Aida African Hair Braiding Salon — Attraction in New York

I have a head full of 4a/4b hair that is very thick. Oftentimes, I avoid going to salons because the usual response I got when I was younger was that I have too much hair, coarse hair, and I usually got overcharged. Now, when I do get my hair braided, it is usually done by a relative or friend because there are not many hair braiding salons where I live. However, since I am visiting the area, I decided to go to an African hair braiding salon for the first time in 8 years, one that seemingly has amazing reviews. I’m realizing now that I should have looked at the bad reviews before booking an appointment. I booked an appointment for 9am and was at the salon right at the time it opened. The owner/hairstylist Amy was there on time, as well as two other customers who walked in a couple of minutes after. I soon realized that my appointment would not actually be at 9 as Amy waited thirty minutes before finally calling me to the hair wash station. After taking off my scarf, she proceeded to tell me that my hair was “dreaded” despite the fact that I have curly/kinky hair, not dreaded, and informed me that I needed to comb it out because it would take her too long to do so. I agreed to comb out my own hair, and while she worked on another client, I combed out my hair for about an hour. Amy came to me after I finished, assessed my work, and told me that while I combed out my hair, it looked like I actually hadn’t done anything. She then plugged in a blow drier and took a portion from the back of my hair and started to blow dry my dry hair without any heat protectant. After about two minutes of blow drying that section, she basically told me that I had way too much hair that wasn’t straight enough for her to braid, and said I needed to go to the Dominican salon close by to get a blow dry which would “only be 20 dollars.” She told me that, in my current state, any place I go to would say no to doing my hair, even though I had combed it out. While my hair was not bone straight, it was manageable. It was the fact that I have a full head of kinky hair that led the stylist to make the uninformed and ignorant decision to send me off to another salon to get my hair straighter. I came to this salon because I thought that, as a person of African descent, I would be welcomed and treated with kindness as compared to my previous experiences. Instead, I was discriminated against for my hair texture and refused services for the time I requested them. I was ridiculed in front of other customers and was told that other salons would refuse to provide me with services. This experience was extremely humiliating and I am writing this so that others are aware that this is a salon that is not well equipped to deal with natural, kinky, thick hair, a salon that discriminates against their own. Despite the amazing reviews, one of the only negative reviews has relayed almost the exact experience that I went through. I advise others to make sure their stylists have been properly trained to deal with ALL hair types before booking an appointment. Lastly, I advise everyone to read negative reviews even if the overwhelming majority of people have had positive experiences, because had I read that bad review yesterday, I would have never made an...

I had to come back three times. I called the salon to do boho Knotless braids. I saw the good reviews and decided to come here. 40 min drive away from sheepshead bay bk. Being this wasn’t my first time doing boho braids. I asked if they wanted me to get the curls first. She insisted that they had beauty supplies next door. To come. I go, they don’t have my color 613 in the curls. She went to two stores. Didn’t find them. since I drive I said I would drive to find another beauty supply store who may have the curls. Went to pitkin ave. 3 stores. No curls. I was done with my braids by 630pm. So the 30 mins I had to run around looking for a store with these curls. Wasn’t successful then the stores were all closing. I had to come back next day. I knew in Flatbush bk near where I live. I’d find the curls. I went the next day to find them. Got them call the salon back to let her know I got them. They’re saying they’re busy now. I said that’s okay I’ll wait. (Since I’m going away next week. I really needed this done). The braider applies the curls to the braids. But leaves the ends straight. No curls. Once I got in my car I realize wait this don’t look right. I go back to my old pics I had previous boho braids on to make sure. I’m not mistaken right she didn’t add the curls to the ends.. so I call the shop. I’m not too far since I just left. I call to let her know they forgot the bottoms curls. The owner is mad and says I got cheap hair for curls. I’m like excuse me ? Huh. What ? I told her I got the curls she told me to get and regardless I have no curls at my ends. This style u should have curls at the ends. So she says come back. I come back and she asks me if this is my first time getting these braids I said no. I’ve had small boho Knotless braids. I’ve had the jumbo boho ones too. And proceed to show her pics of me with them on. She says oh. So to my assumption. They gave me whatever they wanted to do with the style because they thought I wouldn’t have known better , they thought this was my first time. Don’t judge a book by its cover. Oh and fyi. I asked for large braids. It started off large and became medium size in the front. I really came bacause I figured they were going to give me the same look as the picture I sent them. But nonetheless i didn’t get the experience I thought I would. I’ll stick to going by my area next...

I wrote a review for Aida previously and after some thought, I wanted to tell of my last experience and why I won’t be returning.

The women who braid are indeed friendly, however when there are disputes of any nature, Aida will frame it as if it’s something else when that’s not the case. My gripe was with the speediness of my hair getting done; I sat in the chair for an additional hour plus due to Fatima withholding numerous conversations and stopping whenever someone came into the salon she knew, which I found to be annoying and unprofessional. When I was moved to Aida, I was discussing my issue which she overheard, and proceeded to tell me my hair was short and that’s why it took long. My issue here is, my hair has grown since I’ve started seeing them & on top of that not being bald when I walked in cause that’s how it sounded, but despite the length of my hair, that had absolutely NOTHING to do with why I was there longer than usual. Instead of hearing out the actual reason which was her continuous stop and go style of braiding and talking to everyone that comes in, losing her focus, it became about my hair length. As someone who has always been self conscious of my hair and finding ways to maintain it and help it grow, I did not find that comment to be worth me returning or supporting the business, as this was the second time my hair length came into discussion for what I felt to be unnecessary and having a lack of care for your customers. As a customer, at least listen before accusing me OR my hair of wrongdoing when all I did was sit in the chair. Unfortunately, the braids are amazing, but I’d rather travel to harlem than to pay their high price and have something like that said to me because a braider is unprofessional. I hope the business continues to grow, but I can no longer...