Welcome back to Behind the Chair — the ratchet, real, and raw podcast where two Atlanta stylists keep it all the way 100 about Black hair.

I’m Denise — 16 years behind the chair.

I’m Jada — 7 years in. We both specialize in natural hair + locs only.

This week: No preview. We teaching. Drugstore ain’t haircare.

We’re naming names — Shea Moisture, Carol’s Daughter, Cantu, Pantene, Suave — and breaking down why the drying alcohols, fake soft coatings, waxes, and buildup are the reason your twist-out don’t last, your silk press poofs up, and your locs won’t retwist.

We didn’t learn that number-letter hair chart in cosmetology school. We learned how to look at your hair and scalp. And we learned that salon brands work — Paul Mitchell, Redken, Wella, Design Essentials, KeraCare, Amika, Matrix, Mizani.

We talk:

• Drying alcohols vs good alcohols

• Why you need to wash your hair THREE times

• How often to wash: natural hair, locs, braids — once a month is too long

• Why locs need to be washed — going months without washing is NOT ok

• Clean scalp = styles that last

• Styling products that actually work and don’t leave white flakes

Product of the Week: Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Shampoo — to get rid of drugstore buildup and help fix damaged hair.

Stop blaming your hair. Start checking your products. If it’s $6 for a big bottle at Walmart, it’s probably not for you.

Behind the Chair: Protect your crown. Pour up, press play, and don’t touch your roots till we talk.

Follow us: @BehindTheChairPod

Got a Chair Confession? behindthechairpod@gmail.com

Leave us a 5-star review — we might read yours next week.

Welcome back to Behind the Chair — the ratchet, real, and raw podcast where two Atlanta stylists keep it all the way 100 about Black hair.

I’m Denise — 16 years behind the chair.

I’m Jada — 7 years in, and we both specialize in natural hair + locs only.

We’re back from Premiere Orlando and we kept our promise. This week: The Big Chop Wasn’t A Choice.

When we say “big chop,” most people think of going natural. But we’re talking about when it’s NOT a choice. When it’s damage. Breakage. Health issues. Postpartum. Stress. Medication. When the hair is telling you it’s time, and it hurts.

We break down the science — what happens when elasticity is gone and bonds are broken. The culture — why cutting feels like failure when you’re taught long hair = healthy hair. And the truth — why holding onto damage stresses your scalp more than letting go.

We didn’t learn that number-letter hair chart in cosmetology school. We learned texture, density, porosity, and elasticity. That’s what tells us when it’s time.

This one is emotional. We’re holding space for the grief, the identity shift, and the reset. Because hair grows back. Scalp health is permanent. And sometimes the most caring thing you can do is cut it.

Missed our Premiere Orlando vlogs? Catch the behind-the-scenes on TikTok @behindthechairpod and IG behindthechair.pod.

Plus: Chair Confessions, Review Shoutouts, and Product of the Week: K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask — for clients dealing with damage who need bond repair, not just moisture.

Behind the Chair: Protect your crown. Pour up, press play, and don’t touch your roots till we talk.

Follow us: @BehindTheChairPod

Got a Chair Confession? behindthechairpod2@gmail.com

Leave us a 5-star review — we might read yours next week.

Welcome back to Behind the Chair — the ratchet, real, and raw podcast where two Atlanta stylists keep it all the way 100 about Black hair.

I’m Denise — 16 years behind the chair.

I’m Jada — 7 years in, and we both specialize in natural hair + locs

We were supposed to do “The Big Chop Wasn’t A Choice” this week, but your girls are driving to Premiere Orlando tomorrow — the biggest hair show for salon pros. So The Big Chop moves to Ep 4.

This week: We’re recording before we hit I-75. We’re talking what we hope to learn at Premiere for natural hair and locs, the tools + products we’re checking for, and the biggest struggle we still face in the chair: clients bringing inspo pics that don’t match their texture, density, or lifestyle.

We didn’t learn that number-letter hair chart in cosmetology school — it’s not a professional system. We DID learn texture, density, porosity, and elasticity. That’s what we use to consult you. We break down what you see online vs what you get in real life, why “I want THIS exactly” isn’t always possible, and why “no” is sometimes the best service we can give.

We’re vlogging Premiere! Follow us on TikTok @behindthechairpod and IG behindthechair.pod for behind-the-scenes from Orlando.

How we use K18: This is for the clients with damage — from color, heat, or years of tension. It’s not a conditioner, it’s a bond builder. You use it on clean, damp hair, 4 pumps, no rinse. Wait 4 minutes before styling. It works at the molecular level to repair broken keratin chains. We keep it in the chair for color clients and anybody dealing with breakage from old styles. Going in the road trip bag because somebody’s gonna need a treatment at Premiere