Fatou’s Braiding Studio

Critical: Professionalism, Punctuality, ValueSo I’m not gonna lie, I debated with myself for a while before I decided to write this review, and I’m solely writing this because I want to help other newcomers in the city who need their hair braided.So it’s Saturday (12/5/2020) and I have wanted to get box braids for a while, so I looked at a few shops by way of Google and found Fatou’s Braiding Studio; it was close to where I’m staying at now, and I figured if I called a few hours ahead they would have time for me when I get there. I call at 11am, and tell them that I want to schedule an appointment at 3pm. I figured since they were Box Braids, worst case scenario is that I would walk out the salon by 10 or 11pm. I was told that wouldn’t be a problem. I was also told I would be charge $160I wash my hair, pick it out, and make it presentable for them so they can easily braid it. When I got there with my hair, there was a lady who looked at my hair and asked for a picture of the box braids I wanted. Keep in mind I was a bit perplexed because it’s a braiding shop, so you should know what they look like. I show them the picture and she looks at me and nods yes (keep in mind that I thought she was doing my hair). She tells me to sit down and someone will be with me in a few.I wait for the lady to finish another client’s head and to get mines, which I was understanding about; after she was done with the first client, unbeknownst to me, she started working on someone else’s hair! I’m looking at her and the other braider like how did I even get left out? I called two hours ahead. After they were done picking at the other client’s hair for a couple of minutes just to stop and pray (no disrespect), I was told that my stylist was on the way. This was already 30 minutes mind you.An hour later, the stylist, who just so happened to be Fatou herself came in with no care in the world. She B-lined straight for the food and sat down and started eating. She saw me, but did not acknowledge me until 30 minutes into her lunch break. She asked if I wanted individuals and I said yes, and she said she is a quick braider and needed energy so she had to eat. Yes, she actually said this.Come to find out, they had a funeral and my heart goes out to them, but I would have rather they took a time of bereavement than to provide half hearted services. Once she decided to start, she told me that she couldn’t get them any bigger because of the length of my hair, which I understood. I asked if it was still 160 and she said 180; you’re probably wondering why I didn’t get up and leave. Well, I have been looking for a place for a while and I couldn’t afford to look for another stylist and wait for another weekend, especially since I’m still settling in to the city, so there’s that.When I tell you that the service wasn’t near 180 dollars that is not an exaggeration! I will say that she is a fast braider, but that is only because she HAD to be; she was focused on phone calls that weren’t business related, galivanting with her friends who came in talking about some viral post, and doing whatever else she was doing. When I asked to take 5 minutes to stretch my legs, I detected a bit of an attitude. I did.While this was going on, a customer who was sweet as pie was expressing her dislike with her braids, and that the part was too small. The braider berated her and told her she should have waited for her original braider. When she said another shop was charging cheaper than she was, she said that the customer should have went there. Did I also mention that the customer was one of their regulars?My final result was manageable at best; my braids are separated far apart, like every African shop I have went to prior to this did a better job at spacing than Fatou did, and it didn’t charge me $180. She didn’t even braid the ends like you would on box braids, and then had the audacity to ask for a tip. It’s presentable but I’ve had way better results for less.I’m not saying don’t ever go here. What I am saying is only go here if you HAVE to. Your attitude will be worse than mines.Services: Hair extensions, HairstylingSo I’m not gonna lie, I debated with myself for a while before I decided to write this review, and I’m solely writing this because I want to help other newcomers in the city who need their hair braided. …More

So I’m not gonna lie, I debated with myself for a while before I decided to write this review, and I’m solely writing this because I want to help other newcomers in the city who need their hair braided.

Critical: ProfessionalismI called these people not once, but TWICE, on two separate days, inquiring about feed-in braids that I wanted. Both times a stylist would tell me to come at a certain time. Get to the shop, and the stylist I need isn’t there! Luckily I live in walking distance so it wasn’t that much an inconvenience, but it was still an inconvenience nonetheless due to the heat. They bring shame on to the Fatou name because I never had any issues at the Decatur location. Will never attempt to go to this location again, and I will do my best to steer others clear as well.I called these people not once, but TWICE, on two separate days, inquiring about feed-in braids that I wanted. Both times a stylist would tell me to come at a certain time. Get to the shop, and the stylist I need isn’t there! Luckily I live …More

I called these people not once, but TWICE, on two separate days, inquiring about feed-in braids that I wanted. Both times a stylist would tell me to come at a certain time. Get to the shop, and the stylist I need isn’t there! Luckily I live in walking distance so it wasn’t that much an inconvenience, but it was still an inconvenience nonetheless due to the heat. They bring shame on to the Fatou name because I never had any issues at the Decatur location. Will never attempt to go to this location again, and I will do my best to steer others clear as well.