I have a different experience with other black women at my job and in my social circle. I'm also very open and talk to strangers. If I did get a negative response, I'd just keep going until the wall comes down. Not to sound all 'The secretish' but I think that some of the interactions could dissipate if one person hands the olive branch OR does something to break down that barrier. I love talking about hair so much, that for me it's a challenge to get THROUGH to that person.
Back to the question...
People at my job as wel as my friends come to me for advice. When I first started talking about hair, they were interested but not THAT interested. This past weekend, one of them admitted that when she saw how long MY hair grew to be, only then did she consider applying what I was telling her.
Before the board, I met this girl with long MBL hair. My homegirls used to talk about how pretty her hair was. When I was introduced, I swore that was NOT her hair because I saw a track in the front. Well, after I got to know her a LOT better, that was all hers. She did have issues with her edges and I think that's why I thought the thickness throughout could not have been hers. Boy was I wrong!
People say they could tell my hair is long and it's always up in a bun, even in twists they are never down (however it's because my heat damaged ends make the style ugly IMHO).