great for locs mimi did a great job definitely will be back love she actually washed and treated my hair with a little tender love and care highly appreciated read more

The service and braiding is exceptional, I have been coming here for over 10 years. I love how flexible they are with their schedules.

Maybe I don't understand French-African humor, but everytime I asked a question or told the lady what I wanted, I was laughed at by her and the other braiders which was pretty weird and confusing. I asked for corn rows and the girl did a good job on my hair, but my hair is shoulder length, I requested no extensions, and the price came up to $60 which is ridiculous. I've gotten the same thing done for $40 or with kenekalon for $45. MIND YOU, my hair was freshly washed and blow dried prior to arriving to the salon, so all they had to do was braid. They take cash only, which is fine, they want most of their business to be under the table, but keep in mind they charge $5.00 for a card fee. Looking at their tools, it doesn't look like they wash or clean them at all. The blow dryer still had hair, the scissors were dirty, and there was no barbicide in sight There are other places in the area that do work just as good, and you don't have to pay expensive prices. read more

Akwaba Hair Braiding - Tucked cornrows, no extensions - Hair Salons Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

I love the way she braids my hair but I'm not coming back you were better in joliet hair cafe Now oak park too far for me 2nd thing you give me a price before start but when finished you change price that's bad business if you need money give customer heads up so I didn't tip you 25 because you change price it still was worth it but as a professional you need to do better had to speak up for others too who experienced the same good luck to you read more

This braiding shop doesn't even deserve any stars. I made an appointment and they refused to braid my hair because they said it was "too soft" which isn't true because I had just taken a set of braids down a few days prior. I have 3c hair which is definitely braidable. If they didn't want to braid my hair they should've just said they didn't want to braid it instead of using the lame excuse of my hair being "too soft" Will NEVER recommend them to anyone!!! read more

I do not recommend getting braids of any kind at this establishment. The braiders are friendly but the quality of their work is poor. I paid $70 for braids that are of poor quality. I'm extremely dissatisfied with the outcome. The parts are all uneven. Nothing about the braids are consistent or neat (braids are tight). A ton of "neat braid/edge control" was applied which is now bleeding on to my clothes, scarf, and linens. I was not told that a less experienced braider would be doing my hair. I actually had an appointment. I concluded with a business should notify its customers of "braiders" in training and charge a cheaper rate. read more

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I've been to Akwaba twice, and while they are skilled braiders, both times I left wearing a different style than requested. The second time was the deal breaker for me. I decided to give Akwaba a try after seeing pictures of their work online and learning that they can do braid styles on a crochet installation. I've been waiting weave nonstop since 1998 because my hair is baby fine and thin, breaking off easily. My last stylist told me microbraids were causing more damage than benefits, so the protective benefits of crochet appealed to me. On my first visit in March 2017, I asked for Senegalese twists on a crochet install. I'd brought hair with me, not knowing that they supplied the hair with the cost of your appointment. This is one of the biggest benefits of going to them. Anyway, the stylist said the hair I had wouldn't work for Senegalese twists. She also recommended against doing them on a crochet, but didn't think my hair could handle the weight of the twists by themselves. So we settled on box braids instead. I pressed for a crochet install, but she insisted that it wouldn't make a difference in how my hair handled the weight or in the thickness. Wrong. The braids themselves were lovely, but my scalp was highly visible between braids due to how thin my hair is. And where she'd tried to create a part looked more like a bald spot, a little bigger than a half dollar coin. As the other stylists looked at the final product, several of them said the word 'crochet', and I wondered if they were saying it should have been a crochet install. But, since they weren't speaking English, I can't say for sure. And, within two weeks, I began experiencing slippage as the weight of the braids stressed my hair. I went back in September 2017, and this time, insisted on Senegalese twists on a crochet install. I'd called ahead of time to confirm this and the cost. When I got there, the stylist quoted me a higher price because of the crochet. After the cornrows were in and the first twist was done, I immediately noticed the short length and rough texture of the twist. It barely touched my shoulder. I asked if it could be longer and she that she could try to stretch the hair to give another inch or two, and that it would be an upcharge. I was annoyed, but I agreed. I then pulled out my phone and showed a pic of Senegalese twists to confirm that that was what she was doing, since it had a rough texture. She nodded and told me not to worry. She did not put in Senegalese twists. She gave me kinky twists. It was short and looked like a helmet. I was holding back tears when I spoke up and asked why my Senegalese twists didn't look as expected. THAT'S when she told me she'd decided that kinky twists were the better way to go since they aren't as heavy. As you can imagine, I was pretty upset. She spent the next 10-ish minutes telling me why kinky twists were better for my hair and that it was a nice hairstyle. I repeatedly responded that 1) she should have told me before she did it because 2) as a personal preference, I do not like kinky twists and would never ask for them or agree to them as a plan B. To add insult to injury, everyone was staring AND she still expected me to get get cash for the crochet and hair stretching upcharge mentioned earlier. I did, but when I came back the owner offered to redo my hair in a different style. I'd already been there for 6 hours. I don't want to be there another 3-4 hours. So she offered to give me a discount the next time I came in. Initially, I accepted those terms, but my husband convinced me to call & go back for a partial refund, knowing I'd never go back for another installation from them. She refused the partial refund, but said to come back, they'd take everything out and give back all of my money. I agreed and immediately tried to figure out how I'd get my hair done on a Sunday. When I got there, they took out the twists, but then the owner had two assistants check the stock room for pre-looped Senegalese twists they had in stock. If you're wondering why they didn't offer me these in the first place, so did I. Anyway, they were still short -a mix of 8" & 10" - but were closer to what I wanted, so I agreed since it also meant I wouldn't have to scramble to find something by Monday. She also gave me a partial refund. In the end, I took them out a few days later and bought a wig. The install was SO THICK, still very much like a helmet, and had no part, so they constantly fell in my face. It wasn't until I took them out that I realized why. The cornrows were in a circle, there was no pattern to allow the hair to fall naturally. So basically, I wasted $160 plus the cost of my wig. I'm only giving two stars because they ARE good braiders, but I do not trust them enough to ever go back. read more

Akwaba Hair Braiding - The kinky twists I was given instead of the Senegalese twists I asked for. - Hair Salons Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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I've been going to this braiding salon for years (10+ years) and the owner is great but when she's out of the country, the service is horrible. I can't believe I fell for it, I canceled my appointmant because the owner wasn't in town. The lady talked me into making an appointment because she convinced me that she would do a great job. I rearranged my shecdule just to make the new appointment day, lo and behold the lady texted me the day of my appointment stating that she was sick. Now this boiled my blood because over the years I've seen many canceled appoinments due to the same excuse at this salon but I never thought it would happen to me. I'm signing off as a lost long time customer. read more

Love my wavy Senegalese twists!! Mahwa and Emma did a fantastic job. I was there from 8-3pm but I have long and thick hair. They didn't braid too tight and I don't have a headache. I also still have my edges!! They really take their time to perfect each twist and cut/spray whatever they need to do you look like a million bucks. Very clean and friendly shop. Love the atmosphere and music. Bring a snack bc you'll need it but they also sell snacks as well. This is definitely my new go to spot! read more

I can't believe I'm just now writing a review for this salon. I've been going here for years and am ALWAYS pleased. I've gotten fluffy twists, but currently get my hair cornrowed every 2 months (so I can crochet my own hair when come home). Been doing this for years. I usually just walk in though I'm sure appointments are preferred. I never find myself waiting long to get started on. I usually see 2 girls working on may heads so can get out quickly. My hair is very fine so they take caution to not braid too tightly, and I appreciate that (they still come out pretty tight though lol, I just deal). They will provide the hair for you and wash your hair if needed. I've seen girls and women of all ages and hair textures getting their hair done, even dad's bringing their daughters to get a style of their choice. They saved me in a situation where I needed them to braid a friends hair within an hour of me calling them. They took care of us and did it in a timely manner. I've taken students from my school there and their box braids came out so neat. One of my students even got a poetic justice braids in 2 hours! The atmosphere is calm and they have wifi so you will be comfortable while being worked on. You can also buy hair accessories, shea butter, and chips if you get hungry. They usually play the news on tv or gospel music in the background, they keep their own conversations to a minimal. They won't hold full blown loooong conversations over your heard. I just really love this place and of the many times I've gone there, I never have any complaints. Of everyone I've suggested this salon to, as well, leave very pleased. ***I should add, this place is not the easiest to find. It is off of Franconia, turn by the DMV. It is set in a business park, kind of tucked away.*** read more

I had my hair braided in microbraids this past Saturday and I am a fan! Awa, her sister Christine, and a few other stylists were very professional and very efficient. Although I was a bit late, there was no wait period for me to begin. If you've ever had MicroBraids, you know, it takes quite a while to finish the style! They allowed me a few breaks to knock out the cramps. The finished product is excellent! I will be going back. Will try and upload pics later. read more

I just had the best hair braiding experience! I called to make an appointment for my mom and I last night and when we arrived this morning at 8am the salon was already busy and our stylists were ready to go. Vicky and Mimi did a fantastic job on my individual box braids, it only took 5 hours. Dymi did my mothers hair all by herself in the same amount of time (same style just shorter). They were so friendly and had great customer service. I will be back again to get my hair done and will be recommending them to all my friends and family!! Thank you all so much!! read more

Akwaba Hair Braiding - Love it! - Hair Salons Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

This is definitely the best hair braiding salon I've ever been to. I've had my hair braided my people in their living rooms and visited numerous salons in the DMV area and If you need to go into a shop to get your braids done this is the place to go. 1. Timeliness My appointment was at 8am. I arrived and Awa the woman braiding my hair was already there ready for me and she started my hair immediately. 2. Hair Included in the price-- always a plus 3. Did exactly what I wanted and in a tasteful manner. I dont usually add colour to my hair but Awa was able to add what I wanted without being over the top 4. Wi-fi access! The salon has free wifi access for its clients. That def made the 6 hours pass by quickly. 5.Parking free parking no worries about meters or towing 6. Accepts credit cards! finally no carrying around large amounts of cash to get your hair braided. Overall the people in the salon were really kind and friendly. Was a good experience. read more

Akwaba Hair Braiding - kinky twists wavy with colour - Hair Salons Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

I walked in this shop at 9:30 am. By 2 PM the braiding was done!! After that time the stylist cleaned up the flyaway hairs from each individual braid and dipped them in hot water to keep them from unraveling. Braids usually take at least 8 hours or more. Especially for the size and length that I have. 2 stylists knocked this out in no time! I agree with other ladies that have posted: the braids are tight and secure but do not leave your head nearly as sore as most braiding places. There is plenty of off the street parking and it is FREE! I gave 5 stars b/c 1-I am happy with the final product, 2-the staff is friendly, and 3-the establishment is neat, clean and orderly. However, I'd like to deduct a half star because the braids were not as large as I requested them to be. I even produced 2 pictures for examples. I really had my heart set on the thickness in the pictures I showed the stylist, but I am content with the braids I have. And I will definitely go back. I'll print pictures out next time instead of showing them on my phone, maybe. read more

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Christine and Josie (excuse me if I misspelled either name) were polite, skillful, and fast (only 3.5 hours) with my style. I'm very happy with how my braids turned out. However, I showed up around 2:10pm, but they didn't get started until around 3pm. Also, I was told "$160 and up" for box braids. Turns out medium box braids to the middle of my back were on the all the way up side at $200. This is my first time getting braids in the area, so I don't know if that's normal here but wow! I think I'll be making the trip to Maryland next time where I can get the same quality for less. But if this is in your acceptable price range, I would recommend this location. read more

Akwaba Hair Braiding - Medium box braids - Hair Salons Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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I just got my hair done at this shop and I felt it was my duty to leave a review. This is long but bare with me. I've been getting my hair braided at various shops since I was a little girl and I have never in all my days had an experience like today. I was all prepared to be there for a minimum of 8 hours so I brought plenty of food, wore comfy clothes and brought my headphones to drown out all the noise I am used to hearing in African shops. Let me tell you...... 1. I walked in at my appointment time and the braiders where all there waiting. I was shocked. I'm used to waiting around but that didn't happen. I walked in and sat in a chair and they went to work. 2. I told them I wanted very small box braids. I am in he military and have very strict regulations on my hair. They said they would take care me and they delivered. 3. I was impressed with how neat and clean the the shop was. Very modern with very comfortable reclining chairs. The chairs where so comfortable I dozed off a few times. Not once did I feel uncomfortable and when they got to the crown of my head they reclined the chair back so I could lay back. It was a very nice touch. 4. Speaking of touch I could barely feel the braiders on my head. Like I said I'm a veteran when it comes to getting braids and every time it's excruciating pain. I'm used to it but it's still not fun. The ladies who took care of me today were so gentle especially around my edges. I was worried at first that the braids would be loose but they are not! Well done ladies. 5. I'm used to going to the African shops and the women will speak to each other in their native language which tends to get loud at times and it makes it hard for clients to watch tv or listen to music. Not here. There was a lot of convo going on with all the braiders and clients in English!! We talked about all kinds of stuff and at one point I stopped listening to my music to listen to them because it was so entertaining. They also had soft gospel music playing in the background. 6. They started on my head at 0845 and sent me on my way by 2pm. Speedy service with 2 braiders and I didn't have a headache and still had the rest of my day to get things done. 7. They charged me 200 because of the size and length which I thought was a lot (I usually pay 180.00) but they got it done so fast and it looked so good I didn't feel some type of way about paying them. I gave them that plus a tip because they were so amazing. 8. This shops also had plenty of snacks and drinks for sale awhich is very convenient if you need a snack. 9. There was plenty of Parking available. 10. All the braiders were friendly and courteous to the clients. Thank you ladies for the amazing service I will definitely be back soon. read more

Akwaba Hair Braiding - Thank you ladies, I love my box braids! - Hair Salons Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

I visited the salon in July of this year, and this was my second time. My first visit about a year ago was amazing, they were extremely quick on a busy Saturday - and I had two braiders on my hair for most of the time. This past July was a completely different experience. I came in with a weave, and when the braider started to take it my weave she said, oh you know we only take cash? I said no one mentioned that to me. She said that's okay, we can show you where the ATM is located. I asked what happened to the machine, she said she doesn't know - sometimes it doesn't work. It seemed fishy, especially since they had the visa/MasterCard sign up and the machine was still at the desk, with no note on it for customers to read. Eventually the braider said she would call the owner to see if she could work something out for me. Now onto the braiding, the two besides complained the entire time they were working on my head - about the customers, how poorly they were tipped, they even complained about my hair! All I could think was, I guess they aren't planning on getting a tip today. The braids around my edges were extremely tight, although I kept telling them it was hurting. When I went to pay, I pulled out my credit card, and the stylist made no mention of the machine's problems and nor did she make a call to the owner as she previously mentioned. So I'm sure it was a scam to run a cash business. Next time they say the machine is broken, make them show you. I have no problem paying cash, but it's tacky to put your customers in the position to force cash payment after the styling begins. When I was on my way out the doors, there was a note on the door about the "broken" credit card machine - ha, nice try! Within two weeks the braids were falling out, and I had to take them out after 4.5 weeks because my edges were destroyed. I went back to my regular hair dresser of 10 years and she was astonished at the state of my edges and she the bald spots throughout my head. She's not sure if it's from the braids or how they removed my weave, but either way, the state of my hair shows that they ripped out my hair to get the job done quickly. I will never go back to this salon again, it was a terrible experience and I would not recommend this shop to my worse enemy. read more

They don't part hair in sections properly. I ended up with several sizes in parts even after telling them what I wanted. She did the front first which was easiest to see since I was looking at myself in the mirror. I can say that the front was done like I wanted. But once she got to the back of my head she didn't match the size I told her I wanted. She did 2 rows of 3 larger sections in the nape of my head. No "brick method used". She did fewer single braids than normal and still charged me full price of $220. Of course no receipts given either. Also be informed they don't care anything about your natural hair cause they will yank comb's through it. Nope, I don't recommend this place. read more

I came her two weeks ago for Senegalese twist again, since I now have been transitioning out of a relaxer for the past year. As stated in my previous review, I speak French but the braiders are not aware that I do. Again, still a lot of gossip. When people come to inquire about a design or price, they discuss what they should charge you, so they charge differently for everyone. I wouldn't come in there with a Gucci bag, if you know what I mean. They do say stuff they would't say in English, for example a braider said she didn't like a customer's nails, which I think is inappropriate when the girl is sitting right in your chair. Again, little comments here and there over the course of a few hours, but to me it's unprofessional. Overall, they did a great job. I've never been when the owner was not there, so she is always monitoring the braider's work. read more

My sister referred me here and Leyla is amazing, but the owner is rude and extremely unprofessional at times. My last visit there was a nasty note left on my car and I have a funny feeling the owner left it. Furthermore, I was not very happy with my hair the last time I went. It was my 2nd time getting kinky twists and because they were braided too long and weighed my hair down they ended up loosening up within weeks of getting them done. A hair style that lasted over 2 moths lasted barely a month. Had it not been for the rudeness of the owner I'd try them again instead I'm going to try a different salon. If I'm happy with them I will recommend them to both my sisters instead of Akwaba's. read more

I am giving them 2 stars because the fact they claim they written u in for an appointment but they really not urked my nerve, because I showed up and it was we will fit u in when someone comes available. Afta havn 3 people do my hair and havn to deal wit unnecessary stops because they needed to ask someone to continue wit my hair sucked; i dont mind takn a break but choosn to take a break and not inform ur client that right there is a no no. And my last pet peeve is I got Senegalese twist and not one of them was closed so they didn't unravel and here its my 3rd day havn them & I have 3 Ive noticed coming a lose already and they only have a 3 day grace period to come get braids fixed for free so if ur braid comes aloose afta good luck and the hair they use has no shine to it so bring ur own, u can spray all u want and the hair looks dull. Do I recommend this place, no i dont they have high ratings from other things not from customers who actually experienced the full effect to be able to give a good ratin, I kno i will not return. read more

This is a fairly new braiding salon in the Kingstowne area of Alexandria, VA. I came across their information online, and was immediately surprised to learn it was so close - I usually travel quite the distance for braids. Anyway, my experience was very pleasant. The salon is immaculate - the work stations, bathroom, and seating area are especially tidy. Each station was stocked with that blue solution used to sanitize combs and other utensils. I've had my hair braided numerous times by others, and never noticed sanitized combs. I tend to see that in traditional salons, but not in braiding establishments. I'm horrible with names, but the lady who braided my hair was very light-handed, which I think in this business is rare. She finished my kinky twists in about four hours. As I mentioned previously, I've worn braids for many years and I can say this was the first time my head wasn't throbbing. I don't mind folks pulling my hair to gather it, but so taut that my hair is pulled out with its follicle is ridiculous and unacceptable, but again, that wasn't the case here. The end result was beautiful. I paid $180, which is sort of steep, but the quality surpasses any other. I can also tell this install won't cause any breakage because I've yet to find any bulbs or bumps around my edges, which again is rare. The salon is easy to miss because they don't have a lot of advertisement in the window, but they're off of Franconia Road in a cluster of walk-up commercial/medical offices. Overall, I'm very satisfied with my experience and will return. read more

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This is my second time visiting them for Senegalese twists, and overall it was a great experience. Antoinette was my lead stylist. The only reason I didn't give them 5 stars is because you have to bring cash. My twists look fabulous, and I know they will last at least 8 weeks. I would recommend coming in first thing in the morning unless you have scheduled an appointment (which I did). My twists are almost down to my waist and I was still out of there in 5 hours with 2 ladies working on me intermittently. They are also very kind - and asked several times if I was okay. If you're tender-headed I'd also recommend advil :) read more

Akwaba Hair Braiding - great job ladies!! - Hair Salons Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

There are a few exceptional braiders out there that understand "be gentle with my edges". I experienced two of those few. My microbraids are neat, not too tight and there was no hesitation when I asked that my edges be left out. I could not be happier with the end result. Two braiders and 4 hours later- I am smiling. read more

The best braiding experience I have ever had. Will be telling all of my friends to use them. Very customer service oriented. They have a policy where if you don't like the braids you can either have them redone the same day or the next or get a refund. Also, they actually ask if they are braiding too tightly! They kept me very entertained for the four hours I was there. They also have free wifi. Can't beat that. read more

Akwaba Hair Braiding - Loving my individuals!!! - Hair Salons Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

I wish i could give a negative star, i will never come back to this place as long as i live. All i wanted was cornrows, so i can crochet my own hair. They did let me come ASAP but the second i got there , Nothing but nasty looks and attitude. I do have short hair, i told them that. It's long enough to be braided, I've done it for 6months now with no issues from any other braider. I had to cut my hair for personal reasons, but what really hurt was how the woman treated me for having short hair. She didn't know if i had cancer, or a disease that caused my hair to be short so to treat me like that was uncalled for and unprofessional. Her attitude was disgusting and she proceeded To rolled her eyes the whole time and didn't even ask any questions. I was at the point of tears because i felt so uncomfortable, so i lied about not having cash and got out of there before she could even put her hands in my head. If they actually read this all i want to say is - when a woman comes in to get her hair done no matter how long or short her hair is treat her like she's the most beautiful woman in the world. You never know why someone looks the way they do.... I'm disappointed and i have plenty of business i could've gave them but i will scream to the top of my lungs for no black woman or child to come here. I know a place cheaper and does the same work. I'm begging you guys not to go here please look for something else ... read more

Okay its been a month since I've had the braids in my hair, time to take it out. After two days of having the braids, I noticed that the braider did not do the tree braids correctly. She left strands of my hair out, when doing these type of braids none of the hair should be left out. Now fast forward to now, I'm trying to take the braids out and I'm having a difficult time. Why????? Because she put some sort of glue on my hair to seal the braids. Ugh, never will I go there again. Though I've received great compliments on the braids, it's frustrating to deal with removing glue from my hair in order to unbraid my hair. read more

I have had my micros done here three times and not only do I love every outcome but I'm never there for hours and hours as I have done in the past at other locations. The price is great! So is the company! read more

Akwaba Hair Braiding - Hair Salons Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

I really, truly don't want to tell you about this place because I don't want it to be crowded the next time I'm in there.... but I feel like it's my duty to the share because there might be others out there who suffer from Idontwannahavetositforbraidsfor12hoursagain syndrome. If you suffer from this, I've found the cure and it's called Akwaba Hair Braiding. I H-A-T-E getting my hair braided, twisted, etc. I really, really do. So much hate in my heart. I haven't had it done in three years, but decided that it was time for a break from styling all of this natural hair of mine. I finally went a few weeks ago and I'm so glad that I did!! It took only 5 hours for medium sized, waist length twists. A freaking miracle!!!!! (Can you tell how excited that I am from all of the exclamation points?) I arrived about 10 minutes late because I couldn't find the place, but they seated me right away. Two lovely ladies got to work on my hair (that was extra tangled that morning after a quick wash and blowdry.) I felt sorry for them fighting through the tangles. I prayed for their combs. They didn't complain at all. And, got to WORK. The main braider (Awa?) did not take a break AT ALL. I made sure to tip her extra because she was twisting away with laser focus. I will also say that even those who didn't have an appointment didn't have a very long wait before they got their hair braided. I saw one of the ladies escort a customer to the store to get hair because they didn't have it there! Really wonderful customer service. Seriously, flawless execution, ladies. I've gotten so many compliments on my hair. Even my boyfriend who normally hates braids was won over by my new level of slay. I'll be back. And, I'm sending my friends there! P.S. You should probably bring cash with you. And/or ask exactly how much it will be before your appointment and go grab some because the cash machine wasn't working. My only ding on the experience and it certainly wasn't enough to bring this rating down. read more

This is my second time going, and unless I find better (and cheaper), I will remain a customer. The first time I went (last year) , I made an appt with Awa. I got senegalese twists, which were done quickly and neatly. The only thing I didn't like was how much they braid the hair before they start twisting. I have had senegalese before coming here, and if the stylist did braid the hair, I couldn't tell. But still, my hair looked great and I was pleased. I think this took about 5 hours. This time I got individual braids. I made a 10:00 appt, but wasn't seen until after 10:30. There were other people waiting, so I don't know if they had appointments as well, or were just walk ins. The girl who did my hair (don't know her name) seemed fairly new but seemed to take pride in her work. Aafter a few hours someone came over to help. By the end, I had about 4 people working on my head, to finish things up. This took about 7 hours, but again, my hair looked great and I was pleased (and tired and hungry). The shop is clean and the ladies work hard. Everyone is friendly, which is nice too. The seem to have great relationships with their customers as well. I would definitely recommend them, and I will be going back. read more

Overall there was a good job, but I asked for senegalese twists which are twisted at the roots and my roots are braided. I didn't complain because it was done quickly and I made an appointment the day before. I've gotten quite a few compliments, so I'll probably go back but for braids or marley twists. It was my birthday and I really wanted full senegalese for my birthday style, so I'll go somewhere else next time. I thought the prices were reasonable for DC. read more

Got Marley Twists about a week before Christmas. Took less than five hours. The stylists were great! The twists are not too tight and my braider had the most gentle hands. I will definitely be going back. read more

Akwaba Hair Braiding - Love my marley twists! - Hair Salons Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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Not sure about the other lady's experience with her daughter, but I've been getting my braids done here for almost a year. I wouldn't say there is a language barrier -- the stylists are native Africans who are bilingual. They speak excellent English and French! Also, I wear my braids loose now (rather than having the ends burned like we did in the '90s), and that's exactly how the braids are set -- with hot water. That's how it's always done and the braids nor twists come apart. I let my cousin know about this place and she brought her teen daughter here over the summer for Senagalese twists and was extremely satisfied and they looked beautiful! I would definitely recommend this place. It's not an upscale salon or anything, but the people know what they're doing and you leave with a very well-done style that lasts for a couple of months. I love not having to worry about having any bad hair days for at least two months! :) read more

Best braiding salon I have experienced within the DMV area. 1. They started my hair in a timely manner. 2. Ensured that I was happy with the braids before continuing with my whole head. 3. I didn't need to take any pain medications after, and was able to pull my hair right up without pain. 4. Free Wi-Fi 5. Great conversations with staff and other clients 6. Great price! Only reason I didn't give 5 stars is because of the wet and wavy human hair they supplied. It's not of good quality, after a few days it felt more like synthetic hair even after doing a conditioning wash to it. So if you bring your own human hair I know you will not be disappointed!!!! read more

Yet another update. I made an appointment for the next day for a sew-in with braids around the part. But my impatient self went to another hair salon so I could get it done NOW as supposed to a few hours later. The braids looked hideous but the sew-in turned out ok. So I high-tailed it Akwaba to redo the braids. They took me right away and made sure my head did not suffer any pain since it was tender from yesterday. The braider did a wonderful job!! I love it evenbetter than before! They are the best! read more

Akwaba Hair Braiding - Hair Salons Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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This was my second visit here. In April I got Senegalese twists. They charged $200 for it to be halfway down my back. It turned out very nice. And lasted quit awhile. I took them out after 7 weeks. This time I got cornrows and micro braids. I arrived very early at 8am because I was still undecided on what I wanted and wanted to be one of their first customers and have plenty of time to get something had I chose a style that wasn't so simple. My decision to get there early was a good one because by 11am on a Friday they were packed. For my current style they charged $180. They stylist was determined to be very accurate from the picture I showed her which I was grateful for. I am really happy with the results! read more

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Update! I went back and got the senegalese twists and they are hot! Love them. Same experience as before...no complaints. Thanks ladies for making me look good. See you in October for my touch up. read more

This team deserve 10 stars. Clean, friendly and PROFESSIONAL. Another great Yelp find for me. Mawa is a great manager, she keeps an eye on all her staff and ensures they're all producing the best work pedigree without appearing to micro manage. As it got late, she ordered dinner, Subway sandwiches, which was also offered to the clients. Such a nice gesture. I got there at 5:30pm, without an appointment, to get my old braids repaired. Mawa said she'd have to braid half my head to cover up the growth. Bummer!!! So I asked how soon I can make an appointment and she said they can take me immediately. They removed my old braids, washed and blow dried my hair and put Nubian twists in. By 11:30pm I was headed home looking fresh as daisy. Well, tired but fresh nonetheless. read more

If I could give this place 0 stars I would. Like Kursteen N., I got the tree braids. However, I realized the braider (who happened to also be the owner), left some of my real hair OUT as soon as she was done. Though she and another braider went ahead and re-did some of them (after I noticed the problem in the mirror), she didn't finish the rest. Her excuse? "Oh, when you do the tree braids, some of your real hair is left out, this is normal" The hell? I have NEVER heard that before. The whole point of tree braids, is so that your real hair is NOT left out. Then she had the nerve to tell me, "I dont think that will break your hair off" Oh, and before I forget, she also added "It's impossible to do tree braids without your real hair being out". Yeah, if you DONT know what you are doing, like she apparently didn't. To add insult to injury, she did some little box braids in the back, and she even left some of that hair out and didn't braid it. Mind you, I SPECIFICALLY asked her before making my appointment, is any of my real hair left out when doing the tree braids, and she said "No". I am worried about taking this mess out, because I feel I will be having the same problem as Kursteen N, in that it is going to be a nightmare. I have been getting braids on and off for a long time now, and have had experiences from the West to East Coast (I had to move for work and school), and have NEVER had a such a bad experience getting braids. Luckily my regular braider will now be available (she had been on vacation). She knows what she is doing when it comes to tree braids (and she charges a LOT less) I strongly discourage anyone from going here. I feel they acted very unprofessional. I will never go back there again. read more

When it comes to my grade of hair, braids/twists don't last that long!!! This is the FIRST time my hair lasted more than a month--ever!!! I will definitely return! The customer service and ambiance were great--they teeated my four-year-old kindly too. I have extensions: "Marley Twists." They started out with braiding my hair, then twisted it. Initially, I was concerned about how they would look. But, people can't even tell that they're braided at the roots...I love this place! read more