I'm proud of myself. I SCHOOLED rather than SNAPPED!!!!

I just had to share this with you ladies. I was soooo proud of myself. A couple of weeks ago, I had been reading posts of people saying offensive things to LHCF members; and how we should educate someone that does. Well, I had my first opportunity yesterday.

I went to Sally's because after reading Supergirl's post on breakage, I had to pick up some products. Well, I was looking for Deep Brillance in particular. I wasn't sure if Sally's would have it or not. Okay, anyway. I asked one of the workers if they carried it, and she asked another worker. After the second worker told me no, she asked what kind of shampoo I was looking for. She then walked me over to the "ethnic" isle saying that there were different kinds for me to chose from. She went on to name some of the brands there and say that I could chose anything in THAT isle. She said that those were their "ethnic" products and they would be better for my hair.

So I'm like, WTF. Why would she just ASSUME that because I'm black, I wanted the black products. Why couldn't I want something else?? So all this stuff is going through my head right, but I kept cool and gathered my thoughts. Boy, am I glad I did, because I started to realize how petty it would have been to get offended by that. I started to think about the posts that I had read, and I thought to myself, "She doesn't know any better. I need to teach her better."

So, I asked her a question about the Denman brushes a couple of minutes later. And when she finished I very politely said to her, "For future references, ETHNIC products aren't necessarily better for my hair." She immediately said, "Really." Then followed with, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it that way." I then told her how Pantene, Paul Mitchell, Nexxus, all work great on my hair. (Pantene actually doesn't, but for some reason, it was the first thing that came to my head). I thought it was interesting that the first response out of her mouth was "really," as if she was shocked to hear that, but then she said she didn't mean it that way. Hum, that sounds like a little fib to me. But none the less, I think she knows now that you don't have to use ethnic products just because your black!!!

People in my Sally's....and some other stores... assume you want their input when all you want to know is the directions.

leleepop said:

People in my Sally's....and some other stores... assume you want their input when all you want to know is the directions.

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So true. One employee once pointed me to the "ethnic" shears (made by Golden Hot, and they cost more than the regualr ones). I almost laughed in her face.

Ms Twana, I think you did the right thing. I'm sure she will think about what you said and open her mind a bit.

I guess it depends on where you go. It was a white Sally's employee that recommended the henna n placenta condtioner, which became a staple for years. I no longer use it because of hormones/parabens, but that is an awesome conditioner and my hair looked great. A lot of people think black women want products designed for black hair, and to be honest, when I am there, that is the aisle I see most customers make a bee line for. I'm glad you were able to keep your cool. Good job.

leleepop said:

People in my Sally's....and some other stores... assume you want their input when all you want to know is the directions.

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This is so true.

Ms Twana...I think you handled that very well.

Glad you kept your cool and were able to think of a good response. When that happens to me I always blank out lol.

I'm proud of you too!


(off topic) I worked for Sally's while in school, and knew nothing about hair. I was hired as a sales person. Sally's (when I worked there) does not train their employees on the products they sell or hair care. I learned most about the products from the customers- . Until I learned/used something different, I sold (as I believe other employees did) based on my life experiences and what that weeks promo was.

Lotus said:

Sally's (when I worked there) does not train their employees on the products they sell or hair care. I learned most about the products from the customers- . Until I learned/used something different, I sold (as I believe other employees did) based on my life experiences and what that weeks promo was.

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Yeah, see that's why I'm glad I thought about it for a moment, because after I did, I figured that was the case.

Thanks for all the responses ladies, like a kid, I needed some praise for a job well done!!!

Ms_Twana said:

Thanks for all the responses ladies, like a kid, I needed some praise for a job well done!!!

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Well, you did good.

Too often, I think, sometimes people jump to the offensive when it's not even that serious.

Now this is how LCHF ladies should represent! Sometimes people say things out of ignorance rather than malice. Much positive reinforcement for making it a teachable moment.

Yeah, that definitely wasn't worth me getting offended and acting a fool!!!!

Kimberly said:

Well, you did good.

Too often, I think, sometimes people jump to the offensive when it's not even that serious.

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So true. After I read the original post I was a little scared to scroll down. I was thinking, ok who is gonna be the first one to scream "racist" and call for a boycott of Sally's.erplexed

You did very well MsTwana, she will probably give the next customers much better service.
I went to a Sallys about five minutes from my house and the girl told me to go to the Sallys that was 20 mins away because they had more ethnic products there. I told her then I need to speak to the manager because apparently you need more ethnic products here. If I have to pass this Sallys to go to the other one then I won't buy anything here. The other girl jumped in and said yeah the manager is planning on adding more products soon. Then I went right over to the section that I came there for because I did not ask her about ethnic products (I was there for nailcare and applicator bottles erplexed ).

Well i wouldn't have been offended either. i think if i was working there and a white woman was looking for some hair product i'd direct her in the area where white women get their hair products so i can see why she would do that? Maybe how she said it wasn't right i guess but i could see why. I would not expect a non-black person to know any better anyway so i would expect that.

keke said:

i think if i was working there and a white woman was looking for some hair product i'd direct her in the area where white women get their hair products so i can see why she would do that?

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Good point. I never looked at it that way!!!

MsTwana,
I think you handled the situation quite well. Something very similar happended to me when I first joined the board. I was all amped up about the NTM Silk Touch that Sylver2 was raving about and went to Walgreen's to look for some. When I asked the lady to direct me to it, (didn't have any idea what the bottle looked like and didn't know if i was overlooking it or not) she directed me to the "ethnic" aisle.

I told her I had looked there already and didn't think it would be there. She kept asking if I was sure and kept going back to the aisle. That's when I told her that there are quite a few products that work well for my hair and they don't just include those from the ethnic aisle. She too replied with a "really", and then proceeded to ask questions and then further to help me find my NTM!!