It Happened To Me: " A Stylist Added Relaxer To My Conditioning Treatment "

If I ever go to the salon I will bring my own materials. I certainly wont let some 'crazy' walk away with a product and do some mixing magic to it to put on my hair, heck no!
I'm sorry that this women had to go through this. Anyone can say it's just hair, but why the deceit. Is it just ok to mess someone's hair up and lie in their face about what your doing the whole time, just because 'it's just hair'?
I guess so?

Are you f**ing kidding me....

Wow, what is up with hairstylist? Come on, another reason why we shouldn't go to salons? This brings up bad memories of my bad hairstylist experiences when I was almost brought to tears cause she was screwing up my hair. I think hairstylist need to change their cheap ways of doing hair. Times are changing and you cant hide you screw ups anymore...do they not know about social networks? Thank God for LHCF and other sites where we can share our experiences. Thank you for this very, very informative post. Such a shame though....

outside of the occasionally trim, i havent had my hair done by a stylist in yearrrsss... even then it was infrequent.

i recently had interest to venture off to find a natural stylist that could help me on my natural journey... however this thread reminded me of why its best to be a diy'er. it would take a lot for me to go to a stylist, and even if i did, i'd have to follow others suggestions and bring my own product, speak up, and watch their actions closely.

That is a scary story and even though some here may have their doubts about a story like this. I myself like to be aware and don't believe that ignorance is bliss. I have had my own horror stories with past stylist although nothing as extreme as this. I can see some ignorant stylist doing something like this once and getting a positive review from a customer and continuing. Stylist aren't the end all be all of hair and knowledge otherwise there would be no need for a forum such as this and DIY'ers. Thank-you OP for sharing!

BlackDiamond1 said:

Sometimes I'm skeptical about "stories", however I know for a fact that many stylists put Cream of Nature in a Keracare bottle, they mix up Dark N Lovely relaxer in the back room and say that it's Mizani, and mix "a little bit of relaxer" in with conditioner, therefore this story doesn't surprise me. I used to hang out at the salon where my aunt worked (and that's how I know these facts) and my sister used to work at a salon when we were younger. I've never known anyone to actually leave relaxer on for a while to the point where it burned, but I've seen it put in with conditioner and then rinsed right back out. There are many good stylist, but there are some shady ones too. I've seen a stylist lie and say that a person's natural hair was damaged, and then chop most of it off just so they wouldn't have to detangle it.

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All of this right here is crazy. I've never been to a salon because my mother was a stylist and she was always very ethical in her practices from what I observed. I couldn't imagine dealing w/this kind of foolishness.

Forget someone being litigious. I would be scared of risking a straight beat down for pulling that crap on the wrong person.

Oh hellllll no!! I can't believe anyone who would call themselves a professional would do this. This is why I will always be a DIYer.

That sounds like pure sabotage to me. I feel so sorry for that girl. And the people at the salon said they do this sort of thing all the time with no problems. I find that hard to believe due to these factors:

1. They shampooed the girl's hair before putting on the fake DC. She could have applied the relaxer/DC to her hair when her hair was dry rather than wet because wet hair is already fragile, and now they are applying a caustic chemical on top of it, and they expected her hair to be fine after that? That just spells trouble. For them to be beauty school graduates they should know that.

2. Why didn't they neutralize if they knew they were putting a relaxer on her head? I don't care how mild they think a relaxer is, you always need to neutralize. If they were "trying to help out" in the sick way they thought they were, they would have pretended to deep condition the girl's hair while her hair was dry, and then follow up with the neutralizing shampoo. Not saying that they should have done this at all, but that would have made more sense and made it less likely that her hair would fall out. Deep conditioners can be applied to dry hair.

3. They proceeded to heat style her hair after relaxing her hair while her hair was wet and shampooed and without neutralizing!

For these three reasons I believe that it was sabotage. They can pretend all they want that the situation was something they do on a regular basis with no problems, but that's very hard to believe.

You know, this is downright scary. I got so mad at these stylists just reading this. This is an outrage and I just want to "shoot them up", all of them who do this to their clients. It is just so EVIL!!!

If stylists do not want to deal with natural hair or don't know how to, they should just tell the clients exactly that, instead of ruining peoples hair. I am saddened that this is happening to a lot of unsuspecting natural ladies. I guess it pays to do your own hair.

I really think that this needs to be reported to the licensing board to anyone that this happens too.

Reason #8593 to be a DIYer.

Told my younger brother this story. He said "Wow, that's like going to get your brakes fixed and having your entire engine dismantled. WTF"

Yup.

lol! damn but he is sooo right

aquajoyice said:

That is a scary story and even though some here may have their doubts about a story like this. I myself like to be aware and don't believe that ignorance is bliss. I have had my own horror stories with past stylist although nothing as extreme as this. I can see some ignorant stylist doing something like this once and getting a positive review from a customer and continuing. Stylist aren't the end all be all of hair and knowledge otherwise there would be no need for a forum such as this and DIY'ers. Thank-you OP for sharing!

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Without stepping on any toes here ... I'll admit I am kinda skeptical based on some of the details. Anyway I agree - definitely be an informed consumer - this is important in salons and also anyplace else where you pay for a service. Bottom line is don't assume everything is going to be fine just coz you're in the hands of a stylist - some people do the same with doctors and obviously the rules are the same - be mindful about what's being done to you, what's being used, and ask questions.

I'm sure we all know that alot of asian salons are not using OPI and have the lead filled knock off polish, right? They are also using a very cheap product to put on nails. If you go into a high end /resort/hotel you do not have that oder you smell in asian salons. That product has been banned by the FDA, yet the chairs are always filled for cheapie mani's and pedi's.

The reason they can charge $20 is because they only paid a $1 for the banned product

While any professional of any race and/or ethnic background should be ashamed to use unethical business practices, it happens.

I hope this thread does not shut down the AA salons because everyone will now only go to the dominican or white salons and I really hope a dominican or white salon owner/stylist did not post that story

LadyPBC said:

That's how I was - soooo trusting. I didn't want and felt I didn't need to know all the details - that's why they get paid the big bucks. The stylist was the professional so I left it all in his/her capable hands. I wanted someone with creativity that could "hook me up". I got messed up quite a few times.
I think another problem is that they don't tell you how to manage the salon when you leave. They will tell you how to maintain the style (if you ask) but not the health of your hair. I have been to the salon 2 times in the last year for a trim. I have let a couple other people cornrow my hair. Other than that I am my own practicing stylist and haircare giver. I don't always get it right but I know a lot more about my hair and I love the way it feels. I think that it is much healthier thanks to what I've been learning on the boards and blogs.

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So true! When I used to regularly visit my stylist, after seeing the amazing results (and my hair did look really good! My teenage girl confidence went up like 10% whenever I'd see the end result) I started to ask questions as far as hair care goes. I was starting to wonder if it would be possible for me to at least semi know how to care for my hair (seemed like a foolish idea then, unless I went to hair school or something). This was when I was in high school. I wanted to know how to maintain the awesome silkiness, shine, body, all that in my hair, because it looked amazing. I was SO completely clueless about hair (never even washed my own til age 19) so I had virtually no clue what to buy because there are so many different products. I was inquiring just so I can keep the quality up to a decent level in between visits, and also maybe make it easier on me daily and her on my next visit, if my hair was in better shape (I was naive and assumed she'd like me taking care of my hair....didn't really think of it in a business-sense, that the better my hair got on my own the less she figured I'd visit). Anyway, she would NEVER give me any sort of tips or guidance. I was a devoted customer! Not even just me, but my mom was ALSO a devoted customer. And we'd recommended a couple of females to her here and there over the years too. So we were damn good customers. Always tipped generously, made and kept our appointments, showed up on time, etc., etc. And she would NOT give me any tips, guidance, nothing. She'd always be vague......like make sure you detangle it if you wash (no duh?) or sleep with a net or scarf.

But, for example, the last thing......sleep with a scarf. She wouldn't ever elaborate. Not even just a little. She'd just offhandedly, hurriedly answer with that and then change the subject. So, I'm completely ignorant admittedly, and I don't understand what sleeping with a scarf/net would do for me other than keeping my hair combed during the night (which is what I thought the primary purpose was)......which at the time didn't seem so important. She never gave anything. I think the most detailed she ever got was once telling me to put oil sheen on my hair to keep up the shine, and that was after my mom was pissed over the poor service (it was one of the days she was having her "assistant" do her client's hair).

So, yeah, looking back, I can now spot out so many facepalm moments where I should have known it was a red flag. I hate thinking about it, because I was so clueless that I didn't know any better and my poor hair suffered for it. Also, something messed up, was she wouldn't even tell us what products she'd use, or even suggest OTHER products she liked from drugstores, etc. Her bottles were all those blank ones you can buy and her flat irons (we checked secretly because the results it gave seemed really good) always were conveniently chipped off in places where the brand name would be.

Ugh, bad hair memories. 16 years of them.

My Friend said:

I'm sure we all know that alot of asian salons are not using OPI and have the lead filled knock off polish, right? They are also using a very cheap product to put on nails. If you go into a high end /resort/hotel you do not have that oder you smell in asian salons. That product has been banned by the FDA, yet the chairs are always filled for cheapie mani's and pedi's.

The reason they can charge $20 is because they only paid a $1 for the banned product

While any professional of any race and/or ethnic background should be ashamed to use unethical business practices, it happens.

I hope this thread does not shut down the AA salons because everyone will now only go to the dominican or white salons and I really hope a dominican or white salon owner/stylist did not post that story

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I think on the other thread someone said that a person had that happen to them at a dominican salon though...

Yeah and thats why if I want some salon nails I will just buy some press-ons...

Thanks for this info!! I really appreciate it!

I think the problem is that there isn't a strict or obvious set of standards, rules, ideas or techniques with black haircare as there is with white haircare. I mean, do they even teach black or curly haircare at cosmetology school.

For those that are having doubts about the validity of these claims (and that's fully within your right) try to think of some of the things we KNOW are currently going on in salons just from posters on this board and gage whether they are any less deceitful or unconcerned about the final state of the consumer's hair:

We have women on these boards who have voiced that stylists they went to to apply weaves applied them constantly choosing not to tell their clients their hair was too damaged or if they had a bald spot.

We have women who went to stylist who even after requesting and reminding them they'd like to see their actual hair in the mirror were brushed off or the stylist 'forgot'

We have women who had stylists mix relaxers (two different brands), who've relaxed and dyed hair on the same day within minutes of each procedure, who've cut off inches of hair after their client requested just a small trim and even showed them how much hair specifically they wanted removed and who have expressed frustration and distaste at their clients hair (texture, length, what have you)

We have women who's stylists have ignored their instructions (I don't want any heat) or who have tried to push their own instructions on the client ("You REALLY need a relaxer").

All of these examples show a lack of concern for the health of the clients hair as well as a lack of integrity in their business practices. It is already incredibly unprofessional to express dislike of your client's hair and I (unfortunately) can easily see women who are more concerned about THEIR personal satisfaction than their clients.

Ever been rushed through the salon process because your stylist was heading to the club that night? Ever been blatantly mis-managed because your stylist knew better than your requests? Ever realized one of the girls working at the salon didn't even have credentials and was somebody's cousin? These may not be horror stories but they are growing, troubling trends. So when it comes down to believing someone slipped a touch of relaxer into the conditioner for the sake of getting the job down in 15 minutes expecting she'd never see you again anyway...I can believe it.

There's Good and Bad in every industry

the other problem with this technique and the reason why people's hair is falling out is that the relaxer is not being neutralized after these treatments! wft is wrong with these stylists???? you can't put relaxer in someone's hair and then rinse it out and keep it moving....it has to be neutralized!

omg!

these stories enrage me.

This is horrible If I were in that person's position I would def. sue their a** off. If they do not want to deal with natural hair its as simple as refusing them (as rude as it is). You never know if someone is allergic or worse. I do not know why these so called professionals think it is ok to alter another's hair texture for their convenience. This is why I do everything myself I refuse to go to a hairdresser. The same thing happened to my sisters boyfriends mom they put a texturizer in her hair mixed it with conditioner and then she had a quarter sized bald spot because her scalp and hair cannot take chemicals.

Now I feel like i'm going to get my license in natural hair care, because this is just crazy. Maybe it's just me, but I like doing "hard to handle" hair because it just makes me look better as a person...shrugs...

Curlybeauty said:

Now I feel like i'm going to get my license in natural hair care, because this is just crazy. Maybe it's just me, but I like doing "hard to handle" hair because it just makes me look better as a person...shrugs...

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Girl you not by yourself! I do too! I like doing it because it proves a point. There is no such thing!

Wow this is appalling to me! Who are they to decide what is easiest for someone? I can't believe that someone would put a chemical in someone's hair and then not tell them about it when they were specifically asked about it. And I know the difference between peppermint oil tingling and perm burning....this is why I do my hair at home and have had better success getting it to grow...crazy bull ish..I would have flown off the handle in that shop!

See, this is exactly why I gave up hair salons and stylists YEARS ago, and became a total DIY'er. You couldn't PAY me to go to a salon today. I'm helping my neighbor who just lost 80% of her hair to a cut due to severe matting from glue being on the hair after a supposed "sew-in." Her hair was mostly natural. I told her not to trust stylists if she wants very long hair, because there is always someone out there jealous...and ready to sabotage.

I'm a DIYer too, but I use situations/experiences like these make me say something like "That's why I only go to LHCF (or other reputable hair boards) recommended stylists." It's things like this that should really make us do more research as well as interview who we allow into our hair.

Don't just look at pictures of their work, listen to them talk about how great they are with natural hair, or blindly go with what one friend recommended. Look at that stylist's hair. Look at most of the stylists' hair in there. If it doesn't look healthy to you in any way, don't let them do your hair. If they're wearing a wig/weave and you can't see it, you might want to reconsider. It's better to be overcautious than sorry and bald later. They are stylists. Their hair should be the best example of their work/expertise they have. Also, ask them some basic questions about hair care to see if what they believe matches up with what you believe.

As for me, I'm either going to do it myself or go to an LHCF recommended stylist. I have nothing but good experiences when I do this.

Didn't something like this happen last year to a member??

Found it. Her old name was Miss Norway. But she posted about her dominican blow out and someone suggested that by how her hair looks it could be that they slipped relaxer in. She agreed that it felt relaxed. It didn't look heat damaged at all!
http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=373787&highlight=dominican+blow+out

I have heard stories like this for ages ...I don't get the disbelief at all!