Hypermarkets, Beauty Supply Stores and Lace Wigs

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If you are anything like me you have a love hate relationship with large supermarkets otherwise called hypermarkets. Walmart or the UK counterpart, Asda, are like a bloodsucking parasite for local independent shops and it physically pains me when I see yet another closing down sale at a beloved local butchers, boutique, grocers, electronics store, the list is endless.

On the other hand, I have reached a stage now when I buy all my dry goods, meat, vegetables and general household stuff in one of those super large monstrosities. What can I say, I love me a bargain! I cringe to say that I even have my home insurance with them.

Tuesday is my grocery shopping day and today like clockwork I was there filling my trolly with all manner of things when as usual I went past the hair product aisle. I’m always in need of yet another conditioner so why not? I grinned slyly at the larger shelf space ‘black hair products’ have now been afforded. All manner of relaxers, hair colours, masks and even a few tentative oils. It’s well known in the hair care industry that black women spend six times more than white women on hair and beauty producst so with this buying power it’s was only a matter of time before the supermarkets dipped their fingers into this particular pie.

Now I’m not saying that it’s not convenient to buy hair oil while I buy my eggs but there is something inherently special about going into a beauty supply store for your hair mask or to look at what’s new in the hair extensions world that a supermarket just cannot capture. At the moment all the BSS’s I’ve seen seem to be into the lace wig thing. Anyone noticed how every sister and her mum and aunt are ALL wearing lace wigs? But that’s a post for another day. There is something about a large BSS that fills me with excitement, maybe it’s the scent of all those weaves in one place, or maybe it’s the chance of discovering that one magical product that will grow my hair 6 inches overnight, I don’t know. All I know is that I don’t want to think of my hair products as just another thing I can pick up at Walmart. Don’t get me wrong, I love my supermarket bought Tresemme shampoo and conditioner and even though I am well known for only wearing weaves or braids for a maximum of two weeks, I will still always buy hair products from the local BSS.

How long before you are asking the assistant at Walmart for a 16 inch yaki weave in 1B?

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Posted by Alma on September 14, 2011. Filed under General Articles. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.