Benay Hair Braiding — Local services in Charlotte

Just got off of the phone with Benay, the owner who wanted to call and talk in circles about her giving inconsistent pricing. Paid one price in October. They did a great job so wanted to get my daughter and I hair done. Got my daughter’s hair done on 02/22/25 and rescheduled mine only to be told a different price. I placed what she told me in my Apple notes because African shops are known to be inconsistent and greedy. I then tested her and acted like I forgot the price so I could see if she would give a different price..ding ding ding, she did. The price on February 15th was $320 NOT including their bad synthetic hair but was going to be including my human curly hair that I already paid $200 for. The braider on the shop as well as Benay told me to purchase TWO packs of curly hairs this is the EXACT amount that I had in the braids they did in October. The price today was now $370 but oh wait $350 if they only had to use one pack of MY hair. She kept harping on how much less they charge and how small their braids are than other salons, but obviously I didn’t care about price to get two heads of braids as well as spend $200 just for the human hair for hair the curly pieces. I KEPT TELLING HER MY ISSUE IS NOT price as I have paid $700 for braids and will do again for a company to be consistent and reliable. She kept listening to herself talk but not listen when I told her my issue was telling me a different price in a couple of weeks two days before my appointment. Also please know that when I took my daughter her braiders were trying to overly charge every customer $10-$20 on top of the price that there were told by Benay.. so they were either trying to pocket the money or bad communication between she and her employees. They also charge you $45 for the bad synthetic hair or as she said synthetic/ human in which I had never used.Please also note they this blend hair which is only 10% human is 25.99 in the beauty supply hair not $45. Again when you call this is not communicated, you are told when you arrive although she knew EXACTLY the person’s video I was referring to from social media and told me my price based off of that. I give my money to businesses with integrity and consistency and work off principles in every day life. Had my price never changed multiple times, then I would have had no problem paying. I let her know this is why a lot of people stopped going to the African shops is because they always say a different price.. Acording to her business model she charges differently based on season and says nail places do this as well. I am sorry in my 40+ years, I have never seen nail shop, hair salon or anyone else do that living in NY, Atlanta, Baltimore and Charlotte and a mom that owned a salon for 20+ years but I digress. When I said ok if that’s how you run business then what is your reason for the change within a couple of weeks? She couldn’t answer or remember her lie she said in her own text. I had to tell her to read her own text. So yes I don’t care if I pay more, I like honesty. They do a great job but will be on the search for a new braider even if I have to go out of town. Horrible business practices. You all have been warned! Receipts attached. Picture of my braids from October. Waist length because my hair is long, my notes from Feb 15th when she told me price on the phone and her text today March 6th 2025. Last photo of Tik Toker braids that she gave me price based on and that was...

Let me start by saying, I absolutely loved getting my hair done here. My first few visits were nothing short of amazing. It was honestly a no brainer after getting my hair done here the first few times, but the last two times I’ve come, I have been extremely disappointed. The first 2 times I came, I was in and out in less than 5 fours (with the second time, me getting a takedown service & reinstall). The 3rd time, I got the same service and I was at the shop for over 12 hours (10am - 11pm), it was fine because I was not pressed for time and only Pierette was working on my hair (she is a phenomenal braider by the way). The 4th and final time was the straw that broke the camels back for me. I had mentioned to Ms. Benay that I needed to be out of the shop by 6pm & I asked if she could have two people work on my hair and she assured me that that would be the case and it wasn’t. I had requested Flavie (who is another AMAZING braider as well) and whoever else she could pick. She told me to get there at 9am and tell me why I didn’t leave the shop until almost 2am in the next morning and had to wait over an hour for another braider to come and finish my hair! Talk about frustrating!! When I reached out to her about it, she simply said the other braider who was supposed to help didn’t answer and I was upset because she could’ve just told me that initially instead of overbooking and only offered a $20 discount for an over $400 dollar hair style (including takedown & tip that I give because I love how my hair comes out). When I say she still expected the full amount, not even a discount for the next time, nothing. I expressed my frustration to her and told her that I can no longer support and get my hair done there. I’m giving two stars because my hair looks great, but other than that that is it. I think many things can be done to improve and make this establishment better, but communication and...

I choose this shop out of all shops because of it’s great reviews ofcourse but let me just say I REGRET it. Im not one to complain but this is the worst african braiding experience of my life( I have been going to africans for over 10 years). First of all I asked for smedium size knotless braids and was quoted $220. I had no problem with the price because of the size I asked for. After getting my hair done I got home in the mirror and realized my braids was extremely short and very thin looking.The parts were big with very small braids and I had someone to take pictures of the back back (also different shapes) I was so Disappointed so I texted them to let them know and they said I could come back to have them fixed. When I came back to get them fixed they only fixed 2 rows in the back. I asked the lady to also fix 2 rows in the front as they was big as well and she got mad and started to make a big fuss and had the manager calling me to fuss (the braiders dont speak english). Well here I am now taking my braids out and realizing these ladies cut off big chunks of my hair when they had to redo the braids that THEY messed up. When telling my coworkers how much I paid for my hair they all said NO WAY, that’s not a $220 hairstyle more of $140!! They asked me the name of the place so that they never go there and tell everyone they know not to go here after seeing how badly I had been ripped off. YALL PLEASE DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY AS I DID, I WORK TOO DAMN HARD FOR MY MONEY TO HAVE IT THROWN AWAY LIKE THIS AND NOT TO MENTION THE SHOP IS 30 MINUTES AWAY FROM WHERE I LIVE AND THEY DID NOT EVEN OFFER TO GIVE ME ANY OF MY MONEY BACK FOR MY INCONVENIENCE!! Yall look at these photos and think if yall would $220 for this!! Or even drive 30 minutes TWICE!!! Dont...