Why I Fly to Atlanta to Get My Hair Done

Source: Lauren Williams/HB / HelloBeautiful

Finding a hairstylist you love is a rite of passage – and its not for the faint at heart.

It takes prayer, patience, endless Google searches, referrals, and sometimes a little luck. If you know, you know—it’s a journey. But one well worth it.

Growing up with Black hair, I had a Vigorol relaxer and Pageboy bump

Growing up, it was much simpler.

My mom didn’t know how to do hair. (She said that God listened to her prayers when I, out of nowhere, grew a head full of tresses after being born premature and bald.)

So, the lady around the corner, Joy, was my go-to. Joy used to put a strong chemical called Vigorol in my hair—probably burning my follicles off—but it left my hair shiny and flowing like I had my own wind machine.

I had no choice back then; she was the neighborhood hair whisperer with a hot comb and a thing for the Pageboy and mushroom bump.

Finding a good hairstylist is a rite of passage for many Black women

When we moved, I graduated to JCPenney salons, which somehow always had a crew of Black stylists grouped together. Those were my people: Melanie, Nadine, and Sharon. I hopped between the three until I went off to college in Pittsburgh.

That’s when things got a little more difficult.

In college, I bounced between stylists who fit my budget, friends who could slap a ponytail together with bobby pins and a rubber band, and anyone who could hold a flat iron. It was survival mode and I made it work.

But when I moved away from my college town—and my hometown—the hunt for a true stylist began again.

Even now, while living in Washington, D.C., I still catch flights to Atlanta to get my hair done. Yes, flights.

I lived in Atlanta for almost a decade after college, and that’s where I found my forever stylist. Her name is Chavela Hill. To this day, she slays my hair like nobody else can. She knows my style, my aesthetic, and exactly how I want to look when I leave her chair.

Why I fly to Atlanta to get my hair done

Our hair journey started with the usual: Google searches and trial runs. She was the new girl at a salon near my house in Atlanta. Back then, she was the shampoo girl, but she had this hustle and grit that caught my eye. After talking to her, I learned she was in school and already one of the best stylists in the salon. I decided to give her a shot—and I never looked back.

As she leveled up, so did my hair. When she changed salons, I followed her. When she opened her own spot, Beyond Shears, I was there. Over the years, we’ve gone from cutting out styles from Hype Hair magazine to customizing units, colors, and looks that feel like me.

My stylist loves to put her spin on good Black hair trend. We’ve been inspired by all the ‘it girls’ from Keke Palmer to Beyonce and Rihanna

Most recently, I flew to Atlanta for a new slay—a copper cinnamon color we’d been plotting for three months. And the timing couldn’t have been better: while she was putting the finishing touches on my unit, Keke Palmer popped up rocking the same shade. It felt like fate.

This isn’t the first time Chavela has had me ahead of the curve. A year ago, we went with a sandy blonde look just as Rihanna and Beyoncé were stepping out in similar shades. That’s what I love about her—she listens to what I want, keeps an eye on trends, and always stays true to my vibe.

I only wear kinky straight hair because I love being Black and don’t feel right in anything too silky. Vellz, as I call her, gets that. She gives me flawless cuts, colors, and styles that take me from the boardroom to the runway without missing a beat.

So, when people ask why I fly over 600 miles to Atlanta to get my hair done, my answer is simple: I know what I’m getting with Chavela. We slay.

Could I find someone in D.C.? Probably. But finding a stylist, building trust, and developing the kind of bond I have with her takes time I don’t have. Sometimes, a quick flight and a few hours in the salon are all this It Girl needs to feel like herself again.

And honestly, it’s worth every mile.

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