Ouidad: The Curl Experts

Working as a stylist at Ouidad for over twelve years, I’ve seen so many different types of hair.  I’m also a certified salon trainer and have been teaching other stylists Ouidad’s methods such as the Carve & Slice cutting technique for the past five years.  It is a privilege to see that stylists that have been in this business longer than I have are still excited to learn our techniques for curly hair.  To have them come out of our classes with the knowledge of how to cater to curly hair is such a wonderful feeling.  The “students” leave feeling excited and empowered to go home and cut and style their curly hair clients.  They get to see in our classes and hands-on training with models how curly hair can be so beautiful if it’s cut and styled well.  Experiencing this makes my job worthwhile.

Ayanna, Stylist, 57th Street Salon, NYC

I’m back in South America and since my last visit I’m noticing more and more women wearing their hair natural. In Argentina and Brazil straight hair is a sign of status and curly hair is sometimes associated with the lower class. Every week women rush to salons to get their hair blown out.

Being in South America and meeting with the media in Argentina, Brazil, Peru, and Columbia has been such an eye opening experience.

I’m finding that women would love to wear their hair curly; they just needed to learn how!  When I speak to them they’ll look at my curls and smile and confess that since I’ve been promoting curls in Latin America they have been trying to wear their hair curly and really enjoying it.

Many do get mixed opinions on their curls but they don’t seem to mind.  One woman told me her husband loves her curly hair but when they attend his business parties he asks her to wear it straight because he has an image to uphold.

Ouidad

I have a client who has been coming to the New York salon for years. She has been with everyone from Ouidad to Vincent to Ana and now she is in my chair.

She has tried to grow her hair out forever and no matter what, she feels “it just won’t drop.”  So I gave her all of her options, including a softening treatment. She was extremely resistant to this due to her horrible past experiences with relaxers, and didn’t even want to hear about it.  I suggested she go online and read about it on ouidad.com. I also stressed that we don’t use sodium hydroxide but a calcium hydroxide, and we mix it with Deep Treatment so it’s not harsh on the hair.  Again, she didn’t want to hear it but said she would think about it.

Two weeks later she booked an appointment for the softening.  She came in extremely nervous; I expected it.  We did a long consultation to go over what exactly she wanted so I could tweak the formula and the timing.  After it was all said and done, she looked great!

Yesterday she called to say how much she is enjoying her hair. I finally asked what made her change her mind and take the plunge. Her reply, “I knew where I was getting it done,” made me feel good.

Alex,  Stylist, 57^th Street Salon, NYC