Dr. Lisa Thompson, Prairie View A&M Professor was told by a TGF stylist “I don’t do your kind of hair”. At one point in the video, the stylist goes as way as to say “I don’t do y’alls kind of hair, I don’t do it… I won’t do your hair… I’m terrified to touch it”.
Watch the video and join the conversation by leaving your comment in the Comment Section below.
When working at a chain hair salon like TGF, is it acceptable for stylists to refuse certain ethnicities hair service? Dr. Thompson doesn’t think so. She says her African American stylist at the same salon was required to style all types of hair. “Besides its the way that you tell a person that you can’t do their hair” Thompson insists. “You are in a business of making people feel good… and you are somehow telling me, my hair is subpar,” she continues.
A TGF spokesperson confirms, stating ‘stylists should know how to do all types of hair’. But an official statement was not received. This is one of the reasons she was adamant about get clarification on why she was refused service for a simple shampoo and style.
I have read a few comments on this topic. Some people feel Dr. Thompson was being a bit of bully by pushing the issue. A stylist should feel comfortable enough to be honest and say “I’m not comfortable doing your type of hair”. But I believe the stylist lacked a level of professionalism in this situation.
Share your thoughts by leaving a comment in the COMMENT SECTION below
Photo Credit: Instagram
I went to Hair Cuttery and an Asian lady applied my relaxer and it was bomb! But in regards to this situation, the salon lady was rude, and it wasn’t clear if potential customer explained she just wanted a shampoo and blow dry or whatever. But to be honest, I would not expect a White person to “know how” to do my hair and I would have just left if the usual stylist wasn’t there. I have natural hair now.
I’ve been turned away by white stylists, who told me they don’t have experience with African American hair. That’s fine. I’d rather not be a science experiment. Having said that, I do feel the professor was “hyper-sensitive”. The stylist wasn’t rude at any time, and perhaps her words were not “choice”, but she’s a hair dresser–not a rocket scientist or an educator for that matter. She clearly tried to articulate that she wasn’t denying service based on the patron’s “race” by explaining that she’d messed up her best friend’s hair–who is also African American, because she lacked experience and proficiency. I’m one of the first to jump all over a clearly racist act; this was not one. Sometimes, we can be “hyper-sensitive”. As a human relations/rights professional with more than 30 years experience, it is my opinion that this is not a “racist” incident.
Many years ago I went to a TGF Salon and a Stylist cut my hair, I could tell she was nervous at first. By the time she was half finished, she had relaxed and when she finished and saw my hair she and I both were smiling. The cut was beautiful and she asked me to come back and let her style and cut it again for me. I believe she thought my hair was going to be harder to cut and style than it was.
Also I have had my hair cut at Fantastic Sam. It was one of the best cuts I have had in my life. One of the customers sitting next to me told me I looked like a model. The point is all stylists should be trained to do all kinds of hair. I grew up shampooing, pressing and curling my sisters, my mother and my own hair. I can shampoo anyone’s hair. That stylist had a problem and it didn’t have anything to do with Dr. Thompson.
I would want someone to be honest and tell me if they can’t do my hair however, the way that stylist told her was rude.