So you may or may not have seen/heard, but I cut my hair! I really wanted to shape my hair such that the back was shorter than the front, like the below picture that I’ve posted at least twice now:

So I reached out to the folks at Valerie Signature Salon in Harlem, who were one of the sponsors for my protective styling brunch last year. I’d remained in contact with Elliot, one of the co-owners and the son of Valerie, the master stylist who cut my hair! The salon is right on 118th and Lenox Avenue, and Valerie has decades of experience as a hairstylist and educator, and is committed to using all-natural products at her salon, which I’ve never encountered so was excited to try!
Before The Cut
So to answer the question most of you have: why did I cut my hair? Because I wanted something new. The end. Sorry it’s not a more juicy, scandalous, enticing reason. I just felt like it. No life crisis, no hair product that made patches of my hair fall out, nothing of that nature. I just wanted to breathe some life into my hair by giving it a shape. It was also on my 25 before 25 bucket list, so it had to be done sooner rather than later 😀 Full disclosure though: I was nervous as heck!
The Cut
There’s no better way to explain the process of my haircut besides showing you, so here’s a video and some images of the whole process! Valerie first finger-detangled my hair, sectioned it off, and dry cut my hair in its natural state (a first for me). She then cleansed, put me under the steamer, twisted up my hair in 2.5 seconds, and sat me under the dryer for 45 minutes, after which we had to take down my not yet dry twists so I could go off to work.
Some other photos of the process:
My Thoughts about the Cut
My hair is significantly shorter than I’d hoped for, and shorter than the image I showed Elliot and Valerie before scheduling the appointment. However, based on how my length and shrinkage were set up, I really don’t think there’s anything Valerie could’ve done. My hair before was shorter in the front than in the back, crown, and sides (the front was more of a bang), so in order for the desired shape to take place, the layers elsewhere couldn’t be longer than the layers in the front. Most of my length before was in the back, so that’s why it seems like all my hair is gone! I plan to take extra, extra care of my front section, which previously suffered the brunt of my coloring and styling experiments, which is probably why it wasn’t retaining length as well as the back and the sides. Either way, I’m confident my hair will be just like my inspiration photo by next year, if not sooner. More importantly, I really enjoyed having Valerie anoint my hair with her soft touch and all natural products, as well as impart invaluable knowledge about life, health, and haircare. Valerie Signature Salon is by far the best salon I’ve been to purely based on education, which is critical for us naturalistas who think that bloggers know what’s best. I still lightly gasp whenever I walk by a mirror, but overall I’m pleased with my new look!
Hello. You look really good! What’s the average price for a cut in this salon please?
Thank you! You should check the salon’s website or call for pricing, as I’m not sure what it is.
I’ve been debating cutting mine for a while now, sometimes you just want a change! I think it’s great that you just went out and did what you felt was right for you 🙂
– Shanara
Looking good! I got a similar cut back in September. I love it. At first its like its so short but after awhile its like oh yea I can work with this. And the short wash time is oh so nice. Keep the pics coming.
I’m absolutely in love with it!! It’s gorgeous, funky, stylish, and looks great on you! 🙂
Glad you like it Celeste!
I love it. The look is fierce. I will stick to my sisterlock
Did you see my shoutout in the video??
Don’t worry about the length, the shape is everything! It will get better and better looking as it grows out 🙂
I totally agree!
I love the shape and is exactly what I’m looking for to but dread the whole “stylist cuts off more length than I’d be happy with”. I tried to DIY last year and dreaded my inability to get it right. My back ALWAYS grows quicker than my front. I love it and can’t wait to see how it grows out and how you maintain it 🙂
Thank you! I’m hoping I can get it to grow evenly or at least will have to keep trimming the back while the front takes its sweet time to grow
Hey fellow Harvard girlie. I just watched the video and can definitely understand that feeling of dread when the hair is so much shorter than your expected BUT the thing you wanted – the shape – is there and it looks beautiful ! It just works ! That last picture you posted with the large teardrop hoop, work it. You look great.
Thanks hon!!
I think your hair looks great! Very cute! I might give that salon a look. I’m always in Harlem. I go to one in White Plains now that I like. But, I’ve only been once. Your inspiration pic is gorgeous too!
Thanks Melissa!