African Braiding Center

The good: This braiding shop was recommended to me by two friends. I got waist-​length Senegalese twists. They look fabulous, but still professional. While they only take walk-​ins, I arrived at 7:45 AM and they started my hair around 8:30 AM. Everything was finished by 12:30 PM. The shop is clean and organized. They also provide the hair.
The bad: I have natural hair and they were soooooooo rough with it when blowing it out. It may have been my particular stylist because I saw another stylist blow out the clients hair in sections. The lady doing my hair blew it out in one large chunk, I have never seen my hair shed so much in my 3 yrs of being transitioning and being natural. I am nervous for what my ends will look like when I take out the braids. Also, I believe they overcharged me ($ 180 AFTER the coupon) «because you have a lot of hair.» It even seemed like the other braider was shocked at the price and said something involving $ 160. In hindsight, I should’ve asked her to lower the price before she started, and left if she didn’t. However, I’m new to the area and needed my hair braided within the week.
The neutral: they speak their native language loudly to each other the entire time, I have no problem with it, but some may.
Bottom Line: hope to find a less expensive braider. The twists look good and if they last until the last week of August, then they were worth the money. My old braider would’ve charged $ 130. Also, I will be having my hair blown out by a stylist who knows natural hair.
(If you are ever looking for someone to do your hair in Boston, whether relaxed or natural, see Andrea, the owner of Boston Hairnista! I would drive an hour to go see her as would my mother, and three friends)

From day one large chunks of hair were sticking out of the braids in the back. I guess they figured I might not see it so they could do a sloppy job back there. The top isn’t quite as awful so clearly they could have done better. Definitely feels like a waste of money. Also, they are not very nice at all.

I came into the shop to have a faux loc style removed. I should have walked out when I smelled the shop. I don’t know if they have a sewage issue or what the issue is but it’s very telling of their services. I paid 110.0 to have them remove faux locs and my shampoo my hair.

I went to the Randolph location and had a great experience. I just got two simple french braids with Marley hair, but it looks amazing and only took about 20 minutes. Ask for Amy and enjoy!

I had a horrible experience. I went there on a busy Saturday morning. I requested medium sized Senegalese Twist. The job seemed very rushed and although it looked neat on the first day. The next morning when I took my scarf off, all of my braids had seemed to slip about a half inch from the root. The next morning they were even looser. I went back after about 5 days to ask why my twist are so loose and can I get the perimeter twisted again. The lady twist a few of them, then tried to tell me that it is because of the style that I got that the twist slip on my hair easily. I’ve had these twist before and they last for a long time and if maintained properly, look very neat. My twist look like I have had them for 3 months and it’s only been two and a half weeks. And even after I had some of my perimeter was re-​twisted, 4 of those have completely come out. I wasted my money on a shoddy job. And I even tipped Lena (my initial braider). Never Again. Don’t waste your time or money.
While there I also heard them arguing with a few clients. One client was complaining that her braids were uneven throughout, the braids in the front were much larger than the initial braids in the back. Another client was told that her hair was too tangled and she needs to learn to comb it and perm it.

Terrible experience here. I came in with a picture of the size of braids I wanted and told them I wanted it a little smaller than the pic they got an attitude with me saying I don’t know what I want. The last time I came here I got small twist instead of jumbo and the same length (middle of my back) they charged me $ 140. This time they wanted $ 200. I asked how can the price of jumbo twist cost the same as small twist when it takes less time. They just said both are $ 200… they brought the price down to $ 160 after arguing for 5 minutes. Got the twist done. A week later they look fuzzy like I had them down for two months. While doing my hair they insulted saying I need a perm because I had new growth and said don’t know how to comb my hair. My friend came with me to get the same twist and her twist around her edges all slipped out or slipped back in a week. Terrible customer service, terrible technique and quality. Don’t waste your money

I downloaded the Unilocal app just to write this review. They were awful towards me. I called last night explaining what I wanted, and what time I could come. As soon as I walk in they say, «why you come so late?» I wasn’t late. They are just starting 3 people and I have a lot of hair and asked the woman if she could burn the ends of the braids she says «why do you want that? No one does that anymore. Thats too hard on my hands.» I said, «Are you kidding me? I don’t have to explain. Its what I want. If you are refusing to do it, I will leave. They started to talk in their language, and I left. They don’t need our money. This is the shop on Randolph Street! Do Not Enter!

I called them because I was looking for a braiding salon to put my marley braids in an up-​do hairstyle. I asked them if they could do this and also sew them so they would stay in place. The woman told me they wouldn’t be able to sew them but with the hairpins it would last two weeks. I then asked if they could do it that day and she said yes. I went in a couple hours later and told them I called and spoke to someone about putting my hair in an undo. They proceed to talk amongst themselves and finally one of them tells me she thought I had regular braids. I just look at her and so I ask «So you’re saying you can’t do the style?» She said no because this hair is difficult to style. What??? I just say «Ok I will just go back where I got them done.» So many things I find wrong with this shop. How do you call yourself a braiding salon and you can’t style? I was beyond ticked off. So granted I live in the neighborhood and the only reason I decided to try them was because the girl who usually does my hair works at another shop was off the weekend. Aside from being ticked they could not accommodate what should have been a given hairstyle, the shop itself is horrible. Very small, dark and dingy. Not at all a nice place to sit and get your hair done. If I had read the reviews, I’m sure I wouldn’t have stepped foot in there. I don’t recommend them at all.

I got my hair braided here back in October, and I must say that my experience was really good. I went in after work, and didn’t have to wait long to get my box braids installed. I was done in about 3 hours because (at one point) there were 3 braider’s working on my head. The braids were a little heavier than I’d have liked, but it was my first time ever getting them. I’ll know better next time. This place is no frills, but they get the job done.

Haven’t gone to them in several years because of my last experience with them. I heard that the Randolph St location was better than the one on Georgia Ave but that was a lie. When I went to them years ago, they accepted cash, credit and debit cards. They asked for the payment when she was halfway done with my hair and when I gave her my card she said «Oh no, cash only.» She then directed me to the nearest ATM. I had to go through the humility of walking 2 – 3 blocks down the street in that neighborhood with a partial hair do. I was hoping they’d gotten better with time… but they haven’t.

The worst braiding center ever, don’t come here these women do not listen to what there customer wants. You can tell them what type of braids you want and they will give you some thing totally different. Then to add injury to insult they will ask you to pay because they think your going to walk out. Sooo Insulting!!!

Be leary of any shop that takes your money before your hair has been start. That was the first sign… Secondly who are they kidding when they write one price on the reciept and give you back 20 expecting that to be the tip… The woman said she crochet when clearly she did not! Then tells me after she put the Marley hair in wrong that the do not twist it an put in hot water… Absolutely you don’t because you fail to put the hair in correct… This was the worst hair braiding experience I have EVER HAD!!! Will never go back there ever again! I highly recommend YOU do not waste your time or money!

Typical assembly line African braiding salon — they are quick, efficient, and skilled. However, their customer service is to be improved. It is often hot (sometimes AC is off) and they often run out of hair — go figure. No appointments — walk in only, which for a professional woman is beyond annoying. I don’t have time to wait an hour to get my hair braided, which takes a few hours. Also, they only take cash.
Bottom line — Would I go here again? Yes, if I couldn’t find anyone else to do my hair…

I supported this braid shop despite the fact that they were rude but I cannot support them any longer because I truly believe they are the reason my hair broke of in the back. When you come here to get twist with your natural hair they blow it out with a blow dryer. I felt her pulling and yanking my hair in an attempt to get it straight. I know my hair is brittle as it is. Fast forward to now and I’m taking my twist out and I lost a lot of hair and it wasn’t necessarily hair from the roots. The hair in middle of my head is now the shortest because of massive breakage. They don’t care about your hair. And the last time I was there the twist were not done very well. I can no longer support this establishment.

This place is the absolute worst. Aside from being dirty the woman tore out chunks of my hair and complained about the texture. She also roughly handled my head and neck like I was a rag doll. I am biracial (black and white) and have curly, natural hair. It was conditioned and detangled and she was unable to do the simple braid I had a photo of. There are several tutorials on youtube of amateurs doing this braid in 15 minutes of less. I had her take the braid out and left. STEER CLEAR OF THIS PLACE. I have never had such horrible service and treatment as I have had here.

BRAIDING OR TWISTING YOUR OWN HAIR MIGHT APPEAR OVERWHELMING BUT IF I CAN DO IT YOU CAN TOO!
I only came here because its conveniently close. The braiding is ok, but you will definitely loose a twist a week. I felt stupid every time they finished and i handed over my hard earned money. i kept hoping that this time would be different, but it never was. i paid 180 for a length worth 140 or less (lets be honest, none of it should cost that much) and may i say that i was beyond pissed. the manager was nice and offered me a discount for next time but there will be no next time. my advice, go to youtube and learn how to do some marley twists yourself. thats what i did and my hair looks better than ever. I’m not paying for braids or twists EVER again… Marley hair is 4.99 where i live, i bout six packs. my twists have never looked better.

Awful service. I had tried to get my hair done there. I showed at 8:00, as I was told, only to wait for 40 mins then to be told that it was Ramadan and there was no one to do my hair… run ladies don’t walk

I came in at 5:45 after work and left at 8:15 with a set of beautiful box braids! I was promptly serviced by two braiders and was amazed at how fast and efficiently they worked without taking a break. One of the stylists son was loud and bad LOL but other then the phone constantly ringing there weren’t many more distractions. Tell them how you want your braids styled and correct them if they are doing something wrong. I wanted a side part and had to remind the lady braiding my edges about 2 times. I got waist-​long braids for $ 200 and was charged $ 180 with the on line coupon. Their salon policy is to pay up front so I went ahead and tipped them the $ 20 I saved. They really liked that :) Would definitely go back and recommend to my peers.

I give them two stars because they took me as a walk in and I have a ton of thick, long, natural hair. I’d read the reviews about the terrible customer service but 1) I was desperate and 2) I thought that if I tried to be super nice and friendly it would offset the lack of customer outreach. It didn’t. They were rude, yanked my hair the whole time, sucked their teeth and so on. And my twists fell out all over the place, that too.

I wanted to go on a long rant, but it seems I’ll just be echoing Mel B. and Brianah D. If there is an option for no stars, this business deserves it. Being rude is not a cultural difference, it’s just rude. There’s no need to bark obscenities in broken West African french because you think I don’t understand. They don’t even know how to twist that well, I do it better on my own. For my ladies on a budget, don’t bother. Find a great youtube video and twist your own hair. You’ll feel more accomplished, and less treated like dirt.