Q: My hair, first of all, does not look like hair when it is 1 inch or longer and not straightened with an iron, even once
it’s straightened it looks like frizz. One of my favorite Japanese singers, Gackt, frequently changes his hair and I love every style
he gets. Is it possible for anyone to get any style of hair? I think I have what is called "Mixed Race Hair". I showed one salon two
pictures of hairstyles I want and she said that they can definitely do it. My Mom insisted I went to a different stylist and they
would not straighten my hair. I am 17 years old, male, if it matters. I am very obsessed with my hair, I would be so happy if you answered my question.
A: While it is not possible for everyone to have every type of hair, an individual can usually achieve a wide-range of hairstyles and
looks with his or her hair; it all depends on what the hair is like naturally. Modern cosmetic science offers a wide range of
processes to alter the hair’s wave pattern - and to some degree its texture. Yet, not all of these processes are suited for every type of hair.
What is suitable for you depends on your natural hair type and to some extent your ethnicity
insomuch as the ethnicity indicates certain characteristics of the hair. You state that you think you have “Mixed-Race Hair”. That
being the case, what can be achieved with your hair can depend on what races are in the mixture.
For example, one of the most popular (and newest) hair processes today is Thermal Reconditioning.
This process gives the client perfectly straight, smooth hair, but cannot be performed on African-American hair because the process
is incompatible with the texture of African-Americans’ hair.
Most African-American’s use relaxers to help smooth the tight curls in their hair, but these
relaxers are generally unsuited to many European hair types.
As odd as it may have seemed, the fact that you visited two salons and got different responses
on attaining a specific style is not uncommon. Some hair salons are more accustomed to working with different hair types, or with different
styling processes. It may have been a matter of one salon being more willing to take risks with your hair that the other salon
preferred not to take. Personally, I always prefer to err on the side of caution, and your mother was wise to encourage you to seek a
second opinion, or to use a salon she was obviously more comfortable with.
I would recommend that you speak to the stylists at the salon your mother sent you to about the
style options available to you based on your hair. Understand that a good stylist will always make sure to avoid damaging your hair.
Given that you admit to being obsessed with your hair, having a stylist who is unwilling to risk damaging it is something to be happy about.
