Got a question?
Below are some of the questions that we get asked a lot. Check those out and if you still have a question, then use the form below and we will be very happy to answer it.
Do you use glue?
Blue Sage Hair Wellness exclusively provides sew-in & latch hook weave services. As for lace front wigs, Kim developed an application technique that doesn’t rely on glue.
Kim has read & researched the glue’s ingredients. Here’s what she found:
Latex, sodium polyacrylate, zinc oxide, quaternium-15 sodium laureate, sulfate, dimenthicone, fragrance.
Quaternium-15: In November 2011, the New York Daily News reported the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has unsuccessfully been urging the world’s largest health care company for 2 1/2 years to remove the trace amounts of potentially cancer-causing chemicals – including a substance called quaternium-15 that releases formaldehyde — from Johnson’s Baby Shampoo, one of its signature products.
According to the campaign’s report “Baby’s Tub is Still Toxic,” as obtained by the Associated Press, one of the suspect chemicals, quaternium-15, is a preservative that kills bacteria by releasing formaldehyde. Formaldehyde, used as a disinfectant and embalming fluid, was declared a known human carcinogen this past June by the U.S. National Toxicology Program. Formaldehyde also is a skin, eye and respiratory irritant.
In response, Johnson & Johnson said in a statement that formaldehyde-releasing preservatives are safe and approved by regulators in the U.S. and other countries, but that it is gradually phasing them out of its products.
Sodium polyacrylate: also named acrylic sodium salt polymer or simply ASAP (repeating unit: -CH2CH(COONa-) is a broad category of polymer chemistry. Acrylate polymers generally are considered to possess an anionic charge. While sodium-neutralized acrylates are the most common form used in industry, there are also other salts available, including potassium, lithium, and ammonium.
Acrylates and acrylic chemistry have a wide variety of industrial uses that include:
- sequestering agents in detergents
- thickening agents
- coatings
- super absorbent polymers
These cross-linked polymers are also used in baby diapers.
Do you perform surgical hair restoration procedures?
We don’t perform surgical hair restoration procedures. We do offer customized prosthetic services, handcrafting a covering in the size you need and the color, texture, and length of your choice right here in the salon. Click here to see an example.
You don’t need to be coping with hair loss to enjoy this service. Some of our clients use prosthetics simply to change their look & protect their new growth, with more security than a traditional wig offers. This is a popular service, so we usually have 1-2 prosthetics “in progress.” We’re glad to show them to you when you visit. Just ask!
Is hair loss just a problem for women who have undergone chemotherapy or radiation?
Not at all. In fact, the American Academy of Dermatology estimates that about 30 million American women cope with hair loss as a result of heredity alone. That number doesn’t include women facing loss caused by stress, harsh styling methods, medications, & exacerbated by those glue weaves & tight braids. Those with locs may experience severe breakage if they go too long without proper maintenance. Extreme styles have even affected supermodel Naomi Campbell’s hairline.
Women of all ages can experience hair loss, and those feelings of devastation and embarrassment are the same regardless of its cause. Nearly each member of the Blue Sage Hair Wellness staff has her own personal story of encountering severe breakage or alopecia. We empathize with our clients because we’ve been our clients.
You offer chemical AND natural services?
Of course! Women—relaxed and natural—are susceptible to hair loss, and we want to be able to help all women nurture their hair into its healthiest state. We’ll meet you wherever you are today.
We don’t pressure anyone to transition to their natural texture. If your hair is relaxed or colored, we provide touch-ups. It’s only fair to warn you we’ll lovingly challenge & nudge you to postpone that touchup one. more. week. Yes, you CAN do it. We’ll show you how.
Some clients decide on their own to transition, rediscovering their hair and themselves along the way (& no, you don’t always have to start with ‘the big chop!’).
However, you wear your hair, invite us along for the journey.
Why is there a charge for a consultation appointment? I'm not having a service done.
It can be tough to understand if you haven’t visited us yet. When a new client arrives for her consultation, it means:
- that time has been reserved especially for her and the stylist
- she’s been asked whether she would feel more comfortable behind a privacy curtain
- she’s answering questions about her medical history & allergies
- her scalp & neck are being examined for large, abnormal moles or warts
- she’s answering questions about her physician’s prognosis
- she’s receiving suggestions for additional tests and questions to inquire about at her next doctor’s visit
- she’s answering questions about her hair goals
- she’s browsing style consultation books with the stylist
- she’s possibly having her hair matched for color & texture, or a test loc installed, her scalp measured or the stylist is shopping vendor catalogs to order
a closure or other personal hair product - she’s gaining haircare insights learned at conferences, workshops and in-service days throughout the year
- she’s gaining product insights and nutritional information acquired from ongoing research and other clients’ experiences
- on occasion, she’s receiving tissues for her tears
And there’s still the complimentary refreshments, aromatherapy and free parking to enjoy.
So we believe when we meet the high standards we’ve set for ourselves, you’ll leave feeling informed, comforted, rejuvenated and empowered. You’ll leave confident that you, in fact, received a service.
Do you only cater to African-American women?
Women of all ethnicities are welcome at Blue Sage Hair Wellness! Kim’s background as a stylist with the Greater Philadelphia Film Office means she’s well versed in textures of all cultures. A former on-board stylist for Transocean Cruise Lines, Kim’s Miami home port and assignments on ships destined throughout the Caribbean, South America, Panama and Alaska honed her abilities with multicultural clientele. Likewise, she’s trained the Blue Sage team to operate a global salon.
What's the big deal about a licensed vs. an unlicensed stylist?
There are a number of stylists who have a passion for hair and have worked for decades without a license. There are countless stylists in salons who say they are professionals, yet are unlicensed. “Professional” can be interpreted to mean different things. In terms of one’s character, we love that so many of these individuals are courteous, friendly & have built long-standing relationships with their clients. In terms of credentialing, the fact still remains that these persons are doing their clients—and themselves—a huge disservice by not being a licensed cosmetologist. This goes for braiders too. Yes, they may have finished cosmetology school, but chose not to take, or didn’t pass, a State Board exam. We encourage these individuals to pursue their license and invite them to continue their education by joining a staff workshop at Blue Sage.
Think of it this way: would you trust your health to a surgeon who finished medical school, but never passed her/his licensing exam? Or they passed their exam 15 years ago, and are passionate about helping people, but they haven’t updated their credentials & knowledge since? How much new technology, updated techniques and new research might s/he be missing? According the American Association of Medical Colleges, doctors are required to maintain their licensure and certification and to undergo continuing education in order to keep up with advancements in the field.
Back to hair. Anyone who is attempting to put a chemical in the hair, or is braiding the hair, should have some knowledge of what they’re doing on a level that allows them to understand the ability for them to harm someone’s hair permanently. Kim explains further:
“As a cosmetologist who’s maintained her license for 20 years, and continues to educate myself, I don’t want someone who isn’t an expert destroying people’s hair. I find it offensive that someone will surely say, ‘I’m not damaging their hair.’”
“Well, really, how do you know? When you take those braids out, or when you’ve finished braiding your client’s hair, does your client say her head is sore the next day? Will you see them the next day to notice the bumps. . .the pulling at her hairline. . .her inflamed scalp?”
“We have to be mindful of our hair. Our hair, especially African-American hair is extremely delicate.
Because it’s so curly, there’s a common misconception that it’s strong, and it isn’t. Actually, it’s very weak. Sometimes the shaft is even flat, meaning it doesn’t have a full, complete structure. The follicle may be missing a layer of its natural cuticle structure, making it fragile. So it’s open to anything you put on it, including water and oil. A lot of women used to say ‘my hair gets straight with water & grease.’ Usually if your hair gets straight with water & grease, it’s very delicate, & easily absorbs things.”
“Whether chemically straightening it, braiding it, coloring, etc., the service needs to be performed by a licensed cosmetologist. I also believe we should have a continuing education requirement. I lobbied for this in Harrisburg, and schedule workshops and trainings for the Blue Sage team every chance I get.”
What is your cancellation policy?
Dear Valued clients, friends, and family,
Your appointments are very important to us. We understand that adjustments to the schedule may be necessary and we will do our best to accommodate your needs but we respectfully request at least 48 hours notice for cancellations. When we do not have enough notice of a cancellation, we miss the opportunity to fill that appointment time. Please understand that if we do not receive enough notice, we will apply a $35 fee to your next service. Thank you in advance for your consideration.