I admit I have a Phobia of hair dressers, stylist and salons. I think I have been tortured enough…let’s explore: Re-posted from my curl diary. I have now resorted to the points system.

So Gina Conway Salon, Wimbledon is the winner so far

1. Near to home/easy to get to: 1 point
2. Uses natural products: 1 point
3. Relaxing environment to calm my hairdresser phobia: 1 point
4. Consultation without commitment: 1 point
5. Did not try to sell me anything: 1 point
6. Expert knowledge about afro/kinky curly hair: 0 points. Kliff refered to my hair as coarse. Ha! I corrected him my hair is fine but there is a lot of it so it is dense. Coarse hair is hard to manipulate and suffers protein overload. My hair is easy to manipulate (far too much!) and lacks protein.
7. Willingness to listen to the customer me and try new things: 2 points. Kliff listened to everything I said including the bits I corrected him on, he gave his recommendations (more than one option) and asked my opinion/advice on how he should hand my hair. This makes up for his lack of knowledge. A true sign of a professional who recognises their limitations and is constantly learning. Who knows your hair better than the person who is with it 24/7/365/366 for how many years!
8. Excellent Customer service: 1
9. Improves my hair not damages it/Impresses me:0.5 I’m impressed so far with Kliff but I need to see him put it into practice!
10. Price: 0.5.. they don’t get the full mark cause I’m used to Nottingham prices but they get half a mark because you get what you pay for in this case

So you can see the obvious winner hair (lol):Adornment: 5/10. Raquel Wheeler 0/10. Morris Roots 6/10 Gina Conway Aveda Salon: 9/10.

If Kliff has magic hands they’ll get a 10/10! I’m taking my curly girl hand book with me and my goody wide tooth ouchless detangling comb just in case. You never know!

This is reposted from My diary on my recent trip to Adornment 365 last Friday. Won’t be going back

Ok I’m going to use the points system for my Adornment trip.

1. Near to home/ Easy to get to: 0 points. It takes an hour to get to.
2. Uses natural products: 1 point. Yes.
3. Relaxing environment to calm my hairdresser phobia: 0.5 point. it was ok. Not chaotic with ok music. Not soothing music like Gina Conway Aveda. Too many interruptions and too many stylists on my hair and therefore took too long 2 and a half hours for a cornrow updo on ear length hair/4 inch hair.
4. Consultation without commitment: 0 points. I had to pay £5 for the consultation and was pressured into making the appoint there and then to get a discount. I also was not told that I had to pay for the consultation over the phone when I booked it.
5. Did not try to sell me anything: 0 points they tried to sell me stuff at the consultation and at the appointment and tried to make me make another appointment afterwards.
6. Expert knowledge about afro/kinky curly hair: 1 point - told me my hair was dry and iIneeded a steam treatment and protective styling.
7. Willingness to listen to the customer me and try new things: 0.5 points My main stylist listened to me as much as she could and as much as she was allowed by management.
8. Excellent Customer service: 0.5 points I expected to be styled by the same person who did my consultation. I had to re-explain the style at the appointment to the new stylist. They did text and phoned reminders of my appointment.
9. Improves my hair not damages it/Impresses me: 0.25 points I liked th style and received many compliments. However, the style was braided a little too tight in places and my scalp has been damaged. I also feel that my hair was not rinsed properly and I had a cream put on my scalp instead of a light oil like tea tree which I use at home.
10. Price: 0 points. At £58, I’ve had a cheaper relaxer. At £70 at Gina Conway, free hands, neck, shoulders and head massages and a treatment in a much more relaxing environment and superb customer service and no damage.

Total: 3.75/10

In all, I don’t think I can go back as I can get a lace wig at £30 without hair/scalp damage and feeling tense if I want an elaborate style.

I’ll let you know the full extent damage when I unbraid it in two weeks

Cheers

Marley

I have very curly hair, not affro, but my last few experiences of going to hairdressers put me off… so far… for life!  I last went in 1994, and they tried to use a fine tooth comb (I use affro comb) after washing and “conditioning”.  Two people tackling this really big job making me feel such a freak.  At that point while I was wishing myself on another planet, I swore, never again, and actually have never been back to a hairdresser.  I cut it myself in a ponytail while wet.  It is so curly no-one would ever know the difference.  Saved myself a few pounds as well I reckon over 19 years!  and feel empowered and dare I say, even a wee bit smug!  Highly recommend this approach!