‼I would NOT recommend POC shop here‼…read more
It's 2025, and I can't believe this is still happening. Yesterday, my sister and I went to the Sally Beauty in Westland. This was supposed to be a fun experience, I'm dying my hair for the first time and was really excited.
From the moment we walked in, the energy felt off. A male employee didn't greet us, but we brushed it off and started browsing. Most of the hair dye is located right at the front of the store. As soon as he finished helping another customer, he came over and started scanning items right next to us. At first, I thought nothing of it, I've worked retail before and know employees sometimes need to scan or restock. But he never once asked if we needed help.
When we moved to another aisle, more customers came in. He was quick to assist them, but not us. When we circled back to the hair dye, my sister noticed he kept watching us while helping others. Once they walked away, he literally stood behind my sister, just staring. Then he moved to her side, twisting bottles right next to us without saying a word. It was so obvious he was following us, waiting to see if we'd take something.
This store is SO small, and every time we went near the hair dye, he followed. Not once did he ask if we needed assistance, even though he could clearly hear us struggling to choose a color. He ignored us, but eagerly helped others.
We eventually checked out, I spent $90 on products I now wish I had bought elsewhere. At first, we laughed it off, but later it sank in: still in 2025, Black shoppers and other people of color are still being profiled and followed in stores. It's sad, uncomfortable, and unacceptable!
This was supposed to be a fun memory with my sister. Instead, it was a reminder of the discrimination that still exists. Even at a freaking Sally Beauty SMH.
For additional context, it was Sunday, my sister was dressed nicely coming straight from church, and I had on simple workout clothes. We weren't loud, we weren't acting suspicious, and we definitely didn't "look a certain way." There was no reason for him to monitor us that closely. Especially since he wasn't doing it to other customers..