The simple answer is exposure. In the UK, most hair salons, colleges and hairdressing apprenticeships focus predominantly upon straight or wavy Caucasian hair with curly hair, afro hair and Asian hair forming more niche skills which select Stylists will adopt once they have mastered the bread and butter of cutting Caucasian hair. This is largely for two reasons; in Oxfordshire whilst diverse, like a lot of UK counties, a lot of towns lack much if any diversity. Certain towns are far more diverse, however Abingdon is not and therefore the focus is both upon the availability of willing clients which are predominantly Caucasian and the vast client base that is represented. Hair types vary across ethnicities, and while hairdressers are trained to cut and style all types of hair, most receive their practical training on Caucasian hair. Caucasian hair is generally finer and has a wider variety of textures and densities, making it more flexible in terms of styling. In contrast, Asian hair typically has its own unique qualities that require a different approach when it comes to cutting and styling. 

Uniquely salons like ourselves attract clients from across Oxfordshire and further afield (which more broadly is a much more diverse area), however generally a lot of towns and cities across the UK won’t specialise.

We too find similar trends with curly hair. Given the typical salon won’t see a curly haired client for months (in most cases years), the exposure, experience and know-how to recommend cuts, techniques, styling for curly hair clients is usually less than adequate. Consequently, those salons too won’t stock appropriate product ranges  and thus whilst many hairdressers are highly skilled in cutting Caucasian hair many lack practical experience in cutting other hair types, such as curly hair, Asian or Afro hair.

Asian hair also requires specific techniques that differ from the standard approaches taught in many salons on Caucasian hair. Without having honed your craft regularly, many Stylists simply won’t fully understand how the hair behaves or reacts to cutting or styling.