lala718
7/20/2013 21:14 EST
Last year while on vacation in Jamaica, I went to a beauty salon in St. Ann's Bay. I was so turned off by the experience I had. First up the shop isn't up to par but that's ok, I understand I wasn't in the USA n that's how things are done there. There was only 1 stylist working that particular night and she had numerous friends and kids popping in and out. One particular friend of hers stayed quite some time w/her kids who were all over the salon and then they proceeded to talk about me "the foreigner." Keep in mind neither of them knows me and vice versa. They kept going on and on talking about the way I looked "from yu c da gal ya yu know say a foreign she come from. She smell good, real good. Mi love di smell a foreign people. Wonder if mi beg her 2 soap she will give me. Mi love di hair she a put in, mi a go tell her if she a tek it out b4 she leave to give mi" I sat there praying the entire time for my hair to be done with so I could get the hell out of there. I felt mad uncomfortable and I found it to be so rude and disgusting. The funniest part is, I understood majority of what they were saying though they were speaking in "patois" but they were clueless that I understood the language. It wasn't a pleasant experience, that was my first and last trip to that salon, never again.
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LoriB
7/21/2013 00:58 EST
Hahaha welcome to Jamaica lala718. That's how they talk, and it sounds like they spoke very complimentary of you. They frequently 'beg' things from each other as well as visitors and don't consider it rude. I don't recall if you are American but if you are, you know we were raised differently than Jamaicans. Don't be too sure they didn't know you could understand them; they can turn the degree of patois up or down depending on how much they want you to understand.
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lala718
7/21/2013 15:26 EST
Hey Lori B- yea they were being somewhat complimentary but it just made me mad uncomfortable cause every time some1 rang their phone they'd say "mi down a shop wid a foreigner." For them to be talking about me openly was bad customer service for me. I found the friend to be so rude too n she kept giving me these stares. mmmhhh I will not go back to that salon, I'll drive to Ochie or DBay or RBay or possible try another salon in St.Ann's Bay but not that one. I tried 2 other salons in St. Ann's Bay b4 -the 1st one did a terrible job, the 2nd one did a good job but she migrated so that's how I ended up at the other one. Are you in Ja Lori or planning on moving there, if so where?
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LoriB
7/21/2013 16:40 EST
I have been living in Westmoreland for a few years, tested the waters part-time, now moving full-time
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lala718
7/21/2013 23:43 EST
Ok it's good u tried it b4 making the huge leap. I've been to Westmoreland a few times including my last visit. R u moving w/kids?
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swhite
7/25/2013 12:43 EST
HI i read with some amusement your experience i have been in JA for a while now and would love to go to the hair dressers but i have observed that jamaican do not have a lot of qualification in anything i.e car repair, hairdressing, business and sadly if my hair feel out they would say
a fe your business and not be professional nor offer heaven forbid compensation. so sadly i do hair myself not perm but plait as i have no intention of going to any of them, please check if the hair dresser have any qualification as doing hair at home for a long time nor is being a good person qualification but this is jamaica and that might just be there qualification standard.
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ruthie14
7/25/2013 13:25 EST
Unfortunately that is not unusual. It is the kind of experience that is extremely annoying while it is going on but will make a good story later -- which is typical of Jamaica. You can find a decent salon that should treat your right but you probably have to go Ochie or someplace bigger. I think she probably thought you did not understand her. I think if it was me I would have said something to her. Then she would probably have traced me off or shrugged her shoulders. In Jamaica good customer service seems to be based on whether they like you personally as opposed to treating you right because you are a customer giving them money.
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lala718
7/25/2013 17:30 EST
Swhite-u can find some that have qualifications but yes u are right, I should have checked to c if this one was qualified but I was running out of time, it was the day b4 Grand Market and my options were limited and majority of the places were busy or closed. When it comes to braiding though, u can find someone easily with/without qualification and they do a good job! I met my friend's beautician New Years Eve and she did a good job on my friend's hair so I'll check her out in Ocho Rios the next time. I just need to find a good stylist for myself and my daughter.
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lala718
7/25/2013 17:39 EST
Ruthie14-I could have said something but listening to them was a bit enticing because I knew this was one shop that wouldn't be getting my money again. The saying goes "u get to make a 1st impression only once," they blew it so they don't have a second chance when it comes to me. In Ocho Rios I might have paid more cause they might have considered me a tourist but that's a chance I'm willing to take next time if not I'll drive to the country area and have someone do it and I'm sure I'll be satisfied. Majority of business places in Ja lack customer service and they need to be trained on that, but it doesn't bother me much cause I'm just as rude as they are if not I'm even ruder. Even with all that I still love Ja and looking forward to being there soon. Are you already there Ruthie? If so where are you and how is it going for you?
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jaminco
7/27/2013 22:50 EST
This is a great and jovial Jamaican story, I've read it to quite a few of my friends. Hush the only rude or derogatory word used was "gal" and I"m quite sure no pun was intended. All you got was a real good dose of country culture jamaican style. They thought you weren't understanding a word they were saying. You should have said something and watch them all go quiet.
Once when I was younger and traveling the world, my friend and I visited Panama and was having a few beers at an open bar. After a few, one friend Lance started mouthing off another patron sitting across from us in patois, saying how yu so ugly buoy, yu mada musi di luv Pickney fi mek all yu grow up, plus others derogatory things......shortly after the 6 footer came around and held little short Lance slapped him twice and said "who di blood-claut yu a talk buoy. I have never heard a farth so loud again in all my life
Trust me they meant nothing, it was fun reading your post
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jaminco
7/27/2013 23:53 EST
and it happened just the way I told you....trust me...my colleagues saloon experience in Ochi brought back the memories....Lance survived...he has a successful Used Parts business in Kingston
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suzy27
6/26/2014 08:48 EST
Hey ladies if you looking for a hairstylist from the states don't hesitate to hit me up. I'm experienced in all hair textures. I do cut, color, perm, relaxer, extension, hair treatments, braids, and makeup. I also do wedding packages. contact me on hairbysuzyglam@gmail.com
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