Top African Hair Braiding — Local services in Charlotte

I’ve been to Top African Hair Braiding several times over the years, and for the most part, I’ve had good experiences. However, there are some recurring issues that I feel need to be addressed.

One major concern is how some of the stylists speak negatively about clients in their native language. Even if you don’t understand what’s being said, the body language, laughter, and glances make it clear. It’s very unprofessional and uncomfortable. As paying customers, we deserve respect — this business wouldn’t survive without the women who continue to show up and spend their money here.

On my most recent visit, I called early in the morning to request the stylist I usually go to. I was told she wasn’t in yet but would receive a call back within 30 minutes. Over an hour passed and I never got a call, so I followed up myself. Turns out, she was already there but had started on someone else’s hair. I was told she wouldn’t be available until later that afternoon, which didn’t work for my schedule, so I said I’d still come and just have someone else braid my hair.

When I arrived, a stylist offered to do my hair and sat me in one of the hard waiting chairs — not an actual salon chair. I had just recently had surgery and needed proper support, but I didn’t complain. I tried to be patient. Almost immediately after starting, though, I noticed her and another stylist laughing and talking while looking at me. I couldn’t understand what was said, but it clearly felt like I was being laughed at — and that’s never okay.

She kept re-parting my hair and asking if it was straight, which gave the impression she wasn’t confident in what she was doing. Eventually, I parted it myself. Then she started the knotless braids from the front, which I found odd — usually they start from the back — but I stayed quiet. When she asked me to check the length, it was clearly shorter than what I requested. I had asked for waist-length (which she had already said would be a $30 upcharge), but the braids were about mid-back. When I mentioned this, she suddenly said it would be a $50 upcharge. Even after I agreed to pay it just to avoid further issues, she kept going back and forth with me about it, and I finally asked for someone else.

Thankfully, two other stylists stepped in to finish my hair and made sure I was seated in a proper salon chair. They were kind, professional, and I truly appreciated their help. I was happy with how my hair turned out and made sure to tip both of them.

That said, the overall environment in this salon is often negative. The gossiping, laughing at clients, and the dismissive energy from certain stylists make it uncomfortable to sit there for hours. Even toward the end of my appointment, I got a call saying my original stylist was ready — even though I had already explained that someone else would have to do it this time. That kind of miscommunication happens, but I didn’t appreciate being made to feel like I was the problem. One of the stylist doing my hair told me that I need to apologize to her because she was waiting on my appointment. Which it is not my fault if she didn’t understand what I had already explained over the phone.

To top it off, when I was about to leave and digging through my purse for my keys, an older stylist rudely pointed them out, and another laughed as if it was funny. It confirmed what I had already felt — that clients are often talked about and judged.

I’ve continued to come here over the years because of Madu — she’s kind, professional, and always does great work on me and my daughter. This review is not a reflection of her at all. But the behavior from other stylists is extremely unprofessional and really takes away from the experience. I hope the salon takes this feedback seriously,...

DONT WASTE YOUR MONEY Mixed Girlies Must Read: I had a terrible experience at this shop today. First off I was not charged the $75 as quoted for 2/4 stitch braids. The woman charged me $100. After she did ONE braid, I told her I didn’t like it because it went straight back. (They should have been Indian style) She began to complain about my hair being ‘too soft’ to deal with and saying that it was a struggle to braid. When I said ‘ok, then you can just take it down and I’ll go’ she was obviously annoyed and said, with quite the attitude ‘then you’re gonna pay me for my time and the hair I used’. I asked her how much, $25. I said ok… she began to take down the 1 braid that she did. When she stopped in the middle, I asked if she could braid it closer to my ear from there and see how it looks. She did, and I liked it. So she agreed to continue. However, she did not do the other side the same way. She did it straight to the back. At that point I’m sure she talked about me, in her native tongue, to the entire shop as they kept looking and smirking, so instead of further embarrassing myself, I let her finish, paid her and left. I couldn’t get home fast enough to take it down. $100 wasted because she wouldn’t do the style I asked. She kept saying that ‘I don’t have the kind of hair for braiding, it’s too soft’. I find that very offensive. I’m mixed race and I have naturally curly hair. I’ve had my hair braided many, many times over the yrs and I’ve never had any problems. I literally came into the shop with 2 Indian braids, I just wanted hair to be added so it would last on vacation. I don’t appreciate her overcharging me and then attempting to bully me into paying her after only doing 1 braid. Please read the reviews and don’t waste your money. Especially my mixed girlies, clearly our hair type is a problem for this ‘professional’ hair braiding shop. UPDATE I sent this exact review, advising of my experience, via msg to the person I was in contact with on IG the same night as my appointment. The person responded at MIDNIGHT saying that they would get back to me the next day. They advised that I would be issued a refund and if I could come in the NEXT day. I was grateful and said I couldn’t do the next day as I was leaving for vacation (hence the reason for getting my hair done) but I could stop in later that night or when I returned. -No response until the next day. Further back and forth while I was on vacation. A woman FINALLY called me back the day after I returned. She was extremely RUDE telling me that I had 24 hours after my appointment to get a full refund if I wasn’t satisfied with my hair. I asked how would I know that, she said there is a sign in the shop (didn’t see it). So I could either get my hair done for free or get refunded half. I told her that I would never set foot in that shop after the way I was treated and the IG msg said a refund, not partial and I advised that I would be updating my Google review to include this correspondence. She said if I did that then I wouldn’t get any refund. Tuh… well I got half and I’m still posting this review. DO NOT SUPPORT...

HORRIBLE HORRIBLE customer service . I would never recommend this shop to anyone the OWNER SEEMED TO be professional and nice NOT she couldn't even tell me her name. I had to call because I had issues with my box braids a couple of days after I had them put in .When I called I asked for the manager who ever answered stated that the manager was busy and would call me back so I waited for a couple hrs still no call back so I called them again to let them know about the pain and swelling that I was experiencing this time the manager did answer when I explained it to her she didnt even apologize or show any type of empathy . Then she said asked me who the braider was so I told her well she tells me when they arrive she will talk to them and call me back, low and behold she never calls me back and I had to call them again to let them know that she never called me back still no apology. then she tells me the braiders are not there. Instead of taking the job role as owner and showing that she cared and refunding me she tells me she doenst have my money which was totally not true she is the owenr so I know that she knows how my money flows.. So what I had to do is go up there to let her know in person that I had pain and swelling and itiching from the braids and let her know that I had to take them out because they were heavy and very very very tight .They all seemed really nice NOT AT ALL its a joke. I would give their customer service a very very low rating. This shop needs to reevaluate there workers and the owner. They dont even care about the customers as long as they throw in some braids and get there money that is all they care about. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE IS very very bad. Im telling any one please don't let them braid your hair to tight and PLEASE don't give them a dime if you feel like you haven't been treated with excellent customer service. I am still suffering form the pain in my head from the tightness of the braids and I had this done on 12/22 and today is 12/26. Also they wont give your money back if you dont let them know something with in 24hrs. But they assured me that the braids would not be so tight after 2 days but this was totally...