Finding Haircut for African Daughters' Hair Cut in Wisconsin or Illinois

OK! Ummmm some of us need relaxers in our hair as Black women. Cutting it is not going to take down the volume. Actually, w/o a relaxer it's going to make it even harder to manager. It doesn't work like that for our hair texture. Especially if she has thick hair. My 7 year old has a relaxer. I had to do it at age 6...held out as long as I could. But 12, trust me, you're good! :0)

One alternative to a relaxer is the Egyptian salons. In Bolingbrook, IL there's 2. However, they are not worth the drive from WI. But I will say this, they really do know how to manage African American hair in some ways that most Black salons won't because it's too much work. They'll tell you how often the relaxer is needed and they also use some amazing blow driers that will straighten to the point where it looks like it's been relaxed. There is a down side to this. If she sweats often, that straight hair goes back to it's natural look within minutes or days. When it's relaxed, you don't have to worry about that for at least 6-8 weeks, depending on how fast her roots grow.

I hope this helps.

I have a son with LONG girl hair. Ridiculously thick and wavy. I know it is not nearly the same but... Because we had a hard time finding a stylist for him I thought I would reply. We actually go to one of the Mario Tricoci UNIVERSITY schools. He will only go there because although a student is cutting his hair they are much more careful and watched by a teacher. He loves it because nobody else would listen to him. I don't know if you have a school near you but it was worth it for us.

Ok, first you must understand that African, African-American hair is very different from Caucasian hair. She also needs to see, know, be around other African Americans so that she will see the beauty in the hair that she has. That thick, strong texture is natural and can't be thinned out or anything like that. Get her to a black owned salon quickly, ask a black woman at work or even a stranger where she has her hair done. Make sure the salon stresses healthy hair, because she will more than likely need a relaxer or a texturizer. The fact that you are forbidding her from getting a relaxer shows a lack of understanding. Talk to the beauticians at many salons and make sure they will not just style, but care for her hair. DO NOT take her to a caucasian salon. They may say or think they know how to do black hair, but they don't, and the experience could harm your daughter's self-esteem. She will need to visit the salon weekly until she learns how to care for her own hair, then she can go every two weeks. Hope this helps a little...

I don't know if there is one in your area but I have recently heard of African-American women and girls getting their hair cut using the Ouidad method, which is meant to encourage and promote the use of naturally curly hair. I live in Texas so I can't offer suggestions on salons in your part of town but you could go to ouidad.com and see if there is a salon in your area. Good luck!