If you have 4C hair, you already know the struggle. It is the tightest curl pattern out there, with coils roughly the diameter of a crochet hook and a zigzag shape that makes strands bend in every direction. The natural oils your scalp produces have a hard time traveling down the hair shaft, so 4C … Read more
At Mercer Street Salon, I have sat behind the chair with hundreds of clients during their transition to gray, and the conversation always lands on the same three concerns: yellowing, dryness, and a halo of frizz that shows up out of nowhere. Our team spent the last three months testing 12 of the most popular … Read more
I have spent years testing hair products on relaxed hair, and I know firsthand how tricky it can be to find the right ones. Relaxed hair goes through a chemical process that breaks down protein bonds to straighten the texture, which means it is more prone to dryness, breakage, and damage than natural hair. The … Read more
Transitioning from chemically relaxed or permed hair to your natural texture is one of the most rewarding journeys a person with textured hair can take. At the same time, it can feel overwhelming when you realize that half of your hair behaves one way and the other half behaves completely differently. The line of demarcation … Read more
I’ve had locs for six years, and I still remember the first wash day disaster that taught me everything about what locs actually need. I reached for my regular sulfate shampoo, scrubbed hard, and watched my starter locs unravel within a week. That mistake sent me down a rabbit hole of testing dozens of products … Read more
Female pattern hair loss affects more than 30 million women in the US, and our team at Mercer Street Salon sees the emotional toll it takes every week. I have worked with clients in their 30s noticing widening parts, women in menopause watching their ponytails thin, and post-partum mothers wondering if their shedding will ever … Read more
I remember the first client who sat in my chair and quietly said, “I can’t see my scalp anymore when I look in the mirror.” She was in her early 40s, frustrated by months of watching her crown thin out despite vitamins, scalp serums, and the gentle shampoos I had recommended. That conversation is what … Read more
Finding the right wig after an alopecia diagnosis changed my entire approach to hair replacement. Our team spent six months testing 12 options and interviewing stylists who specialize in medical hair loss to build this honest guide. The best wigs for women with alopecia are medical-grade constructions that combine soft caps, breathable materials, and realistic … Read more
I remember the first time I got box braids. I walked out of the salon feeling like a million bucks, then three days later my scalp was itching like crazy and the edges were already fuzzing up. That was my wake-up call. Having braids installed is only half the battle. The real work starts the … Read more
If your hair feels like straw no matter what conditioner you use, the problem might not be your routine. It might be your shower. After testing dozens of bottles at Mercer Street Salon over the past year, our team learned that hard water quietly sabotages most hair care regimens, and the right chelating shampoo makes … Read more