The mixed girls' hair journey

Disclaimer... I am not mixed-race, and I don't have your stereotypical 3a to 3c hair that most people assume every dual heritage person has, but I have been a hair carer for over ten years, and I’ve heard many stories from women of dual heritage backgrounds.

Besides finding the right salon, many women have a whole story behind their hair journeys which can make them feel afraid, embarrassed and even angry with hair stylists and the salon industry.

I want to use this blog to talk about everything hair related, including the touchy subjects that people are afraid to talk about. So let's begin.

“Omg... My curls won't stay hydrated. What products should I use?”

“I’ve never found the right salon that knows how to manage my hair type!”

“Whenever I go to afro salons, they always use too much products on my hair!”

“European salons don't know how to cut my hair; they always take too much off!”

When I hear these statements, the first thing that comes to mind is where do I belong? Where does my hair fit in? Should I go to caucasian or afro salons? And that comes from years of nightmare salon experiences that have left you questioning if there is even a place for people with mixed hair types.

Let's go deeper. For many mixed-raced people, they may have had both parents in the household or only one parent in their home.

Why does this matter?

If you’ve been raised with both nationalities present in your childhood, then you were probably more exposed to both sides of your family. Maybe mum was white, and dad was black, so you got the benefits of eating African/Caribbean food and also English/ Italian cuisine or whatever the food may be.

However, if you only had one parent present, then the likelihood of you being educated about the non-present parent's culture and national dishes was pretty much zero.

This play a massive part in a mixed girls' hair journey. Having both sides of your identity to relate to helps you to understand the beautiful blend of DNA which contributes to the making of you.

In my experience, clients who had aunties, grandma and cousins to educate them on how to deal with textured hair types have a far better hair journey than those with one parent who didn't understand their hair's needs.

It's important to respect that both nationalities contributed to your loose curls, wavy texture, coils and kinks. The myth that all mixed hair types are loose curls and ringlets is so outdated. Embrace all of you before choosing a salon. You can go anywhere that makes your hair feel amazing, whether it's a caucasian or afro salon.

Having mixed hair types is beautiful, but sometimes, the search for the right salon is much more complex due to the lack of education.

There's a salon hack for you lovely mixed Queens. Follow your gut! If something doesn't feel right, then leave the salon. It's better to evacuate the building than to have another nightmare salon experience.

When visiting a salon, Look at how they manage your hair. Does it hurt when they part it? Do they look confident in what they’re doing? What type of words are they saying to describe your hair? “These curls are beautiful, wow your hair is fantastic, or this is so much hair, I think you should relax it, what don't you have a keratin”.

If they are encouraging, supportive and excited to do your hair, then you’re probably in the right place. However, if they are trying to get you to change your texture to make it “more manageable” when you want to retain its natural state, then it's time to leave.

Find a salon that speaks to your soul, a place that resonates with your hair's spirit. Lol, yes hun your hair has its own spirit! You know that feeling when you leave a salon, and your hair looks divine, your scalp is so fresh and so clean that you feel like you can take over the world. Well, that's the spirit of your hair, giving you the confidence to do anything.

To those of you who are scared of the salon, do your research. Get a friend who doesn't mind being the guinea pig to test it beforehand.

Don't book for a colour; only have a basic service first to test the waters. Ask the stylist how much hair they will need to trim off. Ask as many questions as you like! Test their knowledge. If they don't seem open to sharing, then don't rebook.

Simple!

I hope you enjoyed this quick read.

Loves from your favourite hair carer.

Morells xx