If you’ve ever walked out of a hair salon regretting your decision, the new app Swivel is for you! Currently available in New York City, Swivel takes the work out of looking for the perfect hairstylist. A user can enter in their desired search criteria, such as hair type and style, and be matched with a stylist trained in their curl care needs.
Jihan Thompson, one of the app’s founders, said she was frustrated by leaving the salon looking worse than when she’d arrived or feeling like her stylist had no idea how to manage her natural curls. Teaming up with her friend Jennifer Lambert, the two women developed an app targeted primarily to women with differently textured hair, such as natural curls. Their goal was to take the guesswork out of vetting salons and stylists, and cut down on the amount of time users spent searching the Internet and reading reviews to find a stylist for their hair type.
Swivel users can use the app to choose the service they are seeking as well as their hair type. The app also lists services such as braiding and knots, as well as connects users with stylists who can help them with transitioning from relaxed to natural hair. Utilizing this information as well as the user’s location, they are matched with a salon or stylist that has been personally vetted by Ms. Thompson or Ms. Lambert.
While women with naturally curly hair often seek services within their own communities, many stylists are not trained to work with naturally curly hair. Even stylists express frustration in their lack of knowledge and Ms. Thompson related the story of one who challenged her cosmetology educators. Every time she was taught a technique, the stylist asked how it would be done on her own naturally curly hair. Outside of their communities, there hasn’t been given much thought to women with naturally curly hair and their unique hair needs.
While there have been several product lines recently put out for women with curly hair, Swivel’s strategic advisor Anthony Dickey relates. Mr. Dickey, owner of salon Hair Rules and the Hair Rules hair care line, says that while it is nice to see more curl care products on the market, many women don’t know how to use the products marketed towards them. As more and more women are turning to the internet for self-education on natural hair care, there has been a decline in salon visits. Mr. Dickey hopes to help turn the tide towards education for stylists, which would hopefully bring customers back to salons.
The creators of Swivel hope that their clients will get the best curl care they can from using their app, and hope to see more women rocking their natural hair in the future. Have you used Swivel? If so, let us know what you think! If you’d like to learn more about the app, check it out here .