At one time you would never see black and white women shopping at the same stores, frequenting the same spas, even buying the same makeup, and after five decades after Rosa Parks sat at the front of the bus, we do. But what about Salons? This is something, whites have never breached until now. White and black hair is not equal. Because white hairstylist could not style black hair, they didn’t try, which caused Salons to be more segregated than church on Sunday mornings. But this being left to the wayside. The walls are tumbling down.
Walk into Saks Fifth Avenue's salon in NY. - historically home to a mostly white, upper-class clientele - and you will now see black and white clients getting their hair done by white and black hair stylists. Its on TV and everywhere. There’s also an increasing number of black stylists at typically white Salons as well. And finally I must say black-owned beauty salons are hiring a more diverse group of stylists, which I think is about time. We need to capitalize on our own, like everybody else does. White Salons now hire black, Latina & Asian stylist to compliment their salons and basically to increase their revenue. It’s a phenomenal happening, and blacks better get on board or get left behind. We’ll be sitting in our salons, thinking where are all the customers? I must say that this new take on diversity is no small thing. Its not a planned thing, but something the black salons cannot control. Due to the economy a lot of hair stylist began closing their own salons and going outside the mainstream to find work due to the economy. Black salons have suffered a lot.
That and the drastic changes in hairstyle trends is another reason. From African American women opting for wigs, weaves and natural hairstyles, the salon has seen a decrease in revenue. These lifestyle changes - forgoing chemical processes or wearing weaves and lace-front wigs - mean that black salons no longer corner the market in black hair care. Women are getting their hair done at home. Easier and cheaper, but not always healthier for our hair. Yet even with the decrease in needed maintenance, black women tend to be more regimented about their hair care: While most white woman visit their hair stylist every six weeks, most black women go every two weeks. Some have a weekly standing appointment. It's no wonder that black hair-care products are expected to generate $154 million this year.
Black women have gone to self-segregated salons not just to get their hair done, but to feel positive - and safe - during their experience. (There's a reason the latest YouTube sensation of a brown Sesame Street puppet singing "I Love my Hair" has thousands of black women talking.)
For black women who want their hair visit to be a quick one, this is good news. The all-day stay that's often mandatory in an African American salon is a luxury many black working women cannot afford. When you go to one of these multi-cultural salons, you’re in and out. You could be on your lunch break, getting your hair done." This is a different experience for African American women and sometimes a reason for their repeat businesses.
PROBLEM: Some believe the barrier-breaking salons will not only remove money from the African-American community, but also rob black women of a cultural experience. It's the same argument often made about historically black colleges. Sure, students at a diverse school - or clients at a salon - may have expanded opportunities and more resources, but they likely will miss out on experiences that are special to their culture. Certainly, they won't be in an environment that caters solely to their unique needs. Outside a black salon, women might miss getting the latest DVDs or fish dinners from vendors who stop by. And where else might they have a safe place to talk about issues that matter to them? "You are erasing culture, you are erasing history, and you are erasing a way African Americans have socialized with each other for decades," said Charles Gallagher, a white professor of sociology, criminal justice, and social work at La Salle University.
This leads me to my question. Give me your take. Should Salons stay segregated? What should black Salons do to capitalize on this current craze of multi-cultural Salons. Do you attend a multi-cultural Salon and tell us what your experience has been there. Which do you prefer and should anything be done about this issue? Lets hear from you.
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Posted By: anita moore
Sunday, November 14th 2010 at 12:15PM
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