April 30th is the national day for appreciating hairstylists everywhere as well as embracing the uniqueness of all styles. Though the origins of National Hairstylists Appreciation Day are unclear, we think it’s a wonderful opportunity to celebrate how beautiful, varied and special Black hair is and to honor those who care for it.

It can’t be denied that for centuries, people of color, have influenced beauty trends and popular culture, nationally and globally through our style.

To observe this special day, we want to help you find the very best stylist to work with and we want to salute our very own natural hair care specialist, Nyesha!

We trust these tips help you understand how working with the right natural hairstylist can help in your Black hair care journey. Remember, that though many naturalistas use their own home maintenance, it is a good idea to have a check up with professional natural hair care stylist periodically – someone knowledgeable and trained will keep your Black hair care health on track. To find the right one, you need to ask some questions:

Are they referred by others? Using your network to get referrals from people you know, is a good place to start.

Have you taken the time to research your natural hair salon? Do they have a website? Take the time to find out their hair care specialties.

Can you book a consultation? Before a total commitment, a consultation will make you more comfortable. It’s a good idea to do your research and have questions about your natural hair goals noted down. Don’t assume they are familiar with working with coily/ kinky hair textures or hairstyles like locs and braids. This is the time to ask plenty of questions and write down the answers! Be clear about what you what want to achieve for your style. Walk with pictures inspiring your goal.

What’s the budget? Bear in mind, the better natural hair salons who maintain quality – by investing in things like training as well as research and development – will cost more. You get what you pay for.

Does your first impression of the surroundings make you comfortable? A salon doesn’t have to be large but it needs to be clean and organized. The atmosphere should make you feel relaxed and even inspired. Current reading material and tools are certainly a good sign.

Was the customer service experience positive? Your natural hairstylist must be competent but what else should you look for? Someone attentive, understanding and patient who listens will keep you coming back. Before your turn the chair, do you like what’s happening with the other clients? Do you like their styles? Do they look relaxed?

Do they have a holistic approach to hair? A good natural hair salon understands the integral link between healthy skincare and hair care. The trained specialists will know and share the importance of feeding your skin, your biggest organ, from within.

Are they trained? Are they licensed? Certified in particular techniques and processes? Someone trained will take into account the best methods/ shapes/ colors/ trends to suit you and even take into account your lifestyle and personality.

What about products? Are they knowledgeable about products and ingredients? If the natural hair salon has its own line, they should be open about sharing what are in the products they will be using on you when you ask. If you use your own, an effective natural hairstylist will be able to guide you after the assessment of your hair and your DIY. A professional won’t dismiss other products. They can and should make recommendations and/or point out what works (or may not) and why – which should include natural ingredients as much as possible.

Do they educate you? Remember to ask for maintenance tips for your look until you see your stylist next. Think about the value of receiving continuous, at-your-fingertips education between appointments with your natural stylist with useful tools like a blog. They will help you wade through all of the information you find online about what should really work for you in your natural hair regimen.

Help us to celebrate #NationalHairstylistAppreciationDay by showing love to our wonderful natural hairstylist, Nyesha, who’s passionate about showcasing Black beauty. You can leave greetings and feedback below or on Instagram, Twitter  or Facebook.

As always …

Dedicated To Your Beauty,
Juliette Samuel
Esthetician/Author/Publisher
Nyraju Skin Care