? She gave me my first perm in 5th grade and my second one in college. She highlighted and colored my hair all through high school and college. She is not very responsive to alternative ways to treat hair.

After watching me cry during detangling and several-inch "trims," she now asks me to comb out my own hair and only takes 1/8" to 1/4". Be that as it may, I haven't let her cut my hair for over a year (do it myself now) because I somehow always end up with razored layers.

[Igor]

No, I don’t. Because no matter how nice, friendly or otherwise understanding they are, if I bring up CO washes or anything else like that, they get that look on their faces like I told them I like to hit puppies with babies

[Capybara]

I haven't been to the hairdresser since I started using knowledge from LHC ... :rolleyes:

[going gray]

Yes I do, my hairdresser is very supportive, we talk about LHC all the time. She simply wants me to be happy with my hair, a lovely gal & has even decided to grow out her "bob" style with all my long hair talk.

[MuzicalH3rb]

I was kind of excited to share information with my hairdresser, but then I went to get my first trim in a year. All she did was point out how damaged my hair look, and anytime I mentioned not using heat or dye she gave me a snooty look. I kept getting the feeling I was annoying her, so, eventually I just stopped talking. She did a great job on the trim, but also hurt my feelings a bit. So, I've learned just not to talk about it.

[Flynn]

Hahahaha, hell no! "Wow, what leave-in do you use!"

"Oh, I'm trying a new one.... it's walnut-oil based or something."

I talk away any products they try to sell me (and explain my shampoo and condish if I have to!) by leaning on my skin allergies -- I do have big problems with pretty well all fragranced products, and most of what they are trying to push is inappropriate for me, anyway.

All that said, though, I usually go to the barber's, not the salon.

[Firegarnet]

Well, I haven't been to one since LHC, but when I was researching hair care online I visited several different places. No one asked me about my routine but one 'long hair specialist' who had never heard of combing from bottom up, didn't understand why I didn't blowdry and tried to focus on selling her hair care line. One Aveda stylist broke their own brand large paddle brush on my hair by trying to rip through after applying an oil treatment. I told her to start at the bottom and work up and she ignored me.:rolleyes: (Yes I should stopped her. Got a fair amount of damage from that) To be fair, she was new... At another place, the stylist was appalled when I said I trimmed off split ends. She said I should "Never do that!" :shrug:

My favorites were ones who just smiled, asked how I was and cut off my requested 1/4"-1/2" inch and didn't try to wash my hair in their sinks.

So, overall, my experience wasn't great, but I'm so shy I don't bring up much myself, so the nice ones didn't have an opportunity to show themselves open-minded or not:o.

Eventually I started self-trimming to avoid it all (and later still stopped trimming right about the time I seem to have hit terminal).

I think it has more to do with personality and experience than profession. Some people like to stick with what they are taught and others want to keep learning and experimenting. And some are just open-minded and glad that whatever works for you works for you.:) Just my :twocents: :) :flower:

[Yozhik]

I haven't been to a hairdresser in a good year, now, but the last one I went to commended me on not washing my hair everyday (although she said that she could never do that). She also said to never use 2-in-1s because they "wouldn't get your hair clean."

In my general experience, though, hairdressers always seem to want to blow dry and flat iron my hair to give it the typical "Asian" hair they expect to see and think looks best on me :rolleyes:

[naereid]

When I just started my new SLS-free, cone-free routine, she was very interested in it and told me to bring the products with me next time so she can use them on me instead of the salon stuff (and she did). She also approved of S&Ds, oils, and was amused that there's such a thing as LHC.

But next time she was shocked and upset at the amount of splits and damage that had "suddenly appeared" in my hair (but I bet it's just because of the lack of cones in my hair to mask it!). Now I feel I can't tell her anything more about what I do because she'd think that's what's causing the damage.

She didn't tell me off or tell me to start using regular products, though! She just told me to browse LHC for more tips and use more oils and "other natural stuff". :o

EDIT:
Oh, and I don't tell her to be gentler when she's towel drying it and combing through it. I feel I'm already too annoying with my demands (like she should at least keep the heat down and not use any product in my hair)... :o

[Olivia23]

I don't even go to a hairdresser anymore. I never had a regular one because I was never happy with any particular one. Now I'm happy I've found Faye's Self Trimming method. I trim my own hair all the time and now with these honey treatments my hair is feeling awesome!

[alwayssmiling]

Well I've really enjoyed reading your replies. Very interesting - what different experiences we have! I'm glad its not just me that has had that look :crazyq:

I would love a hairdresser that does Henna, I might look into that. Its been 6 months since my last trim, and I am trying to psych myself up for another trip and want to discuss the possibility of *dusting* - will they even know what I mean? Will I have to go into a lengthy explaination before I'm ignored and 3" comes off :scissors:!!

My other option is to find a really great hairdresser who's more up to date on natural haircare (Where do I start?)

Alternatively - I could do what some of you do and not go. I self trim all the time, but I struggle with the back and am always paranoid that it looks like a knife and fork job! :o Hmmm, I will give it some thought.

[Dreams_in_Pink]

All the hairdressers, except for the last one, were quite religious about anti-LHC care. But this last one where i had my extensions done, seems to be more logical than the rest (i haven't told them anything about henna or CO wash or anything though) because i remember the guy saying "if you want to grow your hair, you gotta stop cutting it" :) That's a HUGE deal for me, since my hair was in such a bad shape back then.

[Purdy Bear]

In the past when I had hair, I was a bit of a sap, expected the hairdresser to know their stuff so just went along with what they thought.

Now when my hair grows back (and it is :)) I think I will definately choose a more knowledgeable hairdresser, and I dont think I would go back to see any who didnt come up to skratch.

[joiekimochi]

Hmmm I've not been to a hairdresser since joining LHC (which is just last month) so I can't answer. However, I do remember one hairdresser telling me to always use conditioner when shampooing, and that silicones are bad and "gives the false impression that the hair is smooth when it's damaged". Another hairdresser (my favorite one) would refuse to put product in my hair and threatened to shave my head if he ever saw me backcomb and use hairspray (which was what I LOVED to do, I was practically a Tracy Turnblad). I haven't run into any stylist that was adamant about a particular kind of haircare; most of them do the usual "wash your hair everyday, comb it gently but if you ever choose to expensively damage your hair with dyes and perms, please do come to me" spiel.

[Babyfine]

In a nutshell, not much-because I have yet to find a hairdresser that will support me in growing my hair longer than SL- because it's so fine.
My current hairdresser is great at gentle handling and does not cut off more than I say- and asks permission before cutting ANY amount off. So for that I think she's great.
But she does think my hair should be shorter than SL, as has every stylist I've ever had. I'd like to go to a George Michael salon to see what THEY say-but there isn't one within hundreds of miles of where I live.
I did mention that I wanted to let my silvers come in and she told me I would have to keep it short, then. I of course disagree with that.

[Lunnafindel]

I remember going to a hairdresser once when I was 4 or 5 to cut my bangs...I've now lost my bangs somewhere around my knees and haven't been to a hairdresser since :p

[SimplyAmanda]

Ok, first off, I love the girl who does my hair. But I've only seen her twice to do my hair, and about a million times to wax my eyebrows, so maybe she doesn't count as my hairdresser? :confused: She permed my hair once (NEVER AGAIN!!) and styled my hair for my graduation, because I had a broken collarbone. I have some big trust issues with my hair, I'll do anybody elses hair, but nobody gets to touch mine!

The last time my hair was styled "professionally" (2007) I was just discovering my natural hair care fascination and had been on a "no poo" hair diet for a couple months. It was mostly lemon juice/baking soda ACV and very selective about my conditioners. the hair stylist just said, "Well, it sounds a little crazy, but your scalp looks good, it must work for you!" And that was the end of it. We talked more about the length, and because of never cutting my hair for religious reasons and not having that horrible perm yet, it was about 48". Could have cried when I lost the 8 inches, (no wait, I did cry) but I'll get back there.

Some friends who work in beauty salons have always pressured me to cut my hair to get rid of the dead ends, but my stylist heard me say "Religious reasons" and let it alone. Its so funny when people think that I'm not aware I have split ends!

[Johanna]

The last time I went to a hair dressers it was to have my hair dyed. I spoke to the woman briefly about oiling and she pretty much freaked out on me. She told me that I was deep frying my hair with oil.
I'm sure there's plenty of stylist out there who would be open to the natural care we do.

[VitaR86]

I think its such a shock to the "pros" just cause they've never heard it before and is against whay they have been taught.

[spidermom]

Oh yes - we share our knowledge and opinions about hair. We laugh about how many differences we find. She thinks that it's ridiculous to try to stretch washings. As long as you aren't rough on wet hair, she says that the modern shampoos and conditioners are actually good for hair and can be used every day if desired. I can't really argue with that; I've had no bad effects from following her advice. She says I can flat-iron more often, but I think she's wrong about that. She hasn't watched my hair unravel after exposure to high heat! I have.

[PadmeAmidala]

Yes, of course!

I bring my own shampoo, and I even taught my hairdresser that combing wet hair top-down is not the best thing you can do when said hair is one meter long...

I don't know what she thought, but she was nice and did what I told her, so I'll go to her again.

[lilalong]

I generally don't share my lhc knowledge with anyone. I've gotten wierd looks when I tried before.

[Babyfine]

She says I can flat-iron more often, but I think she's wrong about that. She hasn't watched my hair unravel after exposure to high heat! I have.

My stylist does say that she thinks I'm doing a good thing by not doing any heat styling-she says that my hair's health shows it.
As far as stretching washings she says the same thing that your stylist does but says to make sure to use salon products.
She doesn't think oilings a good idea but I've had good success with it so I keep it up.