The Inclusive Business Lab
The Inclusive Business Lab
Curls & Conversations: A Winter Hair Guide Beyond the Chair: Real Talk on Black Hair Care
Black women’s hair is more than just hair—it’s history, culture, and identity.
In this episode of The Inclusive Business Lab, I sit down with my very own hairstylist, Bethany of Book by Bee, to talk all things winter hair care. From the importance of moisture to protecting your curls from heat damage, Bethany shares expert tips to keep your hair healthy all season long.
But this conversation goes beyond products and styling. We dive into the challenges of finding the right stylist, the lack of curly hair education in cosmetology schools, and the way Black hair has been commercialized sometimes at our expense.
Bethany keeps it real about the industry, from overpriced ‘curly cuts’ to the rise of scam bookings. And yes, we talk about that struggle of finding a stylist who actually respects your time and your hair.
Whether you're rocking a silk press this winter or staying curly all year long, this episode is packed with knowledge, laughs, and those “yes, girl!” moments. Bethany also shares details on her new eBook, designed to help beginners (and parents of curly-haired kids) master natural hair care at home.
Tune in for expert hair advice, honest conversations, and a whole lot of love for Black hair!
Book an appointment with Bethany and grab her eBook here: https://booked-with-bee.square.site/product/basic-curly-hair-care-for-beginners-e-book/30?cs=true&cst=custom
Find Bethany: https://linktr.ee/bethanytinalea
We all know that black women's hair is a culture in itself, right? We love our hair. There's so much power in our hair. there's lawls around our hair. Our hair is very important to us.
>> Bethany:We're gonna get that up.
>> Lekeshia:Hello, everybody. Welcome back to the inclusive business Lab, the podcast. I am your host, Lekeshia Angelique, and I'm super excited about today's conversation. I'm super excited about every conversation, but today in particular because we're gonna be talking about winter hair care with my very own hairstylist, Bethany of Book by y. So, we all know that black women's hair is a culture in itself, right? We love our hair have. There's so much power in our hair. there's laws around our hair. Our hair is very important to us. So that'why I wantn have this conversation about getting your hair ready for the winter and get some tips on taking care of your hair throughout the winter months. So, Bethany, if you would like to introduce yourself and kind of tell us how you got into the hair care field and specifically curly hair.
>> Bethany:Okay. So I'm Bethany. I'm from Kentucky. I've been in Tennessee for about five years now. I operate out of my own private salon. I've been licensed for about six or seven years now. But I've always like to do like my friends hair and makeup and stuff like that. Even at a young age, I was really interested in the beauty industry. So that's kind of like how I got into it. It was just a natural interest. and then when I got into high school, that's when I started experiments and doing my friend'hair my friend's makeup, my mom's hair, my m mom's makeup, that kind of thing. YouTube, teaching myself how to do stuff. And then once I graduated, I went to cosmetology school. I seen that there was a real need for curly hair special, coming from a pretty, not like, it's not a super diverse area find.
>> Lekeshia:Like, I'm finding the words, I'm finding theds.
>> Bethany:I'm finding it. I'ming it. Where I'm from is not super diverse. Yeah. And also when I even in recent years, wearing your natural hair has been like a more popular thing. So when I initially went to cosmetology school, it wasn't even initially to be a curly hair specialist. I like to say that my, like, clientele chose me and chose my specialty because I just wanted to do all kinds of stuff. but I feel like people naturally Were drawn to me because I have curly hair. So they would choose me versus a stylist that couldn't relate to them at all or look like them or had hair like them. and then they would go tell other people. And then when I moved to a slightly more diverse area, that's when it really, like, took off and I started to gear myself and brand myself like, in that direction.
>> Lekeshia:Yes. I remember growing up, I used to strai. My hair is straighten now only because it's winter and I'm doing straight natural for the winter.
>> Bethany:And the curls are still popping under the blowout.
>> Lekeshia:Yeah, she blow out. but I would straighten my hair, put so much heat on my hair to get it straight in the curl wax. I don't know if you remember the curl wax period where we were putting so much oil and stuff in the hair to keep it straight. And the.
>> Bethany:The loc.
>> Lekeshia:The ye also, if I would wear it curly, like tons of mouss to try to freeze it and keep it. And I really didn't know, honestly, probably the last five years maybe started to really dabble in how to care for my natural hair and wearing my hair naturally. Because just being in corporate spaces and being in military, having my hair straight was just, easier, I guess. ye. I'm glad that I'm in this period now where I started this journey. And let me tell you something, when she says we're not in a diverse area, she's not lying. Okayus. I had to kiss a bunch of frogs to even find her. I don't even know how we connected.
>> Bethany:But I think Jakira posted meb right?
>> Lekeshia:You're right. Yes.
>> Bethany:Probably ja posted me.
>> Lekeshia:Yes. And I,
>> Bethany:Can bunch of is crazy.
>> Lekeshia:Yeah, yeah, yeah. Because I can post a picture like where I be joking like somebody, they would jack my hair up and I'll try to insert it here where I went to a curly supposed specialist. And yet my hair was so ugly I wanted to cry. And I definitely wouldn't let them get near my head with some scissors. So it was so refreshing to find you. You're so personable. And, like, I posted the other day that it's like a therapy session getting your hair that's like a two for one over here. Because I'd be just in there like, girl, let me tell you what happened since the last time I was here.
>> Bethany:I'BE ready every time.
>> Lekeshia:And it's always something because I'll be doing the most. so you said your clientele chose you versus you choosing that Specialty. and congratulations also on having your first, lecture and going to.
>> Bethany:I know. That was so fulfilling.
>> Lekeshia:Yes. So let's start introducing this education into the beauty, space. Ah, period. Like, I think all hairdressers should be well versed in all hair. So why do you think that's missing out of even the curriculum?
>> Bethany:okay. So you have to know how to do it to teach it.
>> Lekeshia:Ye.
>> Bethany:Ah. So because us as a society is changing to where we do, like, more accepting of natural hair, you have to have the stylists who are actually passionate about it, actually good at it, and of them who want to be educators and of them who are good educators. M. So there's a lack of even stylists that specialize in natural hair and are passionate about it. So that limits how many people are actually going to educate. So I think as, like, the trend grows and it becomes, like, a more widespread, popular thing, then you will have people like me who do want to go in and do some type of education. But honestly, I think it's just the lack of having people, that know what they're doing and want to be an educator that wants to go to, like, different schools and stuff like that. But I do see it going that direction. unfortunately, I do feel like the negative side of that is when you do encounter the frogs, like you said, because people try to capitalize on the fact that, oh, they're like, oh, this avenue seems like a good, like good money.
>> Lekeshia:Y.
>> Bethany:So let me just. Let me just say I can do this. Use these buzzwords. Curly cuts. You know what I mean? And get people in. And then they charge you like a stylist that, you know is actually, like, mastered in what they do, and then you come out with a boched cut.
>> Lekeshia:Yeah. That is another thing. Let's roll back to the stylist and won all the rules and all of the things. Kind of the state of stylists. But also you hit the nail on the head with the capitalization of, the curly hair market. Right when I started looking, we are in a little town, 45 minutes, from Nashville. Right. So I figured, like, if I went to Nashville, it might be a little better to find more diverse people. Still wasn't the. The. It wasn't the move. It wasn't the move. Also, a curly cut was the initial appointment. Four. $4, 400. Are you crazy? For$400, I better have, like, some extensions down to my knees.
>> Bethany:That's what I'm talking about.
>> Lekeshia:Are going last for a year. Like, it is crazy. I couldn't believe it. I was like, man. And. And if you get on TikTok and you start, you know, following all these curly specialists, like, you, likeus, their books get booked up and everything. They really do capitalize off of, you know, the limit, how limited it is, and start charging crazy. Like, the fact that I was about to get on a plane and, like, fly to New York to get my hair done because that's how bad it is here. Yeah. Is insane. But, So let's talk about that a minute. With all the rules, I feel like you have rules that are.
>> Bethany:It's normal. They're pretty common. They're like, the basics just to, like, cover me and cover my client.
>> Lekeshia:Yes, you. A fee to make sure your time is not wasted. Right. To book, prevent scams, all of those things. You actually wash hair, which is kind of rare these dayss, apparently. And all of those things. Why do you think we have. We have even gotten here? Like, before, you know, the salon used to also be a place to gather for, you know, black women. That's just how was and everything. And now it's like the bane of our existence. Like, it's such a hard search to find someone who can care for your hair the proper way. And doesn it t have all these ridiculous canceling on you at the last minute. Everybody talk about those hey, boo texts that they get at the last minute or hey, blo dress so you think has happened.
>> Bethany:I don't think people like doing hair. I think they like making money. So there. If you're like, I love what I do. Like, I want to be at work. Like, I want to be at the salon, like, when I'm not there, you know, like, everybody needs a little break no matter how much they love something. But even once the vacation is over, like, I'm ready to get back and see my clients. I also have, like, very personable relationships with my clients, so, like, I'd be missing y'all. I think other people just are like, I can make a lot of money doing this, so I don't really care if you don't come. It's about the money. It's not about, oh, I want to make this other woman, like, feel beautiful. I want to show her how to do her hair. It is just getting them in, getting it out, getting them out. You know what I mean? And I think also sometimes certain stylists can. They pick and choose their favorites because they think that's who is going to give them, you know, like, Everybody's cloud chaser. So they like to, they have, they play favorites. but I think personally the people that you think has like a platform or you think is like whatever you think about them, that's going to give you the cloud. It's not even really those people. It's your regular deular people who have like a 9 to 5 or a small business, like word of mouth is so powerful. Those are the people that are just gonna go through their everyday regular day and go tell people about you are like posts about you. And those are going to be actual loyal clients. The other people that they are like cutting corners and squeezing in and that's where you' getting canceled. Because they want so and so to come in. They're probably not even going to tell anybody and they're probably going to go to someone else afterwards. You know, I mean like, so I, I definitely ride for my loyal clients, my returning clients. But I really think it's just people are money driven. They're not like passionate about what they do. Because when I, I swear I get really sick maybe once a year and I my stomach be dropping having to tell people like, girl, can you have to wait like couple days to get in? I'd be having some pretty negative responses. But my people who know me, they're like, girls, cool.
>> Lekeshia:Yeah, yeah.
>> Bethany:But I think it's just if I.
>> Lekeshia:Ever gott like, hey, I'm sick or can we reschedule? I would not go to like, you'd.
>> Bethany:Be like, this girl's really sick.
>> Lekeshia:Yeah, yeah, I would definitely. And that's what, you know, when as a diversity consultant, that's kind of one of the things I talk about with people who are afraid to talk or to step into allyship and all of this. They're like, I don't want to get canceled, blah, blah. And I'm like, if you are really trying to. People know that you are trying. If you make a mistake, people are more likely like, oh, that's not, that's out of her character. You know, that's not something that she typically does. So they're more willing to forgive. I think it's the same thing with the hairdressers. but when you start off on B's, like you send me this long list of like, don't bring no extra people, don't bring no kids. Which again understand all of that stuff. gotta pay a deposit or all of it upfront and then don't release the address. Like there's so many scams out there. People, there's a where that they stay getting. I was like, why do y'all even book out this group at this point? Because they are literally just taking your.
>> Bethany:Money give scam anyways.
>> Lekeshia:Yeah, so I understand that both ends, like they probably have gotten burned, you know, one time, one or two times. but yeah, you're right. Word of mouth is everything. Cause when somebody say curly, like my hair, my ears peak up and be like, you gotta go to by like you can't go to nobody else.
>> Bethany:Doeseah.
>> Lekeshia:The amount of times you get tagged in groups when somebody say anything about curly hair is crazy. And it'd be funny. Cause sometimes I think that, like, you know all hair, like it's know all curly hair and everything. And there's some others who only know white curly hair, right? And then somebody will like me will post me like, oh, I'm looking her curlyir. And one of them will be like, oh, I do curlly hair. Not that kind of curlly hair. M. No, thank you.
>> Bethany:Respectfully.
>> Lekeshia:Yeah, no thank you. And I'll be, I be. Sometimes I'll be like, do you do ethnic hair? Like you got a straight up ass. Like do do ethnic hair here? And they're like, oh, we have one stylist. Le'si. Oh, so let's start. It's getting cold. And you know, when the fall came, people were talking about, you know, become straight natural and yeah, just caring for your hair throughout the winter. what tips do you have for like winterizing your hair as far as.
>> Bethany:Like straight natural, curly natural? Both.
>> Lekeshia:Both.
>> Bethany:Yeah.
>> Lekeshia:Let's go with straight natural firstuse.
>> Bethany:So straight natural, like definitely. I feel like people don't do enough with the pre and the post of actually putting any heat on their hair or they're using like too much heat. So I'm sure you pay attention to when I do your hair. I use like three things that got ha prot taken in it before I even touch your hair. So I'm using the Kera blowout cream. That's going to prevent like your hair from getting frizzy. It has its own little bit of heat protecting in it. I use the Kenra blow dry spray that cuts down on blow drying time, as its own little heat protectant in it. And then I use the color w anti humidity spray. So that's going to keep your hair from reverting if it gets a little, little we and air, you know what I mean? And so that has its own little heat protecting in it. So I'm using Like three things to protect your hair and to reduce you having to do any kind of touch ups before I even touch the hair. A lot of times like when I ask my clients to use heat on their hair that have, that have heat damage, they'll be like they're either using nothing or they're using like treume like the red and black bottle or the garne I'like that's doing like absolutely nothing, nothing for you. And it's all about like the blow dry to like the smoother you can get the blow dry, the less heat that you have to use. with your straightener, I usually don't crank mine up above 400 as well. Doesn't matter really the heat, the hair type. And then people learn taking the time to learn how to use like heatless curlers because I know that's what you, you use and it keeps the blowout look and you don't have to really like touch up anything that really keeps down on heat damage because you're only applying heat that first initial time. So that would be my recommendations. Make sure you're using like quality heat protectant. Don't be scared to like stack some stuff. I know I will say as far as like the Kera blowout cream, a little bit goes a long way with that, the color W you can beavy_av handed with that. It actually tells you to be heavy handed with it so you can put a coating on your hair. As far as curly hair, just moisture, moisture, moisture. So including some deep conditioning into your wash day routine. I like the oil dad deep conditioner and then Mazani has a moisture fusion conditioner. They have like a lot of slip and they're super thick. I offer like steaming treatments at the salon. That's something you can do at home too. you can get like a little cheap tabletop like facial steamer, maybe like 25. Have$30 from Amazon and that's going to really like help open up the cuticle, let the moisture penetrate. And when you rinse with cold water it's going to lock it all in. But just trying to keep some moisture in the hair would be like my biggest recommendation. Don't let your hair dry out.
>> Lekeshia:I think to learning about your hair. because I had to text you and was like what kind of hair? What kind of hair I got. They talk abouts and density and letter this stuff. I don't know any of that. And so, so it's hard to find products if you really don't even know Your, your hair. And so how can they figure out what type of hair they have? I've seen all kinds of stuff on put in a piece in water.
>> Bethany:The water, yeah. Porosity says. So there's like, I would, there's so many elements to look in when we're talking about like curl type. Because the 2a, 2c, 4c, that whole debate, that is only one piece of what your cur is, that's your tightness. Because you could have the tightness of 3C, but you have fine hair. Your hair is not gonna look the same as someone with the same hair tightness, but a different density or a different porosity. So you kind of got. And then you can have multiple different types of curls in your head. So I usually try to tell people what their porosity is, their density is, and if they're in the two family, three family, four family. Because it gets a little, little sticky because nobody has like one cur pattern in their head that is very, very rare for me to see. So you can do the porosity test, but even that you can have different porosities in your hair. Of course you're going to have m, you know, like a main porosity, for your hair. But I would cater more towards your porosity and density than even your curl type. But that's like three different things that you have to look at to even begin to pick out which products that you want to use for your hair. Some people, I will have to like even go in with an extra product in certain sections just because that, that curl pattern is different. But it's not going to suit for me to do like their whole head.
>> Lekeshia:Yeah, yeah, yeah. Learning, like learning so much like I think. And that's a part too that you educate your clients too so that they care for their hair at home. And I think that hair, our hair, like I said at the beginning, is such a personable part of us. And like when you're depressed, like we don't comb our hair and things like that happen.
>> Bethany:Right.
>> Lekeshia:So it's a part of our self love journey and having, when you get your hair done, you just, you know, you feel like you can have on.
>> Bethany:You look good, you feel good.
>> Lekeshia:Yes. So I think it's so important for us to, you know, have that dedicated person that kind of makes us, gets us in that space at least. You know, affordability, of course is the thing which, another thing absolutely love about you, that my budget, it's in it, you know, my hair in the budget, because that's Something that I'm not willing to give up. It'coming to get my.
>> Bethany:I do really, I do think that I'm really affordable. Like I don't, I don't really have people ever complain about my prices. I'm sure they might complain in their wr own time, but I look, it's on the booking link so nobody ask surprise when you get here and ask for total cause it's on the booking le you paid $25 before you got here. But I do get comments that I am really affordable or like I should raise my prices. I do kind of have the mentality that everybody deserves to get their hair done but like on their budget, you know, not like in my pockets. You know what I mean? So like I'm willing to work with people's budgets and tell them what service that they can get. realistically from me. I do offer after pay as well. So you can buy out anything and four payments.
>> Lekeshia:Yeah.
>> Bethany:There's no excuses.
>> Lekeshia:And that's what it means to be a real business owner. Right. You ain't asking nobody to cash after you or any of that stuff. Right. You got your business set up in a way that you can cater to a lot of different audiences and have payment options available so that can anybody can sit in your chair and come and feel beautiful. so as per usual, I have enjoyed our conversation. It s the time always flies when we're together. what, what to close? What, what kind of takeaways do you have about, some practical ways to take care of your hair at home or just to make yourself feel good if you can't in between those appointments.
>> Bethany:so gonn plug my ebook in here. I have an ebook and it's literally like the basics the for beginners, for people who are just getting into wearing their natural hair or if you have children who have curly hair and you don't and it's going to tell you a basic wash and go, a basic wash day, a basic, wash and go style and how to sleep with your hair and how to diffuse your hair. but some key like takeaways would just be definitely clean scalp, keep it detangled, keep it moisturized, protect when you sleep if you don't take away anything other than that because you'if you don't have a healthy scalp, then your hair is not going to grow. If your hair is not moisturized, your ends are going to break and if you don't protect it while you sleep is going to break. On that cotton pillowcase. Get a pillowcase or I'ON it please and keep it moisturized.
>> Lekeshia:Like I felt all the things I was doing right before getting into my hair. Never used to write my ha and now was flourishing.
>> Bethany:All of it.
>> Lekeshia:All of it. But it's growing likeus. I again post pictures of like before and my hair has grown so much. We did it, we did the chop because I had let somebody play on my face, and colored my hair and it dam and it wouldn't curl anymore. so my hair has really grown and like it's been a year. It's over a year at this point now that we've been. I've been going to you so I'm excited that I've found somebody and to see like where. Where my hair. I'm not gonna cut it. I have a habit of cutting my hair just like you. Like I'll go into this is all. Yeah, her hairs got her back one day and the next day, the next month I come back and she has being unafraid of cutting because you know, it'sn toa go back. Right. you have those healthy, healthy steps. So I'm gonna see how, how far we can go and how long it can get. And I can't wait to go back to curly to show that you can be straight, natural and go back to the curls. Because that's one thing we check on every appointment. You know, once you put the water on it.
>> Bethany:Juicy.
>> Lekeshia:Yeah. Making sure the curls is juicing. so yeah, I'm so happy that we were able to connect, outside of the salon and learn more about you, your business, your journey and look forward to of course sitting in your chair again. I'm going to link, all the ways to get in contact with Bethany and book an appointment in the show notes as well as a link to her ebook because I think everybody needs that ebook. I'm probably going toa get a copy of the ebook as well because just learning is education is everything. If you haven't been in my platform in a while, I believe the solution to every problem is getting educated in somewhat shape form some way.
>> Bethany:college wealth.
>> Lekeshia:Yes, yes, yes. So again, thanks for being here and.
>> Bethany:Sharon, you're very welcome. I enjoyed it.
>> Lekeshia:And of course so when those seasons change again, we'll bring her back for summer. The summertime.
>> Bethany:Good. That's a fun one in the south for sure. Y trying to find that summer routine.
>> Lekeshia:All right, thanks everybody. We'll see you on the next episode.
>> Bethany:Either way, we're gonna get better.