I’ve been natural for over 10 years. While I’ve cut my hair several times, I never cut it for the health of my curls. Only for style. In June, I noticed my curls just weren’t doing so well. My hair had grown significantly over the past year, but I soon realized the additional growth did not equal health. So, I decided to book an appointment for a curly cut! It was the best thing I have ever done for my hair. While the process was a bit long and very different from what I am used to, it was well worth it!

Booking the appointment

I began researching several stylists in Dallas that provided curly cuts. It was a hard process as many stylists claimed to work with all textures but the pictures they advertised said differently. Making it difficult to determine if they were experienced with cutting AND styling textures that are similar to mine. After IG stalking several Dallas-based hairstylists, I zeroed in on one particular stylist from Dallas. I received mixed reviews from those who received cuts from her previously but ultimately decided to book with her. Haiya Eliza, owner of Her curls in Dallas is an experienced stylist specializing in cut and color for textured hair. While she advertises as working with all hair textures I didn’t see many pictures that showed women with similar textures as mine, which gave me great hesitation. However, I decided to take a chance and see for myself. This particular stylist requires booking one month ahead along with a deposit that will go towards your appointment. I was able to book for July and was very excited!

Pricing

For new clients, a consultation, cut, and style was $275. While some may say this was high for a cut, it was actually the average cost. As I was researching stylists, I noticed that most prices for an initial cut ranged from $175 – $300. Upon booking, I paid a $100 deposit and paid the remaining balance (+a tip) at the end of my appointment. 

Appointment Prep

Once the appointment was booked, I received an email confirmation along with instructions on how to prepare my hair for the appointment. The morning of my appointment I washed, conditioned, and detangled my hair and allowed it to hair dry with no additional products added. Per her instructions, your hair must be washed and detangled prior to the appointment. I was instructed to allow my hair to air dry and come to the appointment with it loose. It was noted in the email if you arrive with your hair unwashed or in any type of style that required manipulation, she has the right to reschedule or cancel your appointment. Keep reading and you’ll find out why… 

The cut 

My appointment began on time, which I can definitely appreciate! Prior to the cut, she provided me with a consultation, walking me through the process and answering any questions I had about the cut. Let me say this, for new clients, her number one objective is to get your curls to a healthy starting point. Prior to the appointment, I didn’t believe I had much damage. However, once she finger-combed through my hair I could see where the health of my curl stopped and where the real damage began. Remember I couldn’t add any products or manipulate my curls prior to my appointment. This allowed me to see how healthy my curls really were without any products and in their natural state. At that point, I realized I needed to let go of all expectations of this cut (how I wanted it shaped and styled) and allow her to cut out the damage so my curls can be healthy and full.

I can’t lie. As I sat and watched the amount of hair that was cut, I wanted to cry!! The more she cut the more I felt like I had made a mistake. It was interesting to see how the cut was done, with me holding my head in many interesting positions. After the cut was done, I went straight to the washbowl! 

Wash & Style

She used Kevin Murphy products to wash and style my hair. Everything she used smelled great and the wash was heavenly. As she used each product, she discussed its purpose and how to use it if I chose to purchase those particular products. Though I did not purchase the products, the information she provided was helpful when evaluating the products I currently used and if they were serving their purpose. 

My hair was styled as a wash and go. I knew this would be the style prior to the appointment. However, I am not a fan of wash and go’s. After several failed attempts I realized it just may not be for me. After watching her create my wash and go, I came to the conclusion that I was doing it wrong this entire time! She took her time and worked in sections with the help of her assistant. Using only her fingers to separate the hair and apply the product. Once my hair was styled, she used a diffuser to speed up the drying process. 

I never saw my hair until she was completely done and at first glance, I was shocked…

not because it looked bad or because I was disappointed but because I didn’t know what to expect! So, when I saw it, I was shocked. While my hair was A LOT shorter than I expected, my curls looked amazing!

After Care & Maintenance

She recommended I go a minimum of 6 months (ideally 12) without putting any direct heat to my hair. Since the ultimate goal is to get and keep my hair healthy, limiting heat will be essential. A trim was also recommended every 3-4 months. She highly recommended the products she used but also advised me on additional products and what not to put in my hair, as it can lead to build-up. 

Pros vs Cons

Cons

·      Since it was my first cut, I was disappointed that I could not get the shape that I wanted. This particular stylist cuts for the health of the hair. Depending on how healthy your curls are will determine if she is able to give you the cut/shape you want. Since my hair was a little worse than I thought she gave me the cut that best fit the condition of my hair after the damaged parts were cut.

·      She cut A LOT! I was not prepared for the amount of hair that was cut!

·      While the wash and go looked great, I am still not a fan and ended up doing a twist out the next day **see pictures below for how i styled my hair after the cut

Pros

·      While I didn’t get the shape I wanted, I still fell in love with the shape I ended up with. 

In this situation, the stylist definitely knew what was best. My hair has never looked so full and my curls look amazing. Because of the shape, my curls will fall effortlessly without manipulation.

·      I loved the process, from the consultation, to explaining every product she used, its purpose, and how to maintain my hair. It was a very educational experience. While I didn’t purchase the exact products she used, I went home and re-examined my current products to make sure they were adding to the overall health of my curls.

·      Because my curls no longer require a lot of manipulation I was able to remove some styling products from my styling regimen as they were no longer needed. 

In the end, I have no regrets. It’s been almost 6 months since my cut and my hair still looks amazing. I have used little to no heat during this time and have noticed quite a bit of growth. I am glad I chose health over length. The ending results have been great!

So great, that I plan to schedule my second cut for next month!