Length of time in the salon

How much time does it REALLY take to get your hair done??

I’m talking a basic shampoo blow dry versus as clients would say-“can I get a few highlights real quick”, thinking adding “a few” would make it simple, rather than doing the entire head, which is what they really want!

Well,PROFESSIONAL STYLISTS who schedule their clients according to the service can actually give you an accurate time for your visit! However…., the actual time it takes from the time you sit in the chair- and of course that’s after you finish your call…go to the ladies room…then decide what you want done- can vary. It used to be simple back in the day; when we either ALL had a press and curl, roller set or shampoo blow dry. Not today—EVERY hair do is different! When I say EVERY? I mean it! Look around you; if you have a group of 10 women, maybe two have the same hairdo…and even then it may not be the same. It may be a shampoo blow dry, but one is relaxed and the other natural. It may be a twist style, but one is twist extensions, and the other crotchet. I used online scheduler and wanted to do everyone; “send me your tresses, your long, your short, your curly or straight, send them all”. I can’t anymore; I need to schedule breaks and days off to properly prep for the clientele I currently have, let alone take an occasional new client.

So back to the original question- how long does it really take to do a professional style properly? Let’s leave out all long process. styles such as any kind of extensions…since this style we know take any wherefrom 4-8 hours and gives several weeks of freedom (4-6 to be exact). Let’s also leave out super fine hair- this hair whether long or short, natural or not, takes no longer than one hour to do-that’s the benefit of having this kind of hair! So for your basic shampoo blow dry/flat iron style, depending on length and thickness, natural or relaxed here are some basics:‍

SHAMPOO– with natural hair, build up is a given and shampooing is more detailed. You need two cleansing and one enhancing shampoo. Oil and dirt is like grease on a skillet; as soon as the water hit sit, it solidifies. Yes, all those products you bought that’s under your sink, and you put in your hair every other day? Well, in order for your scalp to breathe properly, it needs cleansing! SHAMPOO 7-10 MIN.‍

DETANGLE AND CONDITIONING–sometimes this is done before the shampoo depending, on what condition your hair is in when you come in. If you are coming out of a PROTECTIVE STYLE, always, always, CONDITION BEFORE SHAMPOO.I cannot stress this enough to clients! It’s equivalent to telling you not to shampoo your hair before a relaxer.

Remember that?

Only then you would feel a discomfort to your scalp that should have been resolved by immediately rinsing out the relaxer. However if you don’t properly detangle your hair- it could cost you a big chunk of you hair, which in turn defeats the purpose of the protective style. So for a basic detangle and conditioning which can be dual process in one…on an average head of natural hair IS 15 minutes, relaxed 10 minutes, extreme cases 20-30 minutes, and a bottle of conditioner! DETANGLE/CONDITIONING AVG-20 MIN.‍

BLOW DRY– blow drying follows the same rules as shampooing, depending density, length, natural or straightening treatments. It is helpful and more efficient if, prior to blow drying, the hair has a protective style aid applied and sectioned into manageable parts. BLOW DRY- AVG 20 MIN.‍

FLAT/CURL STYLING– now this is what you pay for! Not only for the efficiency but also for the artistry of the stylist. If all things prior are done properly, and your stylist has the skill not only to slide the iron over your tresses at the right heat temperature as to not scorch nor swell your tresses for a lack of heat, but to glide your tresses to a perfect straightness and curl; you leave the chair feeling like the million bucks you are! FLAT IRON/CURL STYLING 25 MIN.‍

THIS IS AVERAGE TIMES FOR AVERAGE AMOUNT OF HAIR!!‍

Now you know if your hair is not medium length, density, and curl, you should add at least 5- 10 minutes to each process. Overall for SHAMPOO BLOW DRY STYLING:‍

FINE/SOFT HAIR: 50-60 MIN

MEDIUM LENGTH/TEXTURE- 60- 75 MIN

THICK LONG/TEXTURE: 90 MIN – 2 HOURS

ADD COLOR/ STRAIGHTENING TREATMENT- ONE HOUR EACH

ADD CUTTING- 30-45 MIN

PIXIE CUT DRYER TIME 30-40 MIN

ADD THEM ALL OR A COMBINE SOME ON AVERAGE 2-3 HOURS‍

Ladies–don’t shoot the messenger, I’m reporting the facts! I hear you; I know what you’re saying…why does it take so long and why do you book so many people at the same time? Well, it takes so long because it just does! This is the burden we have to bare – accept it, allow time to do it, and pick a style that efficiently works for you.‍

ATTENTION: You have to do something- this walking out the house not combing your hair is not acceptable!!‍

Why do we book clients so close together? That’s really another blog in and of itself…but do the math; we would either have to charge exuberant prices, or break our backs for pennies. I have to say for most professionals that I know?We do not over book like it was done back in the day. We may run over from time to time, but in the words of Sweet Brown-“girl ain’t nobody got time for that!