“You said you paid HOW much for your curly cut?!”

“$130.”

“No way! I can go to my local salon and get a trim for $20.”

For the past four years (give or take), those with natural, curly hair have been appreciating their locks and sporting them on a regular basis. Before that, most of us were unsure about what products to use on our hair and settled for Suave conditioners as our styling creams.

Good thing we are now more educated on maintenance, products and application. The more we learn about how to treat curly hair, the more space we have to be innovative. One of the things most inquirers are looking to learn (or understand) is the point of getting a curly cut.

What is a curly cut?

A curly cut is a haircut that takes place when your curls are dry and in their natural state. Your stylist cuts your hair according to the shape that you have or want. The point of cutting your hair when it’s dry is so you (and the stylist) can see where each curl is going to fall once styled.

A lot of people have trouble understanding the concept of a curly cut because they feel their hair might look uneven when they straighten it. The thing is–curly cuts are for people who wear their hair curly most of the time and might straighten it every once in a while. If you constantly straighten your hair then a curly cut might not be a good fit.

1. Curly cuts are expensive compared to other haircuts–there’s no doubt about that.

One of the main reasons people abstain from getting curly cuts is because they are indeed expensive. Most curly cuts range between $95-$165, depending on the location and prestige of the salon. While these prices might be unreasonable to someone who isn’t used to going to curly hair salons, the cuts are worth it. When you get a curly cut, it’s likely you won’t have to visit the salon again for at least six months. Based on my experience, I’ve never gotten more than two cuts per year–the results really last!

2. You might not like how your hair is styled after your cut.

Many people, including myself are not fans of the way stylists style your hair after your cut. While stylists are skilled in properly applying product, most of us are used to how we style our own hair (well–we’re the ones who deal with it every day!) and might not like the final results. Don’t worry, once you wash it again using your preferred products and styling methods, you’ll be glad you got that cut.

3. Yes, your hair will be shorter but don’t get impatient–it’s part of the process.

I am guilty of the post-haircut sadness because I’ve felt like I spend so much time trying to grow my hair out to only set it back. While it might be a setback in regards to length, trims are very much needed to boost hair health and get rid of all the dead ends. Those with curl textures that fall beyond the 3B category might suffer from the post-haircut blues as these curl types experience a lot of shrinkage. Shrinkage can be a burden but don’t let it fool you–there’s a lot of length that it conceals.

4. There are not many salons that cater to the curly hair community.

A huge burden and something we have to change. There are only a handful of salons in NYC (and its surrounding areas) that perform curly cuts or specialize in curly hair practices. I’ve had to travel all the way to Staten Island just to get my hair colored–not fun when half of that day’s expense went to a car rental. I’ve even traveled to Long Island which isn’t as bad but it isn’t necessarily too convenient since I already graduated from college. There are more curly hair salons in the city and you might find they are a little pricier than their counterparts. Conduct your research and invest in your hair!

5. If you wear your hair straight most of the time, don’t bother getting a curly cut.

Seriously. I’m trying to protect your hair’s evenness and your pockets. While curly cuts are not only a service but a fad, don’t follow the trend if you know you’re not going to wear your curls out most of the time. I straighten my hair once every year and although I’ve gotten a few curly cuts, I didn’t feel my hair was very uneven. I’ve always had layers so I guess the different lengths in my hair complement them.

6. You don’t have to schedule a cut every time you see a split end in your strands.

If you know your hair well and have taken notes on your stylist’s techniques while getting your hair cut, don’t be afraid to snip off a dead end. However, if trimming it (or them) might alter the overall shape of your hair, go see your stylist. That means your hair is already growing out and losing volume.

7. Your Dominican aunt might have years of salon experience, but she most likely isn’t certified in some curly hair practices.

As a Dominican-American with a very vocal family (and respective community), I’ve been surrounded by ideals that suggest curly hair is unprofessional, messy and informal. I was always recommended to straighten my hair for certain events to appear “classy”. Luckily, I grew out of those beliefs and appreciate my hair more than ever now and so do my family members and others. Most of us have that one Dominican aunt that owns a salon and swears she can perform better than curly hair salons. While she might be skilled in certain departments and might pull off a nice cut, it’s safer to go to a salon that understands your hair as they’ll care more for it in regards to techniques, safe products and a heat-free environment.