Today i will be going to have a colour consultation

As a black woman I've been desperate to try hair colouring on my natural hair. My hair is often curly but for years between age 13 and 25 I would wash blow dry trim and straighten it at the hairdressers.
Most people thought my hair was relaxed. Wrong!

I stopped going to a hairdresser when I was made to feel uncomfortable.
It was a black hairstylist, who was doing rather old styles and techniques. On this particular occassion I asked for a hair cut showing her a photo and well she said it will include layers, but what she did was cut into the hair in such a strange way even my white friends asked me what the hell was she thinking.
Its not that itlooked bad it was just unnecessary to achievethe desired look.

From young ive struggled with hair envy.
My hair was always longer than my friends so although people would say how nice it was people also would try to cut it at school, pour water on it to revert it back to curly. Hairdressers straining my neck by not combing with care.
And trying to cut too much when my mum regularly trimmed my hair in between.


These are black people BTW.

After that experience I'm really careful about who does my hair.

I recently had my hair done and she spent her time, asking me about my parents jobs, whether I live at home and just generally nosey.
I had met her before, at the previous salon but the employer would t allow me to see her. Probably for this reason.

When washing my hair that's where it started, she put too hot a temperature of water on my hair, then when I complained she adjusted it.
The second time she put it too cold.
I got the general vibe that she didn't want me as a client. I contacted her through Instagram as her previous employer rearranged my appointment when I booked with her before, when they saw who I was they told me to see my old stylist despite me saying I specifically booked with this new woman. (Obviously politics i wasn't aware of)

I'm not entirely sure what her problem was, asking me, how do I handle my hair on my own and implying my hair wasn’t clean.

I'd never go back there again.

So today I am trying a new hairdresser, they are European. They specialise in hair colouring and especially seem to have mastered the balayage technique, it doesn't look stripey just soft and natural.

I understand colouring hair requires more training and they should know about all hair.
I did let them know I have afro hair in the booking process so they're prepared.
I am willing to try and see how things go, because I'm tired of being scared of going to the hairdressers.

I'm nervous and excited. Because I want a professional, expert experience, that's what I'm paying for.

Where I working paying customers are treated almost like royalty, I want that too...

I've never been anywhere where they offer you a drink or talk to you nicely.
I know covid restrictions have changed that but I want to feel like I'm spending my money as a benefit.

I will update as to how my appointment was.