I wanted to love my style given that my previous weave done by Shanda was excellent. This time I had her install a full weave with an invisible part closure and the results were disastrous. The invisible part was not natural looking at all, being over a finger width apart with tracks showing at the edges. After spending $150 for a professional style, I expected so much better than what I got. While I felt that Shanda was friendly and nice enough, but the quality was lacking. Overall I felt that her workmanship this time was sloppy and my style was rushed. When I called the next day to complain about the invisible part which had string sticking out of it and which even my husband (who is not a hair person) felt looked bad, Shanda tried to blame the closure itself and told me to just "cut the string". This was upsetting to say the least but even after that I was going to go back and have her fix it by installing a new closure (which she was going to charge me for). But, after a week of negative comments some from complete strangers, I decided to find another stylist to fix it. I am actually sorry that I wasn't able to have her become my go to stylist because the first time she did my hair was great, this last experience though left such a bad taste in my mouth that I feel it best that I go elsewhere for my weaves in the future. UPDATE: Instead of fixing it, (stylists are reluctant to fix someone else's work) I took out my weave because the part looked a mess (see photos). While I was taking out the weave, I noticed a lot of my hair coming out, more than should be coming out after only a couple of weeks in a style. I have gone months in other styles without losing this much hair. After washing and drying my hair, I discovered that my edges were almost completely pulled out with a bald patch right where that horrible part was placed. Because the weave/braids were too tight, and because Shanda thought it was a good idea to sew tracks onto my weak baby hair, I am now sporting a bald spot on the right side of my head. To say I am pist would not fully cover the emotions I felt when I surveyed the damage left by Shanda's weave. Please do not make the same mistake I did, have someone else do your weave for you. read more

This is not a review based on any service given as it never got that far. This is strictly a review on my treatment as a potential customer. I found Hair Weave Doctor right here on Yelp and was excited to check it out because I live a few blocks away and never noticed this salon - or what I assumed was a salon - and thought how awesome would that be if I end up finding a stylist within a five minute walk from my home, yess please! I was home on a random Friday and had a few errands to run, figured I'd swing by and check the place out and see if I could maybe book an appointment depending on what I saw when I popped in. I got there and was confused. There was a salon, but it was called Emilia's. I double checked the address and decided to call. A young woman answered and I explained that I was walking by and wanted to check the place out but wasn't sure I had the right address - she replied that I was at the right place, Emilia's Downtown Salon, but that she, The Hair Weave Doctor, is only there once a week, on Sundays, and is not there today. Oh, okey doke, my mistake. Based off of this Yelp post and her website I did not understand that this was a one woman, freelance thing. Which is fine, it just wasn't clear to me. As you can see above it states the hours as Monday-Sunday. I assumed I was stopping into a place of business. And I have always been one to check out a salon in person before making an appt, unless the stylist was recommended by a friend, but I would never just call up and book an appt without knowing what kind of establishment I would be walking into. I've walked into a salon before and been so immediately turned off - be it by the lack of cleanliness or stylist's attitude or whatever - that I've turned right back around and walked out, you just never know. So, I'm basically explaining to her over the phone that I was just stopping in to see about maybe booking an appt and wanting to check the place out... and she basically kept interrupting me to tell me that she NEVER, EVER takes walk ins. I told her I understood that and was not trying to walk in, but that I was just wanting to check the place out and maybe see about a consultation as I read on her website. Again, she continued to interrupt me to tell me that even a consultation needs to have an appt. Ugh! Yes, I understand that, again I was not trying to walk-in and get ANYTHING done, I was just wanting to see what the deal was, basically. Since when is that a crime, since when is that met with such... hostility? I'm the one who is standing outside for nothing, so what she was so annoyed by I just really don't understand. Could I have called first, perhaps I could have. But again, I thought I was dealing with a salon, one with at least a few stylists and perhaps even a receptionist, how was I to know any different? I knew I'd be walking by on a week day afternoon, potentially when it was slow, so why not think 'hmm I'll just poke my head in and see if I can get any info and maybe even find myself a new stylist!' But man, she was clearly not going to be that! I can't explain it, but to be as frank as possible, I am very tired of dealing with some stylist who have this attitude like they are doing you, the client, some kind of favor, instead of providing you, the client, a service. I mean, as she kept drilling into me that she never, ever takes walk-ins and is fully booked all day the next coming day she'll be at that location she never once just asked me if I'd like to book a time for a consultation. Not so much as a "gee I'm sorry about the confusion, I actually work via appointments only because I am not at a permanent location, but when is a time that is good for you"... I mean, is that really that hard? Instead, she made it seem as if I was simply in the wrong for daring to walk by her sometimes location and think I could pop in to say "hi I'm looking for a stylist - I'm looking to possibly give you business". I felt like she was some "celebrity" stylist who wanted to say to me "umm don't you know who you are calling, I don't do walk-ins, I am too big time for that"... Not to be bitchy, but that's seriously how she came off to me, and it was just uncalled for. Maybe she wasn't having a great day, but if she hadn't answered her phone I would have left a message and kept right on walking and maybe she would have called me back and been professional and maybe this review would be completely opposite. But she did answer, and was rude, hostile and unprofessional. read more

Shanda is amazing. She is gifted at extensions. I got the cold fusion type and she did an incredible job. Her prices are more than fair too. I brought my own hair, which reduced the cost. She never tried to get me to use the hair she orders. She happily put them in. It took about 4 hours, which is a long time for someone like me who gets antsy but Shanda is such a great conversationalist. She made the time fly by. read more

This place is great. Really happy with quantity and quality -- amazing pricing!! Not the best hair selection, but you can bring your own hair which is probably even better. I was a reluctant to post this review, because it's such a great secret... can't beat this deal. I went to Patricia's Salon before and I got a fraction of the hair and paid three times as much. I am looking forward to going back. Iam planning to be a longtime client. read more

I don't know who is leaving these bad reviews but they are either competition or just plain idiots who don't know what good hair extensions are supposed to be like. I have been going to Shanda for 5 years. We have done weaves, microlinks, fusion, etc. Shanda is an expert and completely professional. She knows all the styles and will even buy hair for you. Any time we did have an issue, which was always minor, she fixed it for free - none of this upcharge overpriced bs you get from big name salons. And guess what - I'm not some fake reviewer, I'm a verified high profile individual and I trust Shanda - and only Shanda - with my hair. www.davis2013.com or www.manhattanmadam.com - I've been on TV over 100 times with hair Shanda has done and its always looked amazing- google "Kristin Davis Governor or Madam" and you will see that her work speaks for herself. Once she went on maternity leave and I ended up with some idiot girl from craigslist for $200. She had to redo my hair 6 times - all of which I paid for- and never got it right. Too much hair in the microlinks means they slide out - DUH. Lesson learned. Anyhow anyone writing bad reviews is just jealous, competition or had BAD HAIR themselves and unrealistic expectations. I've had hair extensions for 12 years so I know every in and out of them, every type of installation method and every brand of hair to buy. I trust one person - Shanda. She is affordable and reliable. These bad reviews are baseless and should be taken down. read more

I have been going to Shanda for about a year and a half and feel grateful to have a hairdresser like her. Helped me with transitioning out my relaxed hair, listened to the look I wanted and didn't make my hair feel or look fake. No one knows it's weave. It's hard to find a hairdresser that really gets on the side of her clients, and tries to help your hair out for the long run. She gives solid hair advice and is disarming, sweet, and never disrespectful. If you don't like or want something she's easy to talk to and can tell you what's possible or not. She's reasonably priced and I'd definitely recommend her. read more

I am so disappointed and upset about the extension i got from Shanda. I came for my appointment, she was doing someones hair and told me i am late. She gave me consultation, while doing someones hair extension. I have fine blonde hair, she asked me what hair i want, i said NOT Chinese and NOT Indian. She said okay. i wanted Russian wavy hair. Ok, $200 deposit. I came back for my extension in 2 days, i see thick blonde rough hair on the table, she said its Indian. i was not happy with this, but i need it for the next day to go to wedding. She applied this hair. She didnt know how to cut it, it looked so awkward. At the back of my head there is a big clog of my hair that she glued with the extension, i cant comb this and i cant separate it. I contacted Shanda and she accused me that i didnt pay enough money (only $500) in order to get nice extension. please avoid this cheap service if you can, or you will regret as i do. read more