My older cousin, Tracy and I have been really close practically since birth. She’s older than me, but only by a couple of hours.
I consider her my older cousin though, because she has always been taller than me, and overall just more mature and level headed. Tracy became interested in doing hair right after we graduated college.
We both got business degrees, but Tracy’s mom passed away our senior year of college and it was like Tracy did a complete 180. She said she was never passionate about working corporate America, even though that was her dream ever since her elementary school career day.
After graduation she immediately started researching cosmetology schools. This took our whole family by surprise because Tracy barely could make a decent pony tail, so when she said that she wanted to start doing hair for a living, we were all a bit skeptical.
Fast forward to now and Tracy has been floating from salon to salon because she can’t seem to stay hired at one for longer than a month. The first salon she was at one of her clients came in for a trim, and she left with a bob. The next salon fiasco was even worse- she left a client’s relaxer on way too long and ended up frying a huge patch of her hair. The latest fiasco hit closer to home.
Tracy was doing our grandmothers hair for our church’s anniversary and when Tracy was finished with her my grandmother was in tears. Somehow Tracy ended up coloring our grandmother’s hair dark purple instead of jet black. I mean it was evident that hair was not Tracy’s calling but Tracy insisted that it wasn’t her fault in every instance.
However, like I mentioned earlier, Tracy has never had a knack for doing her own hair, let alone anyone else. Since I care about Tracy I thought that I should sit her down and have a heart to heart with her about her current career choice, but I couldn’t even bring myself to do it.
I ended up just telling Tracy that all of those prior incidents weren’t her fault and all she needed was more experience and practice. Tracy took my advice to heart, and is applying to different salons in our area, hoping someone will give her another chance, all the while I’m hoping she’ll lose hope and just get into another career.
Am I a horrible person for not being honest with my cousin? Weigh in!
Neena Harris says
If they were close as she said they were she shouldnt have had a problem keeping it real from the jump. Shes not wrong for wanting to tell her, shes wrong for leading her to believe she had a fighting chance lol
Kristie Curtis says
Yes, tell her.
Priscilla Washington says
By all means!
Pamela Wilder says
Nope….just let her keep Praticing on Your Head until She Get it Right!!! thats what Cousins For. Lol;-) Sit In LOVE!
Latoya Michelle says
She shouldn’t walk around with horrible hair just to spare her cousin’s feelings. Lol.
Pamela Wilder says
its just a HAIRSTYLE, all this Wack styles i see EVERYDAY!! GOD SAID LOVE Before Everything! 🙂 plus She keep going Back to her?! Everything Takes Pratice, trust Me she will get!! 🙂 Be Humble
Latoya Michelle says
Perhaps her cousin could practice on a doll, not her. The girl shouldn’t have to look like a fool just for the sake of practice.
Ashley says
I agree. No one should walk around looking bad just for the sake of practice. Also God said Love but being honest is a component of Love. Pamela is right about some of these hairstyles nowadays though lol.
Mika Dickinson says
Yes tell her it’s better for her to hear it from you than someone else
Carmella McCoy says
She will never know unless you tell her. Just be sure to be gentle with her and use tact.
Lana Campbell-Moore says
Yes
Kween Kari says
You’re horrible for lying to her in the first place. Now you want to make yourself feel better by telling her you lied to her. If you need to tell her anything it should be that she needs to take responsibility for her actions AND not to give up if she really wants to keep going. Support her in truth and love.
Latrice Jackson says
No, don’t tell her. She will figure it out.
Celeste Jackman says
She definitely isnt helping her by giving her a false sense of hair talent. She can tell her in love since tey are close- that hair isnt for her. Maybe she is still grieving?
Sivon Lockhart says
for the safety of society PLEASE tell her!
Donna Myre says
No ! You may be the only one that feels that way, because I’m quite sure if others feel the same as you they will not be letting her style their hair !
MsCurlyKat says
She should be told. However, beware-if she is not owning up to her own errors, she likely won’t believe you, and may start out insulted. But, she’ll eventually take it to heart.
Ashley says
You should definitely tell her the truth. Instead of trying to find a salon that would take a chance on her maybe she should go back to school or take various hair classes to get help.
Diara Grant says
Criticism will make a person strive to get better…yes tell her!
Nikki Hudson says
She was right to tell her she needs more practice, but wrong to tell her none of the “incidents” were her fault. Seriously, you can’t use a watch or timer for a relaxer? You don’t know the difference between a trim and a cut? Tracy is going to end up wanting to practice on HER head next, and how will she talk her way out of that one? (This sounds like a made up story, but assuming it’s not….)
Brenda Bell says
Yeap tell her
Anita Mcclendon Mcclendon says
yes she should be told