Authentic Styles Salon & African braid — Local services in Orlando

BEWARE of this Salon: A Stressful and Unprofessional Experience

If I could give 0 starts I definitely would! I'm writing this review to warn others and share my terrible experience at Authentic Styles Salon & African braid. My appointment for schmedium butt-length knotless braids began at 1 PM and didn't finish until after 12:30 AM. Some of the women who work there are liars and thieves. The entire process was incredibly frustrating due to a complete lack of transparency, unprofessional behavior, and ultimately, a disappointing result.

Before starting, the braiders never gave me a final price. I was under the impression a special was still running for $200 and was shocked when, after 11.5 hours, they first said the total was $460 and then changed it to $480. Paying almost $500 when hair wasn't even included is absolutely crazy work—it feels like a complete scam. When I started to question the pricing, the ladies began speaking in a different language and called the owner's husband into the room, which felt incredibly intimidating.

The service itself was also problematic. I had asked for my edges to be left out and even had them sectioned off when I arrived, but the braiders initially refused and argued with me. The ladies then called the owner, Rose, into the room to confirm that my request of leaving my edges out should be honored. To make things worse, at first, two people were working on my hair, but after someone arrived an hour and a half after me, one of the faster braiders moved to their head. This left the slower braider on my hair, which felt like a deliberate attempt to extend the appointment. Throughout the process, I had to repeatedly stop the braiders because they were braiding too tightly, yanking my hair, and not properly detangling it. The final result was very disappointing; the braids are all different sizes, with some around my edges being micro-sized while others are medium. To top it off, when I was getting ready to leave, they tried to keep my unused packs of hair. After I asked for them back, they changed their stories before finally handing them over.

I felt completely taken advantage of, and I sat in my car crying after I left. On the drive home, I contacted the owner, Rose. She told me the total was supposed to be $440 and that she wasn't sure why the girls would charge me an extra $40. She also said this wasn't the first time they had done something like this, which is why she has hidden cameras around the shop. Rose also had to apologize because the braiders had lied and told her I left without paying. She checked the cameras and talked to her husband, who was still at the salon, and confirmed my story before refunding me the $40 overcharge.

While I appreciate the owner's apology and refund, the overall experience was one of the worst I’ve had. I will never, ever be back here. Honestly, I would’ve rather received a "hey boo" text from a braider I found on Instagram or Facebook. The lack of professionalism, honesty, and quality is simply not worth the stress. Hell for $500 you can do it yourself and take as my breaks...

Had to make an appointment last minute I saw all the good reviews on rose so I had to check it out . I asked for cornrows in the front and a cool design. She definitely delivered exactly looks exactly like the picture I I showed her. it took almost 2 hours for her to finish. I give it three stars because.1) I immediately noticed that the ends were super thin and skinny. rose was not the one to finish braiding them. There was another lady seems like she didn’t really care about my hair. She was rough handed and I’m definitely not happy with the ends I can’t do any hairstyles because they just stick straight up. normally, I would say something right then and there, but I was in a rush, so I just left it 2) at first, she said the price was 115 she changed it to 130. and then the other lady said 135 so I got three different pricesNot sure how I feel about that. 3) I found a piece of plastic string in one of the braids. Rose did say I had a lil breakage in the front and proceeded to braid said breakage might be a problem later but she very neat clean braids.

UPDATE : a have a lil bald spot and a hair definitely came out in the front due to me already having breakage and her braiding it very tightly . The front on my hairline is definitely broken off and thin due to this hairstyle . Very sad cuz she was very nice but here an...

My hair came out next day and I had to leave state. I called back when I returned just to ask for the braid to be tighter and more together. Lady tells me my hair is too thick at the end that’s why it was coming out, this is an African braiding shop do yall not braid all types of hair everyday?. Then says they cannot help even though I just wanted to redo the style AND STILL PAY just make it aware that my hair came out and the base was poorly wrapped. They included curly pieces and it was falling out, pic below. They cannot take criticism whatsoever. Sad. Anyone would be frustrated paying for a service and it being terrible the next day. Mind you I texted them and they left me on read.

UPDATE: so they replied and claimed that my hair would come out if exposed to water or steam, I didn’t wet my hair 😭😭😭😭 the job you guys did was horrible, no false claims, all messages right then and there. I told them I went out of state so of course it could have nothing done. However what I asked them is if I get this style next time, to do it tighter, this is how the problem arised. An African braiding shop but can’t braid all textures, I’m Afro Latina, my hairs not even straight unless I have to flat iron and blow dry which is told what I would have to do. Regardless look at the job, you...