The Curly Girl's Obsessions

Welcome back to the show! Today's episode is a truly special one. I'm sitting down with the one and only Ouidad - the "Queen of Curls" herself - a woman whose name has become synonymous with curly hair care, but who is so much more than a brand on a shelf.In this conversation, Ouidad shares her remarkable life story: her family's journey from Beirut, Lebanon to New York in the late 1960s, learning English at a vocational high school in Rhode Island, and working her way through Broadway, film, and fashion as the go-to "curl girl" when no one else in the industry understood curly hair.You'll hear about the moment she and her husband Peter flipped a coin to decide between opening a salon or a restaurant - a coin toss that changed the curly hair world forever. She walks us through the early days of opening a curly-hair-only salon in Manhattan in 1984, when banks refused to lend, when the industry insisted curly hair didn't even exist, and when Peter stood on the streets in his one Armani suit hand-delivering flyers to women with curls. We also dive into her product philosophy - built from the inside out, water-soluble, and never suffocating the hair - the creation of her signature Carve & Slice cutting technique, her legendary mentorship of stylists, and her current chapter of "giving forward."This one is full of heart, grit, and curly hair wisdom. Trust me - you could listen to her for hours, just like I did. Let's get into it!

In this powerful episode of "Curly Girls Obsessions," host Jennifer Johnson takes listeners on a deeply personal journey that highlights the detrimental effects of ego in both professional and personal arenas. Reflecting on a traumatic experience where her 17-year-old daughter suffered a compound fracture during a flag football game, Jennifer sheds light on how one surgeon's inflated ego and unprofessional behavior led to catastrophic communication breakdowns, significantly impacting her daughter's post-operative care and pain management.Jennifer recounts the harrowing details of the incident - the emergency transport to a trauma hospital and the surgical procedures that followed. However, the real tragedy unfolds through the surgeon's public humiliation of an anesthesiologist, creating a toxic environment where respect and clear communication were lost. This pivotal moment serves as a striking reminder that egos, especially in high-stakes situations, can compromise not only individual dignity but also the quality of care provided to patients.Drawing parallels to the beauty industry, Jennifer emphasizes the importance of humility and respect among colleagues. She advocates for workplaces built on kindness and mutual respect, sharing her own philosophy derived from the TV show "Cheers," where everyone is valued equally. Listeners will resonate with her insights on how treating all team members with dignity reflects positively on the overall client experience and team dynamics.Join Jennifer as she challenges outdated notions of ego-driven leadership and encourages listeners to cultivate empathy in their daily interactions. With compelling anecdotes and a heartfelt call to action, this episode urges everyone to recognize the power of kindness and to advocate for respectful treatment in all areas of life. Tune in for an inspiring conversation that illustrates the foundation of successful relationships and long-term professional success. Share this episode with friends and family who may benefit from this essential message.

In this episode of The Curly Girls Obsessions podcast, host Jennifer interviews Mia, a stylist who recently completed training programs at Adored Hair Extensions and Salon. The conversation centers on Mia's educational journey through two specialized courses: the Adored Signature Install Methods class (a 3-day intensive program covering hair extension installation techniques) completed in March, and a one-on-one curly hair cutting certification class completed a week prior to the recording. Jennifer and Mia discuss the comprehensive pre-training materials, the value of small class sizes, specific technical skills learned, the challenges overcome during training, and the financial investment versus return on investment for these specialized education programs. The episode emphasizes how proper education, hands-on instruction, and mentorship can transform a stylist's career trajectory and earning potential within just eight months.

In this episode of The Curly Girl’s Obsessions, Jennifer sits down with Suri, a fellow hair extension professional, for an honest conversation about private label hair, ethical sourcing, and what extension stylists should know before choosing a hair company.Jennifer and Suri share their real-world experiences working with hair extensions and discuss why the hair behind the brand matters just as much as the brand itself.They talk about what happens behind the scenes with private label hair, how stylists can evaluate the quality and sourcing of extension hair, and why choosing an extension company shouldn't be based solely on branding, packaging, or price.Jennifer also shares her experience building Adored Hair Extensions and why she believes stylists deserve more transparency when investing in extension hair for their businesses and clients.In this episode, Jennifer and Suri discuss:What private label hair actually meansWhat stylists should look for when choosing an extension companyEthical hair sourcing and why it mattersThe difference between marketing a product and understanding the hair itselfWhy texture matters, especially when working with curly-haired clientsThe challenges stylists can face when purchasing extension hairWhat questions to ask before committing to a hair extension brandWhy education and product knowledge go hand in handJennifer's experience developing Adored Hair ExtensionsWhat extension stylists need to consider before investing in private label hairThis conversation is especially valuable for hair extension stylists, salon owners, curly hair specialists, and hairstylists considering adding extensions to their services.If you're thinking about purchasing extension hair, creating your own private label line, or simply want to better understand what you're actually buying from an extension company, this episode is for you.Listen or watch EP106: The Truth About Private Label Hair: What Extension Stylists Need to Know.

In this raw, unfiltered episode, Jennifer is coming at you straight from her bathroom - no makeup, no glam, just real talk from a 34-year veteran hairstylist who has seen it all. This week, she's breaking down the viral TikTok phenomenon known as "Permgate," the now-infamous saga of an aspiring artist who claims she saved up $200 for a perm, only to have her hair melt off her head. But as Jennifer digs deeper, she reveals why this seemingly straightforward story of salon negligence might not be as simple as social media made it seem - and why the internet mob mentality may have destroyed an innocent person's life over a lie.Jennifer takes you down memory lane to a moment every stylist dreads: the service you knew you shouldn't have done but were forced to do anyway. Flashback to the 1990s, when perms were all the rage and salon owners would never let you say no to a client. She recounts the horrifying story of "Sally," a client with chemically fried hair who demanded a perm before a Florida vacation. Against Jennifer's better judgment, the service went forward - and the perm rods fell out with chunks of Sally's hair attached. It was a disaster that could have ruined Jennifer's career, but instead became a defining lesson in knowing your craft, trusting your instincts, and understanding that some clients refuse to be saved from themselves.But here's where Permgate gets juicy. Jennifer breaks down the forensic details that the TikTok deep-divers uncovered: the client claimed she hadn't had lightener on her hair in 10 years, but social media sleuths found photos of her with highlights as recent as 2024. Meanwhile, celebrity stylists swooped in to "rescue" the girl with a dramatic transformation - cutting off 12 inches, adding K-tips, and cashing in on the viral fame. Jennifer's verdict? The whole thing stinks of opportunism, from the client who lied about her hair history to the influencers who used her tragedy for clout. The salon owner, the brand-new stylist, and a small business were torn apart by hundreds of fake Google reviews from people who had nothing to do with the situation. And now, the girl who caused it all is walking away with free, expensive hair extensions and fame she never deserved.This episode is a must-listen for anyone in the beauty industry, anyone who's ever been canceled by the internet, or anyone who just loves a good messy drama with a side of professional tea. Jennifer pulls no punches as she calls out the double standards of social media justice, the cowardice of stylists who cave to client demands, and the absolute importance of being honest with your hairdresser - because your hair's history is the difference between a great curl and a chemical catastrophe. Tune in for the cautionary tale, stay for the brutal honesty, and get ready to think twice before you ever jump on a viral hate train again.