I've been rocking my locs for 17 months now, and time has absolutely flown by! While I usually maintain them myself, every now and then, a salon visit for some pampering is definitely a welcome treat. So, for all my loc'd folks out there looking to naturally nurture their beautiful strands, I've found an amazing spot for you.
Do you know BAZ.IC?
I went to meet a young hairdresser named Franck, who warmly welcomed me into his apartment with his colleague and partner Cécile.
Franck knew from a very young age that he was drawn to Afro hairstyling. He first practiced on people around him, then professionalized by obtaining a vocational hairdressing certificate (CAP), which allowed him to improve his techniques and knowledge in hairstyling. This was despite Afro-type hair not being on the curriculum; the topic is only covered for chemical straightening because in this program, it's still the only way to manage kinky hair.
Once he had his CAP, he trained in a very specific workshop dedicated to kinky and curly hair, which you all surely know, Atelier Tortille (http://www.atelier-tortille.com/) run by Zala, a devotee of natural and organic products—more than an ethic, a way of life!
Thanks to this experience, Franck therefore knows all the ins and outs of natural and organic products, both in their compositions and in how to best use them on hair. A boon for the young hairdresser, who makes it his trademark: 100% natural. He will therefore extend this ethic by creating his own home hairdressing business after many years alongside Zala: BAZ.IC was born.
BAZ.IC: A True Concept
I've been genuinely interested in kinky and curly hair for over a decade, and yet I continue to learn things, sometimes simple, the basics for healthy kinky or curly hair.
A very simple thing we all do when applying a product to our hair is tending to put the famous "dab" of product all at once on the top of the head, instead of distributing it better throughout the hair. As a result, we add even more product to get it on the back sections, ultimately ending up with 2 or 3 extra dabs on the head, which in the long run damages the hair and causes all the undesirable effects we know on kinky hair.
This is the type of advice Franck gives, small tips that, when put together, give us a real basic routine to adopt for healthy hair.
So the rumor was true, he has magic hands! It's been a while since I've been in the expert hands of a hairdresser, and I felt like I was rediscovering the well-being that this type of moment provides.
I received a Scrubbing Shampoo + a root touch-up (Latching and crochet).
But what is a scrubbing shampoo at BAZ.IC?
Scrubbing shampoo... What is it?! Won't it dry out my hair even more? And for those with chemically straightened hair, is it okay? And ultimately, what's the goal?
"A scrubbing shampoo mainly allows you to start fresh, because the goal is simple: it's to remove all product residues (chemical or natural) that coat the hair and limit the effects of the treatments we apply. Contrary to popular belief, kinky, curly, coily, locked, and even Caucasian hair doesn't need a ton of products. How many times have we noticed that there's always a thin film of grease at the end of the day, even though the last product application was the night before or even that morning? As long as the hair is saturated, the scalp risks drying out, which opens the door to problems like itching, dryness, breakage, or slower growth (to name just a few). That's why a scrubbing shampoo allows you to deeply cleanse the hair and scalp to then adopt a healthier routine. A good scrub is made from baking soda and raw soap (West African black soap or Aleppo soap) or red or white clay) because a "simple" shampoo (bought commercially) is not enough to remove all products. The result is softer, lighter hair, a sign that it has been deeply cleansed."
My impressions of the Scrubbing Shampoo:
I felt like my scalp could finally breathe; this technique is just perfect for eliminating all residues, the impression of a deep cleanse is real.
After the shampoo, Franck latched my roots and tidied up all the small frizzes that were coming out of my locs with a crochet hook; this method is very effective for perfect locs.
BAZ.IC provided me with a care protocol to follow as someone with locs, a routine I have been rigorously following since my visit to Franck.
Test approved! Franck is an excellent hairdresser; I've never received so much advice about my hair from a professional. Surely, being styled at home encourages interaction with the hairdresser, but most importantly, you're dealing with someone who truly knows their subject. I'm delighted with this meeting with the BAZ.IC team, and I invite you to visit their website if you'd like to try it for yourself.
Some examples of hairstyles created by BAZ.IC home hairdressing salon.
