The Rise of the new Salon direction

After completing my third day of Sisterlocks refresher training and meeting women from as far away as Pittsburgh, PA, I now realize that the new wave of "salons" will be for natural hair.  In NC, you have to earn a natural hair care license to practice in a natural hair salon.  Upon receiving that licensing, you can have a whole menu of services from lock tightening to twist sets to lock grooming to braids.  So all the things that you learned to do as a child to control your natural curl pattern, you can now get other women to pay you to do similar things to their hair.  I have been absolutely amazed that natural hair care specialist can earn as much as I do or more with less credentials under their belt.  As a cosmetologist, I can cut hair into a style, color it, and press it- but all of those advanced specialties with the exception of haircutting are not even important to the women who are embracing their natural hair care grooming options.

I placed a picture of Don King in this article because I was blown away at this "new business" wave.  NC residents who are looking to earn more money in less time could earn their licensing in a fifth of the time as it takes to complete cosmetology school.  (300 hours versus 1500 hours)  Then they can go full throttle earning unlimited money doing natural hair styling.  Simply amazing.

Celebrity Stylist and Makeup Artist: Benita Blocker

Hair and Makeup Artistry by Benita Blocker.

April 2013

April 2013

Hair and Makeup by Benita Blocker, 2013.

Hair and Makeup by Benita Blocker, April 2013.

Need a Stylist for the Red Carpet?  Benita Blocker is a licensed cosmetologist in California, Georgia and North Carolina.  LA area . . . no problem!  Atlanta area . . . no problem!  Wig Stylist, Hairstyling, Extensions, Makeup Artistry . . . I can get you ready for your next photo shoot, video, reality show, pageant,  event or celebration!  I understand natural hair too!

Hair and Makeup by Benita Blocker, 2013.

April 2013 Hair and Makeup by Benita Blocker.

May 2013 Makeup by Benita Blocker

Past events and awards:

Roy Jones Jr. Super Bowl Party 2000 (provided models, sponsored by Doughboy Entertainment)

National Society of Black Engineers' National Convention 2000 (provided models)

An Applebaum Affair 2000 (Promoter/Upscale Fashion Event)

Ebony Magazine (July 2001, hair and makeup credits)

Fashion Floor Television Show 2002-2004 (Executive Producer, Public Access Television)

The Lake Norman Jumpoff 2003 (Promoter, Upscale Fashion Event)

Carolina Comedy Challenge 2003 (Promoter)

Milky Way Hair Styling Competition Winner - July 2007
Mother's Day Makeover by Star Power Charity - May 2014

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March 2016

February 2014

December 2013

A Registered SisterLocks Trainee and Makeup Artist: Benita Blocker.

  Full Service Hair and Wig Styling at Applebaum Salon of Lake Norman, NC.

  

Open Floor Plan versus Closed Floor Plan

Take a walk with me down memory lane: I remember being serviced in a mall salon for a "press and curl service" . . . I remember the salon being an "open floor plan." I remember my blow-dry service left me looking like "Don King" before the pressing part of the service began. I remember people walking through the mall passing by the salon only to backtrack to see my hair standing straight up on top of my head. Servicing natural "Black hair" can draw quite a crowd especially in a mall.

For someone like Don King (celebrity promoter pictured here) whose signature look is his hair standing straight up, an "open floor plan" similar to the one pictured here is not a big deal. However, many Black women prefer a more "closed-in booth" away from the public eye.

When choosing a salon layout, remember the privacy of your clientele. Celebrities definitely want more privacy, and every client wants to feel like a celebrity when they leave out the door.

Most salons specializing in quick haircuts will more than likely be an "open floor plan." Salons that offer more chemical services should consider more "closed-in" floor plans with semi-private stations.

Shingling: A Natural Hair Styling Technique

Shingling seems to work best on Type 3c to Type 4a curl patterns. Typically, this curl pattern is coarse, frizzy, and a finger size in curl diameter. The combination of the KeraCare Cleansing Cream as a curl wash and Design Essentials Defining Creme Gel as a shingling cream has been a perfect combination. A rinse out conditioner is optional. Please see separate article on KeraCare cleansing cream.
Shingling involves combing the Design Essentials Defining Creme Gel through the hair one section at a time. The defining creme gel is a thick creme but oily enough to work and distribute product down the hair shaft. Just apply at root and comb down repeatedly until you get the product through each section from root to end without adding too much product. A wide tooth, seamless comb is more ideal than the comb used in this picture. This picture was taken from the Miss Jessie's Curly Pudding literature. Sometimes the Curly Pudding is too light to control the coarser hair. The Design Essentials Defining Cream Gel gives more control and shine on some curl patterns.
This is an overview of Shingling 101 as presented by Miss Jessie's product line featuring their "Curly Pudding" styling aid. Please see my separate article on "seamless combs." Hair must dry under platform dryer or air dry without touching. Hair can be left loose or section the hair by cornrows and double strand twist set/flat twists, then let hair dry in the cornrows. Dryer time: An hour to an hour and a half. When completely dried, pull the cornrows apart and style. Typically, I do not need perm rods on the ends because the curl pattern seems to coil on its own without unravelling.

Pictured is when drying loose. If you use the cornrow method, then you can leave out some of the beginning of the twist/cornrows along the hairline in order to give style and keep hair off of the face. You can achieve a bob style as well.

Please note: IF you are using permanent haircolor or lightening your hair, then the color will texturize your hair by making it softer. These products and techniques may not work well on color-treated hair because the color treated hair is no longer "natural." Sorry.

Maintenance: Do not use water. It will break the seal on the hair. "Hair Milk" or some "oily" cream is good to keep the hair from shrinking back up!

Natural Hair Styling for Type 3b Curl Pattern

Hair by Benita Blocker. In order to achieve this shine and curl definition on Type 3b curly hair, I shampooed three times with KeraCare Sulfate-free Cleansing Cream. The KeraCare cleansing cream is not a deep cleanser so that is why I used it three times. I desired a clean scalp without drying the hair out. For additional conditioning, I used the Mixed Chicks Deep Conditioner. (see separate article about Mixed Chicks brand) No heat. Just 5 minutes massaging and manipulating the natural curl pattern. Then rinse.
I towel blotted the hair leaving it pretty wet and began applying and twisting the hair using Design Essentials Defining Creme Gel one slice/section at a time. Then client has to dry under pre-heated dryer for about 30 minutes or so depending on length of hair. Then Voila! No extra shine products nor leave-in conditioners needed. Hair by Benita Blocker.