Amy’s African Hair Braiding — Local services in New York

I walked in a couple of weeks ago and to my surprise there was no wait. I showed a picture of what I wanted (havana twists) and asked how much. The price was confirmed and the manager (maybe) directed a younger girl who was kind of just sitting there- to take me.

We went upstairs and I showed her the picture. She then named a price (higher than what I'd been told not even five minutes prior). I told her that conflicted with what I'd been told - she exchanged words with the manager, packed her things and went back downstairs.

An older woman was brought up. Again I showed her the picture and then the manager did an example to show her. The kind woman proceeded to twist my hair, but kept telling people that she was learning - that should have been my second red flag.

She finished my hair on a Tuesday. By Friday of that week my hair was coming undone and a lot of hairs were sticking out (partially due to my blunt cut, so I had some understanding there). By Saturday- one twist had unraveled to the root. I was quite upset because the style wasn't even a week old. I returned to the salon and was told to come back Monday when my braider would be in and she would fix it.

I returned on Monday and the original braider and manager retwisted quite a bit of my hair because it looked terrible. Once done, they grabbed scissors and started cutting "braid hair"(they said) and I told them- no- don't cut anything. I'll live with my hairs sticking out due to my cut which should be preserved.

I wore the twists for an additional week and removed them after a total of two weeks. I went to my normal salon and my stylist noticed there's a chunk of hair missing from the back of my head. At this point I'm pretty livid since I explicitly told them don't cut anything and they were so sure they were only cutting the braid hair.

Here's my recommendation: yes the prices are cheap but in the end the cost I spent in time going there twice and only keeping the twists for two weeks makes this entire thing a waste of money. If I'm ever adventurous enough to get braids again it will surely...

I came here to the African hair braiding because I thought they work with African textures. I was wrong. Firstly, Amy was really nice but the lady who braided me ruined my whole week. I have coarse 4c hair. With a blow dry, or even good hands it is easily braidable. I know this because I usually do my own hair and people who have done it before say the texture is great for gripping.

The lady who did my hair was awful. She assumed I don’t speak French and gossiped complained the whole time about my hair texture and my head to the whole salon. She started by blowing my hair immediately with no product nor preparation. She couldn’t get it stretched and instead was pulling and tugging with no care. I thought I’d let her continue. I wanted basic lines for under my wig. She continuously made grunting noises and she pulled on my hair as tight as possible. It was so unprofessional. At times I could hear pieces of hair being pulled out of my hair line. When I complained she said “what am I supposed to do your hair is coarse”. She eventually realised I understand French and for the whole time she braided me kept telling me that my hair is too coarse and she has to pull on it. I eventually told her to let me blow dry my own hair and it stretched to at least 75 of its length without trying! She didn’t know how to work with my hair. The braids were so tight I took them out the next day. And had pimples on my hairline from pulled follicles.

We know how sensitive we are as women about our hair and how important it feels to be treated with love. I had a horrible experience here.

One star for Amy and the prices combined.

The prices are really good but it was not worth the torture I experienced psychologically and...

I go to Kady if I'm not mistaken she usually is in the front on the left and greets and you as well as asks you what you would like. When I first went to her I had just did my big chop maybe 2 months prior and had been told by 2 ig stylist to wait till my hair grew longer so the style would look neater but I was over the Halle and needed some cornrows and she gave me exactly that. I'm not going to lie I did have to wait a for the girl before me to finish up but her hair didn't take that long and I'm one of the weird people that like to see styles completed on others also if the spot isn't packed the stylist must be whack 🤷🏽‍♀️ But nevertheless she took me right after and I was done within an hour maybe hour and a half tops.

Second time I went I got a different style and initially I wasn't feeling it but I've been getting compliments since I've left there so something must be right. Definitely will be going again we have to support black businesses and and protect the black dollar.

PS THEY HAVE A BOOK OF STYLES SO IF YOU ARE UNSURE WHAT TO GET OR DONT LIKE WHAT YOU SEE ON THE WALL...