TiP: Hair Stylist Loyalty 101

Things get busy and life gets hectic but stay true to your stylist! Don't have too many different "Philosophies" in your head! Don't victimize your hair!

I've been one to have too many hands in my hair. What I mean by that is... I may go to one stylist this week and another the next. For me? it's my business to do this. I'm my own Ginnie pig. But I realise it's not always the best situation for your hair. I admit, it's a convenience thing over anything else. My life gets hectic and I hate making appointments even days in advanced because things tend to change for me VERY quickly and abruptly. Alot of the time, I've been that horrible client that cancels the morning of or wants to come in the morning of (without notice). At one point I travelled a lot, so for me i've learned you have to have consistency with your hair. That applies to your stylist as well.

I KNOW, I know, we're all not Oprah. Not all of our budgets can include our stylist as an item when travelling across the country or the world.

But to avoid having a few pocket curl situations, be sure to consider the following....

- It's true, you have different stylist for different things. You may have one stylist for your regular wash 'n go look and another for your creative extensions fix. You may have various stylist in various cities to accommodate your travel situation. Although their gifts and styling traits may be different make sure they have similar hair care philosophies to avoid mismatched hair situations that may lead to serious stress on your hair.

- Have an open and honest relationship with your stylist. Be friendly and relaxed with them to receive genuine feedback. You wouldn't just let ANYONE house sit? So get to know who is styling your hair.

- Be consistent. Visit your hairstylist on a schedule that your budget and time can accommodate. Invest in them and they will invest in your hair. Let them trust you so you can trust them. In this industry, people tend to get hustled with a blink of an eye to avoid this be consistent and personable.


*I know you all are probably wondering what in the WORLD is a Pocket Curl. I only learned what this term meant by my home girl Ms. Lynn (Jazma). Pretty much, it's when a shady stylist is curling your hair, burns a patch of your hair (that may or may not drop to the floor) and pockets the curl. They don't tell you about the mistake, they don't try to fix it but rather they pocket the curl and send you on your way without any remorse. So befriend your stylist and AVOID the Pocket Curl lol.

Post by Editor in Chief Ally Glasgow, owner of AMAG Media (Web Media & Events Management Company) and LOUDMOUFCOUTURE Clothing. Ally and her team stay busy with in house communication projects in Beauty, Fashion, Travel and The Arts. Give her feedback via ally@amagmedia.com.

You GO K'naan!

We at BHC.com LOVE K'naan's Springy Spirals and his music too lol. He blew away BET's Audience with his performance of "Waving Flag" On The Mo'nique Show last night. We've been trying to find a video clip of his performance, but unfortunately NO LUCK. If you guys know where it's posted let us know by sending an email to info@blackhaircanada.com ASAP!

For the rest of you lovelies that can't find the video... enjoy these fun performance pics I found.


Photo courtesy of MuchMusic.com


Photo courtesy of Dose.ca


Post by Editor in Chief Ally Glasgow, owner of AMAG Media (Web Media & Events Management Company) and LOUDMOUFCOUTURE Clothing. Ally and her team stay busy with in house communication projects in Beauty, Fashion, Travel and The Arts. Give her feedback via ally@amagmedia.com.

Why are Black Hair Products so *F@$*& expensive in Canada!?!?

Photo provided by www.thatblackgirlsite.com

Yes, this is a question many of us wonder I’m sure. In the Canadian beauty scene we tend to receive the more boutique-y high quality beauty brands later than our American neighbours. But in the majority of cases, whether late or early a lot of the products we have access to (that aren’t useless garbage) are OVER PRICED!

Why is it that the cost of Black Hair Care product is so expensive here in comparison to the states? Well we have an answer that kinda-sorta justifies why that is.

Generally, our black hair care beauty suppliers are “Mom ‘N Pop” neighbourhood supported businesses. A huge percentage of black hair care products are produced overseas, their corporate offices managed mainly in the USA and cater to the American market due to the high percentage of their target demographic residing there.

When our local beauty suppliers order products directly through the corporate entities, they receive inflamed costs themselves (based on the difference in currency, our higher taxes and shipping/handling rates). Plus, they are sometimes (in actually most cases) considered “international orders” and their product order minimums are outrageous! Our beauty suppliers in some instances are required to purchase a minimum $3000.00 USD+ of product QUARTERLY to receive a wholesale account with the products corporate office. That’s a huge risk just for ONE product line, so in the majority of cases if the beauty supply isn’t familiar with the product line? They’re not willing to risk having a bunch of dusty beauty ornaments on their shelves waiting to be tossed.

So I guess the next question is …how do they get the product they have currently on their shelves? Well that in itself is a bit more time consuming, but indeed more cost effective in most cases. They set up relationships with fellow retailers who reap the benefits of having a beauty supply in an American market, rather than paying a gazillion dollars in inflated “international” fees to the products corporate sales. Although still inflated, in comparison to dealing with the corporate wholesale account requirements… they save all across the board (by purchasing significantly less product) but inevitably paying additional fees all the same (such as shipping, handling and staffing travel expenses).

So when you visit your local “Mom ‘N Pop” Beauty Supply and get an urge to cuss out the nearest customer service rep in sight, remember ALL of what Blackhairacanada.com mentioned. NOW, we’re not saying this applies to every business but in most cases with the ethical ones it does indeed.

So how do we change this? How do we get these prices to be more reasonable as they are in our neighbouring USA? Well, if you want to support the Canadian Market so that it doesn’t dry up and disappear then stop buying hair online, over the boarder and be a loyal customer. Be brand advocates of your local Beauty Supply! Give them reason to trust us rather than swindle us! This will give you the consumer POWER and SAY over what products they choose to order and in what abundance. Money and numbers talk! So rally all the lovely individuals in your life that are Hair Care/Beauty enthusiasts and head over to your local beauty supply. Start buying, start requesting and start changing our industry! So that we change the interest of these corporate suppliers and so WE Canadians become a market priority!

And be sure not to forget blackhairacanda.com in the movement =).

Most Improved of '09

The intervention of the once upon a time HOTmess that is Canada’s MTV Live’s Nicole Holness takes the award for most improved hairstyling this year.

MTV Live’s crazy, loud and cute VJ Nicole Holness has been relentlessly irritating black hair stylists for the past few years. This Scarborough native’s hair DONTS on air have had many asking for a while “Who the *&%$@# would do THAT to her hair?”

And then FINALLY…



Her tangled synthetic hair pieces have been retired and unruly waves finally tamed! Her recent hair DO's have been complimentary to her fun and yet funky style within the past few months. Whoever her new hairstylist is, we salute you! And please note, you (new hairstyist) have saved Ms. Holness from potentially being shaken and even chased down the street by various hairstylists throughout the GTA (all at once even) with a hairbrush and hair treatment in tow.

Watch Ms. Holness' crazy antics with hair FINALLY in check on MTV Live Monday through Thursday Weeknights at 6:00pm EST on MTV Canada!

Abantu

Beauty Supply
1-800-615-9899
www.abantu.com

VANCOUVER:
3596 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC, V5R 5L7
604.431.8008
(2 blocks west of Boundary on the south-west corner of Kingsway and Lincoln)
Mon-Sat: 10am–6pm; Closed Sun. and all major holidays.
Street parking is available as well as a Pay Lot adjacent to Abantu

BURNABY:
4633 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC, V5H 2B3
604.431.4588
(across from Metrotown Centre, between Sussex Ave. and McKay Ave.)


“Fifteen years of great hair days later, Abantu Beauty Products proudly remains a Canadian family owned business. Via this website or an old-fashioned phone call we do business worldwide, yet it's in our Vancouver and Burnaby locations that you'll find both the product and the people that make us BC's favourite hair extensions and wigs retailer.
Our Burnaby location remains dedicated to our family roots, offering the best brands and value in Afro-Canadian hair-care, skin-care and accessories, while our newest Vancouver shop offers an extraordinary range of quality hair, wigs and accessories to a much broader variety of women.
One of our locations is right for your hair. We do hope to see you soon.” - www.abantu.com

Clientele: Multicultural predominantly women ranging 18 to 50 yrs of age

$$$: The overall pricing is affordable and reasonable in comparison to mainstream competitors.

Products Carried:
Pantene, Mezzane, Motions, Organic Root Stimulator, At 1, Elasta QP, African pride, IC, Bohyme, Milky Way, Indiremy, Tiffany, Savy (isis), Extra virgin hair (isis), Black Opal and more! Please contact them for further details.

Afra Hair Designs

Salon
Burnaby, BC
4631 Kingsway
604-431-4589

Clientele: Consists primarily of both black men and women.

$$$: TBA.

Products & Services offered:
- Male and Female hair care
- They provide braiding, relaxing, weaving, locks, fusion extensions, barber colouring, cutting (primarily for their male clientele)
- Specializing in all types of hair textures
- provides sale of various black hair product lines. Please contact them for details.

Bijou Hair and Beauty Supply

Bijou Hair and Beauty Supply
4673 Kingsway
Burnaby, BC
604-436-1987

20 minutes out of van city – right across the street from metro town.

Open Monday through Sunday
Mon - Thurs 10am-7pm
Fri - Sat 10am-8pm
Sun 12pm-4pm


Bijou Hair and Beauty Supply carry extensions, wigs, pony tails and black hair care products. Note: They are willing to ship products to their clientele directly out of country even!

Clientele: Generally multicultural women (20 to 35 yrs).

$$$: The overall pricing is affordable and reasonable in comparison to mainstream competitors.

Products Carried:
Dr Miracle, Doo Gro, Joico, Idole, Soft & Beautiful, African Pride, Elasta QP, Crème of nature, dark &lovely, motions, Bohyme, black diamond, Goddess Remy, saga, Velvet Remy, Indiremi, milky way, premium, black opal cosmetics, fusion hair, Iman cosmetics, Pure Exchange, Brandy’s collection – Pro 10 and much more! Contact them for further details.