Mak's Place is a cute Aveda boutique salon tucked in the most unexpected location near the Braddock metro. The antique nightstands, eclectic furnishings, delicious hot tea, and silk chair pads lend a relaxing, vaguely exotic mood to the salon, while the recessed lighting and cute stylists keep it trendy. Ronni is a styling and coloring goddess who has layered my light curls beautifully, restored my hair's natural color and texture, and fashioned beautiful bobs for my friends. She also gives an incredible scalp and shoulder massage that will you have melting into the leather chair. She really interacts with her clients, and will have you feeling gorgeous when you walk out. The only issue I have with Mak's concerns the front desk. Though I am always greeted politely when I enter the salon (I've even been invited to sit in the lounge area with a cup of tea when I'm only stopping in for styling products), the person responsible for scheduling appointments over the phone is always irritable and difficult to understand. Is there an evil spirit lording over the appointment book? If so, it needs to be exorcised! read more

Went here this weekend for an updo with a girlfriend. We had two back-to-back appointments and were running a bit late. Upon walking in my first thought was "THIS is Aveda salon?!?". Aveda salons are usually tranquil and spa-like and generally in nice locations that justify the price tag. Anyway, I told the receptionist (more on her in a bit) who I was and apologized for being 10 mins late. It turned out not to matter because our stylist was with another client until almost 40 mins after our appointment! She just did an "okay" job on both of us and we both ended up fixing our hair at home. The receptionist was bizarre. I was asking questions about the hair and makeup products (since I had so much time to kill) and her responses were either blank stares and "I don't know", preposterous responses (she tried to tell me that Aveda doesn't make a compact for their pressed powder and I should just leave it in the plastic wrapping between uses), or " I could ask my manager"...uh YEAH, why don't you do that??? Also on another note, it seems the owner & manager are Ethiopian girls, both with super-curly ethnic hairstyles, a far cry from my fine, mostly-straight brown hair. I noticed all the other clients when we were there were either men or women with similar hair. For an updo it didn't really matter but I would be wary of getting a cut or color there. All in all not an "Aveda-like" experience and I'd recommend going elsewhere. read more

It was a bit of a fluke how I ended up here... If I take the metro into town, I'll usually go and park on the street by Braddock Rd. One afternoon when I was headed home as I got off the metro, I REALLY had to pee. The salon was open, and graciously allowed me to use the facilities. While I was there I had a brief chat with the receptionist and she recommended that I come see Ronnie for a haircut. There is an AWESOME salon in Raleigh (my home town) that I've been to a few times before moving up here. I knew I was going to have to find a local hair haven, but so far it's been lots of trial and error. Heavy on the error. So after that chance encounter, I figured, what the hey - let's give Mac a try. It came time for a haircut, and I called and made an appointment with Ronnie. The salon has been around for over 3 years, and Ronnie has been there for most of that time. The salon is not huge or tremendously swanky, but they offer a large selection of Aveda products. My appointment was at 1, I was there on time and had to wait for a little bit while she finished up with a previous client. I waited in their cozy lounge area and caught up on my Elle reading, and was offered a selection of beverages. When she brought me to the chair we went over what I wanted. This is a bit of a challenge since sometimes the best I can come up with is "um, it needs to be better, a little different." After a thorough shampooing, Ronnie sat me down and went to work. The results are great. I will definitely be back. Ronnie LISTENED and did a great job. read more

I love Mak's Place. I've had my hair cut there by Sonia and Mak, and had wonderful cuts and colors. Now, I have had a few problems with an unanswered line when I've tried to make appointments, but the reception desk problem that is referenced seems to have improved. For me, it has been difficult to get in some times. But, when I am there, the experience and cuts are great. I've given limited guidelines, but they always have produced cuts that match the demands of my busy life. The place is also near Mak's wonderful locally sourced cafe, Grassroots Station, which also features African dishes from her native country. Delicious beet salad for dinner. I'd highly recommend Mak's place. read more

Maks uses Aveda natural hair and body products which I love.. The owner Mak is down to earth and between clients she's working on her paintings. She's the only one here so you have to make an advance appt. Braddock metro is 1 block away and Del Ray is within walking distance. Quiet and peaceful for hanging out while you wait.. read more

Mak Aveda Concept Salon - Wall decor... - Hair Salons Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Wouldn't go there again if you paid me cash money and had a gun to my head, not because of the service, but because of the below issue. I had a haircut and color and makeup consultation last summer at Mak's - the service was fine but markedly overpriced. I joined their mailing list. Yesterday I received a 10% email for my birthday (in March - mine is in the Fall) that included all of the email addresses in the "To" field rather than BCCd. Here's the email I wrote: Hi there - my birthday isn't until XXX, and this email included the emails of all of your customers who presumably have birthdays this month, which is a serious violation of privacy - especially because some of them are government email addresses. Please remove me from your mailing list, this type of error in judgment is frightening to a consumer. read more

I decided to give Mak's a try more out of convenience than anything else, as I live close by. When I called to scheduled an appointment for highlights and color, I spoke with the Aveda rep who was there that day answering the phone. She raved about how good Mak was, so I was feeling good about my prospects. When it came time for my appointment, they called me less than 24 hrs before to ask if they could bump me up an hour earlier, I said fine, thinking it may give more time to get the style I want right. I arrived a few minutes late and still waited for about 30 minutes for Mak to finally get me in the chair. When she asked what we were doing and I said cut and highlights she looked surprised and then left me and went over to the reception desk to check....and then proceeded to question me about what I made the appointment for. I instantly had a bad feeling that this was going to be a rushed job...and unfortunately it ended up that way. My highlights turned out OK, but I left the salon with one side of my head over an inch longer than the other as Mak rushed me out of the chair because she had another client waiting!! Not to mention, I specifically discussed my fine hair texture and how I usually get a lot of layers in the back and angled longer in the front. I contemplated not even going back to have her fix it, but after spending over $200, I figured it was the least they could do. Another stylist fixed it up who couldn't believe how Mak could have overlooked something so obvious! I ended up with probably one of the worst hair cuts of my life, just a straight cut all the way around, (that ended up a lot shorter than I wanted due to the fix), which I could have gotten at Hair Cuttery for a lot cheaper. I would definitely not recommend to anyone:( read more

I've been going to Ronnie at Maks for nearly 5 years and can't imagine going anywhere else. She is a genius with the scissors and I get compliments all the time on my hair. The entire staff is so friendly and I love the peaceful atmosphere and relaxing waiting area. I've never experienced surly staff or confusion about my appointment time. The only reason I don't give Maks 5 stars is that Ronnie's schedule (she has a young daughter so weekends and evenings are rare) isn't ideal for my schedule but finding the time to visit for an expert cut and color is totally worth it. read more

I bought a Groupon for Mak because I needed a trim and knew where the salon was. I called this morning and they had an opening in the schedule this afternoon. I showed up at 1:40 pm for a 1:45 pm appointment, and at 2:20 pm I was still waiting. I was making my way to the front desk when the stylist who was to cut my hair finally approached me to say that she was running behind. Needing to be somewhere by 4 pm and having errands to complete in between, I told the stylist I needed to be done ASAP. She offered the services of another stylist on Monday, but that conflicted with my work schedule. Since I have a simple cut and didn't need it blown dry, she finally offered to trim my hair. I was done in about 10 minutes; the head massage and wash that were a selling feature of the deal were minimal. At the front desk the receptionist told me that I owed an additional $10 above the Groupon!! When I asked why, she said that their lowest price for a cut was $60 but that the ONE STYLIST they employ who cuts for that price wasn't working today. The stylist who cut my hair has a base price of $70; since the Groupon was the equivalent of $60, I still owed $10. I handed her $20 and asked for $7 back (the outrageous extra $10 charge and a base 10% tip of $3); she looked at me like I was speaking a foreign language and asked, "How much is the tip???" "THREE DOLLARS - MY CHANGE IS SEVEN DOLLARS." I finally got my money and gladly left. This was one of the worst consumer experiences I've ever had. I only gave one star because I at least got my hair trimmed. Not only would I never go back to Mak, I will tell everyone I know in Alexandria and Arlington to never go. My other Groupon experiences have been very good, but Groupon either owes all of us who had the poor judgement to buy this offer our money back or another equivalent coupon. read more

For the price, I thought I should have gotten a better cut. The highlights that Ashley gave me turned out very nice, but the cut was totally lopsided. When I asked her to fix it, she said it was supposed to be that way. Um... no. read more

Mak is the priest of Braddock Road. She not only cuts hair beautifully, but she is a calming presence, massaging weary scalps and soothing the soul with her own original paintings on the walls. Love her. read more

I went because it's a great location, I'm still looking for an Aveda salon that I like in the area, and I had a Groupon. The great part is that I got a great haircut and color. The salon is really cute. But like others have said, the downside to Mak's is the receptionist, who makes me never want to go again. She put me on hold forever, hung up, and then when I finally got her on the phone, she messed up my appointment date/time 4-5 times. I have not been back since, as both times I called to make another appointment, she hung up on me. read more

Mak's Place is great! My stylist, Jeam, is amazing! Every couple months I make an appointment for a cut and color. Jeam never disappoints with either. I have fairly long hair (mid back), and I am extremely picky about what is done to it. She has always nailed the color, and unlike some stylists of the past, never gets scissor-happy. I always feel like a million bucks when leaving here. What more could a girl ask for? read more

I have been going to Mak's for about a year now and while I have experienced some of the reception issues (unanswered phones), I have had a great experience. I highly recommend Stephanie for all your hair needs! I came in with difficult hair (my curls are unraveling into some curl/wave hybrid) plus its very fine AND I wanted to grow it out. She gave me a fab "growing out" cut with strategic layers for curly or straight styles. Bangs are always perfection and free trims in between. She understood my vision for final hairstyle and always takes the best care. It seems whatever customer service issues Mak's had has been resolved. Decent pricing for the area $70 for my medium length cut. Stephanie is worth every penny and more! read more

I went to Mac a few months ago, 2 days before my birthday. My waist length hair had been ravaged by a hospital stay and was really matted and I had finally given up and decided to take it all off. I had Mona and I wasn't too optimistic about the results, but I ended up getting a fun, shoulderlength layered do that I just loved. My hair looked healthy and was easy to manage, and I loved the look! read more

I've been to Mak's ever since I moved to Alexandria about 3 years ago. During that time, I've seen all of my stylists move on to other area salons. The turnover seems higher than I'm used to, but it's become increasingly clear why -- the owner, Mak, is downright mean. Every single time I've been around her, she's had a scowl on her face and/or said something rude. Her customer service is horrible, and it seems to trickle down to the other stylists and the receptionist. Always, but especially in this economy, clients should be treated with much more respect than Mak gives them. ALL of my stylists were fantastic and nice, but they have moved on...and I will, too. There are too many good salons in Alexandria; don't waste your money at this one. read more

I have been going Mak for a while now and really like it. I see Mara and love her! She is young and cool and has a lot of good ideas. She will not let you look bad when you leave :) She is supper nice and I like chatting with her. I guess the thing I like best is that she will let you know what she thinks will look good on you. Every time I see her she is either going to a class or coming back from one. I love that she cares about styling. My hair is super fine and she helps make it move. Plus I get to drink the really good Aveda tea. read more

I have only been going to this salon for a few haircuts. I like to get my hair cut every 6 weeks, however, ever since I have moved to Northern Va, I feel the need to put it off since I cannot find a great Aveda stylist that is worth paying the money for. Mak is a cute spot with only a few seats in the salon. The stylist I used both times seemed to be very nice and was talkative, but did not listen when I said not to use a razor on my hair. Another complaint is that the receptionist seems a little out there. She is nice, but very confused at times. My last appointment must have been around 5:00p and I was the last appointment of the day, I guess, bc nobody seemed to care that I was there. Then they were cleaning up and packing up around me making me feel akward, as if I was putting them out by being there. They also offered me some Aveda tea to which I said I would like some. The receptionist had to make a brand new pot and really didn't seem happy about that. I would have been perfectly fine without the tea (that wasn't ready until about 5 mins to being done with the cut anyway) had they not offered. All and all it was an akward experience and I hope I can find a new salon soon! ps-- my cut turned out well which is the point of going, but if I am going to pay that much for a hair cut, I need the experience to be relaxing too. read more

My experience was terrible. It started off with a rude receptionist who asked three times if I was a Groupon customer. You have to love the screening process. Then after I arrived, two employees (including the receptionist) argued for 15 mins over how to properly charge someone using a Groupon (not me fortunately). How relaxing. My stylist (cannot remember her name) was not advised when I arrived so she was standing around doing nothing for 10 minutes while I waited. She finally asked the receptionist if her appt had arrived. I had to sit and watch traffic the entire time she cut my hair. The stylist was nice enough although the hair cut was nothing spectacular. In fact, I could have gotten the same at Hair Cuttery. I will not be going back. There is really no reason for you to go either unless you like being treated poorly and receiving a subpar hairdo. read more

What a warm, friendly, embracing environment, you can trust your hair to Sonia, based on my experience. She did a partial highlight and a clean-up cut (just what I needed). Mak's Place is not just a hair salon, it is also an art gallery. The aromas that waft around are pure heavenly nourishment, too. I love the smell of Aveda! The price is what you'd expect of an Aveda salon, it's a special treat for me. read more

I really enjoyed the experience. Mak, the owner, cut my hair. She did a wonderful job. The receptionist was friendly and helpful as well. It's pricey, at $75 for a cut, but if you want to patronize a black-owned business and get a great cut, you should go here! read more

When I inquired about a color patch test, the owner/stylist seemed confused. She also was confused about the different classifications of curly hair. However, the receptionist was friendly, engaging and appeared to understand the concept of curly hair classifications. My natural curly hair journey will continue for a knowledgable stylist. read more

went there for the first time last week. was not impressed with the service. salon is cute, but the service was definitely lacking. stylist didn't talk to me at all. i got highlights and they are some of the worst i have ever had. i have 6 stripes down my part line. the rest of my highlights look natural, but the top of my head is not at all what i would expect - especially for the price i paid. i also got an eyebrow wax. wax was pretty skimpy. she was done in a minute - literally. no touch up plucking. nothing. and i had gone many weeks in between waxes - i needed extra attention. to top the experience off, i was over charged. i was charged for a haircut i never got. the receptionist ran my debit card. then the stylist came over and told her not to charge me for a haircut. too later. she voided my first payment, but there is now a hold on my bank account that will take at least 1-2 weeks to clear. glad my budget isn't too tight. overall i was not impressed, and paid over $200 for highlights and a brow wax. very conveniently located by the metro, but not worth the money. my hunt for a decent salon at a decent price continues... read more

I went to Mak last week to use a Group-on I purchased. I really enjoyed the overall experience. The lovely young woman who washed my hair and gave me a head massage was wonderful, and Jeem, who cut and styled my hair was sweet and an excellent stylist. The other staff were cheery and kind and I felt great when I left. I even booked my next appointment. read more

I used the groupon here as well, and I got a really cute haircut. I didn't have to wait for my stylist. Jean did an amazing job of fixing the terrible haircut I had received at another old town salon, easily figuring out exactly what was wrong with it. Really, the only reason I don't give them 5 stars is the price - $70 just feels so high to me, but maybe that is the price of a reasonable haircut in old town. read more

Have been going to Sonia at Mak for almost 4 years. I have very curly hair and am very picky about who does my hair. She has always done a fantastic job with cut and color. When I started going my hair was short and it's now below my shoulders. Sonia made me look great at every length. The color is natural and like a drink from the fountain of youth. read more

I have tried to make appointments at this salon twice. I was hoping to get a relaxer and hair cut and possibly make this my new salon. The first time I contacted them via phone and the individual that answered was a bit rude. They didn't have any time available in the next few weeks (most likely because they are not open on Sundays and Mondays and close at 6 on Tuesdays). For my second attempt I contacted the salon and asked if they had anything available in the evening over the next few weeks. I gave a fairly general availability hoping they would have one evening appointment. The receptionist put me on hold for a while and, when she came back told me that the hair stylist she was trying to connect me with does not do relaxers and they don't have any appointments available any other day. She was obviously not concerned in the least whether the salon obtained a new client. That will be my last try with this salon. read more