The Lowdown on Grooming

What is a Grooming Session? Do I need one?

Over the years, I’ve lost count of the number of times someone has asked me a variation of the following questions: “What is a grooming session?  What does it involve?  How much does it cost?  How long will it take?”

Firstly, I should make it clear from the outset that not everyone will need to have his or her locks groomed, and certainly not necessarily on a regular basis.  Some clients may have only one or two sessions a year, others may not need one at all.

What is grooming? In a nutshell, it is the inspection and tidying up of each individual lock; getting rid of those frayed hairs along the length which can make your hair look messy and unkempt.  It can also involve ironing out (not literally!) any lumps and bumps in order to keep the lock smooth and neat.  It may also involve carrying out any outstanding repairs to locks as required.

For a general session, it is preferable if your locks are matted (locked) enough in order to do a thorough grooming, but there are times when new locks may need some extra attention.  This could be because they have been washed excessively or exposed to a lot of moisture, or perhaps you have a longer curl pattern and/or softer texture which allows your strands to weave their way out of the lock much easier than other hair types.  Maybe you have locks which have become detached because of recent thinning or breakage.

How much does a grooming session cost and how long will it take?  Each consultant will have her own fees and own way of working.  She may offer to do both the retightening and the grooming session at the same time, or she may schedule a separate session for this.  Done on its own, a grooming session can take as long as a retightening session.

If you are a “DIY” type person, take it from me: do not attempt to groom your own locks!   Many years ago I had a client who tried to use a shaver in front of her bathroom mirror and ended up cutting several 4 year-old locks in half, meaning that when she came to me she had to have a major hair cut!  It’s not worth risking disaster just to try and save a bit of money.

Personally, I love seeing a full head of neat locks at the end of a grooming session, and my clients are always surprised to see just how much fuzz ends up on the cutting floor.  If your hair’s fuzzy, or simply not looking its best, perhaps it’s time to consider getting groomed…