All I gotta say is...MATOU! After a bad experience with my usual hair braider (different shop but I won't bad mouth her) I was recommended to Unity and Matou by a friend...she's now my official hair braider. I called ahead and we negotiated a VERYYYY reasonable price of $55 and asked me my hair color so she could have the hair ready. Note: as other reviewers mentioned there are at least 3 other braiding salons in this building/hallway, it is not uncommon for the competition to lie about their name in order to pilfer customers which is why Matou had me call her so she could personally escort her to the shop. Just make sure the shop says UNITY and you'll be good. Wanted long cornrows with extensions on my thick mixed race natural hair... came in with my hair washed and detangled and she began her magic. 1.5 hours later she left me with NEAT, PRECISE, DETAILED cornrows that weren't too thick or loose. She works quickly but not sloppily nor does she rush you out of the chair. She's also quite friendly. Admittedly this place is not glam or ritzy, but it is large, well ventilated, they have a TV and there were no bugs! I've been in other shops in this building and I believe this one is the largest there are a ton of braiders working here! 5 stars for Unity and Matou read more

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I give Unity 4 stars because of Matou. Im disregarding the fact that its messy in the room amd the bathroom is filthy and has no toilet tissues. Also keep in mind that the stylist there are money hungry. There are different rooms so make sure you go in the right one if you know what stylist you want. Everyone will tell you its the same but its not the same salon. Moving on, Matou did a great job on my box braids they are medium size and in a short bob. I got there around 12 and left around 6. Yes theyre tight but thats box braids, get over it, they loosen up in a few days. I talked her down from 100 and i paid 80. Other than that the quality is great for the price, i will be back and i stromgly recommend Matou, her phkne number is 917.912.1208 ask for Matou. The address is 43 W 125th St. 2nd fl room 8 (Unity) Harlem, NY 10035. read more

Unity African Hair Braiding - Ask for Matou - Hair Salons Near Me - New York, New York

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I found this place using Yelp and I'm not happy at all with the outcome. I went to Matou since I see she was mentioned a lot in reviews. It took her 9hrs to do my hair and she didn't even do it the way I requested. Then after speaking with a few ppl she definitely overcharged me. I requested medium size braids and instead she choose to do small braids and the ends are raggedy and thin. I will never go back to this place read more

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This was my first experience getting Senegalese twists, and I chose this place based on Yelp reviews. I called Matao originally but for the most part ended up having another woman do the twists (I don't remember her name but it began with a K?). Matao came back every now and then and helped. I arrived at 9am on a weekday and left the place around 3pm. From reviews I was prepared to entertain myself with a book and phone charger, as well as a few snacks. I also made sure not to drink anything to avoid the infamous bathroom situation. The space was cluttered, but I didn't get a "dirty" feel, just messy. It could definitely benefit from a good cleaning, but it wasn't the kind of place that would make me lose my appetite or fake an illness to leave. Overall I give it 3 stars because the braids do look great. However they are WAY too tight. I said from the beginning that I did not want them tight because my hair had broken off recently, especially around the edges. And despite this plus me saying numerous times that it was tight and could still be looser, the woman left my hair braided so tight I felt my face stretching backward. It has been almost a week and I'm still in pain in some spots, and I'm still at the point where I can't pull the hair up without discomfort. I didn't want to take them out so soon and waste all the money spent. The other thing is that they were way too long. And I don't mean by one or two inches. Even though from the beginning I showed her that I wanted them about 3-4 inches paste my shoulder, when she was done they were almost approaching my waist. When I mentioned it after I saw the length she assured me she'd trim it when she was done. When she 'trimmed' them I looked and it didn't look any different to me. So I asked her to trim them more and she asked "aren't you just going to style it up?" At that point I gave up and just left. I'm not sure if I'd return mainly because of how tight they were and how my repeated requests to braid them looser were ignored. Previous reviewers seemed not to have this experience with someone called Amy so maybe request her if you don't want excruciating pain when you leave. Also fyi payment is in cash only. read more

Tips: -There are a few other hair braiding salons in this building, so if you decided you're going to Unity, make a B line! Go straight past all the women in the front and hallway talk at you about their salon. -Prices are negotiable. Be tough, its fine. As a gauge, I got waist length jumbo braids for $110 and I brought my own hair. I think they used that and some of their own. They do have their own however, I just happened to have some. - I saw a braider called Sylla. Homegirl had NO sense of urgency. Her method was "braid-text-braid-take a phone call-braid-use her hands to tell a story to someone-braid-text-braid-pray-braid-braid-lunch", and so on. I am SO bad about being firm with any service person (except food service) but if you know how to crack the whip on someone, feel free to use her. She braided quickly, when she was actually braiding, but has major ADD. It took about 6 hours and probably should've taken 4. I watch a girl finish 3/4 of a head of micro brands in the time I got a full head of Jumbos. -Bring lots of cash. There are tons of people that come through selling goods, if your into street-wares. In the time i was there, there was a guy selling, socks, sunglasses, fruit, bras, bracelets, earrings and pepper spray. Go figure... -The place is a mess, but whatever. Im not there for fine dining. -All-in-all, I LOVE how my braids look. I showed her a view pics and they're perfect. I'd definitely go back, I'd just see a new stylist or get some whip-cracking skills. read more

Had to get my hair braided last minute because my stylist was booked and I was going out of town. So after work I went up to 125th and came across Unity. One of the women outside took me up to the shop and asked me what I wanted. I told her box braids and showed her the size, then she asked me how much. I don't really get braids that often so I didn't quit no the going rate, but luckily one of my friends told me she usually pays $65 for micros. Since I wanted bigger braids I told the lady I wanted to pay $45 knowing this price wouldn't fly, she haggled with me until we decided on $55 for some braids. Gotta love haggling. So since I came in at 6 pm a lot of the women looked like they wanted to go home. Luckily there were 3 people braiding my hair ( 4 at one point) so it only took 2 hours for me to get my hair did #holla. While getting my hair done I peeped a lot of the other styles being done and everyone's hair looked fly. I did notice that one women paid $55 for cornrows into a bun, so make sure you bust out your negotiating skills to get a good price. Didn't see any roaches or bugs in here, but the place definitely could be touched by some Lysol. Overall though getting my hair done here was a pleasant ( as braids can be) experience. read more

I went to this place after reading all the reviews about hair braiding on yelp. Each one was mixed, however I chose Unity on the fact that I could call someone specific. I spoke directly to Matou at 4:30 pm on a Saturday and she told me to come right on down. She asked me if I ha ever been there before in which I replied no. She told me how to get there and then call her when I arrived. Be careful, if you blink twice you will miss it. More importantly, do as you are told. When I got there, two women sitting at the front were very welcoming, and at first thought, I was under the impression that it was Matou. I was mistaken. I called her and she said meet me at the top of the steps. When I got to the top I was greeted with a warm welcoming hug. As we continued to walk down the hall I realized that it was in fact rooms of different hair braiding businesses. Make sure you go to room 8. Room 8 is just that. A room. It isn't fancy, it isn't clean, but you are immediately immersed in their culture that you do not feel out of place at all. It is a large room with the perimeter lines with styling chairs, and then in the middle an additional set of chairs. Above each stylist is their contact information and hair styles they have worked on. I had the easier of having my hair braided by Matou's grand daughter Amy. Amy had been mentioned in previous posts and she was fantastic. Matou asked me how much I wanted to pay and approved. She then showed me different types of braids an I chose the one that I liked. Amy got to work and towards the last 2 hours was assisted by another young woman. I got small box braids and they look terrific. The place isn't clean because people are braiding hair. There is going to be hair everywhere. The place is lively. They are loud, they are fun. Bring a pillow for your tush if you have trouble sitting for long periods of time. Bring things to occupy your time. Book, food, knitting needles, iPad, a friend. read more

5-stars were merited ONLY because of my hair braiding goddess, HONO!! She is sent from the heavens with hands that are swift, precise, and gentle (which came as a HUGE relief since it was after all it was my first time) and such a sweet, caring energy. I couldn't of asked for more during my first experience of getting long box braids done. I was very worried since I have one shoulder length hair side and the other side of my hair is growing out from having been shaved down for 4 years. However, Hono explained that my mismatched length was no problem as long as she had enough to grip. Wooohooo, no more looking like a pouf ball on one side of my head anymore The location or shall I say room is nothing to marvel about, but all that melted away once HONO sat me in her chair and began her hair braiding magic. Please do be advised that other hair braiders here lie about who they are and enjoy partaking in client trickery Hono had me call her once I arrived so she could meet me and walk me to her work station since other "Hono" wannabes were wandering about haha Do give her a call if you want to make an appointment at her cell 646-359-9578...I can not reiterate enough how UHMAZING she is read more

Unity African Hair Braiding - All done with the box braids and getting the finishing touches applied. Thank you again Hono! - Hair Salons Near Me - New York, New York

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I think I was too quick with excitement the first time. I've been going to Unity for over a year now and am very good friends with Matou. However, the last few times she's arbitrarily raised the price on me, as a long time customer, this is unacceptable business manor. Unity African Hair Braiding is bare bones. If you're looking for something a little more ritzy then head to midtown or brooklyn and pay $250 - $500 for medium sized box braids done with less skillful hands. Unity's bathrooms are heinous (no tissue either), there's generally a low level of professionalism as many stylists yell across the shop, and the movies are often too loud and not appropriate for all audiences. You won't get a luxe wash and blow dry here, what you will get is quality braids at more or less affordable prices, but you have to haggle, haggle, haggle. If you call the main number, you should ask for Amy, she's young and braids like a machine. However, there are many great dressers. It's first come, first served, so just drop in earlier than later and you'll get served. None of this appointment business. I usually call Matou the day before and tell her I'll be there at 9AM. NOTE: There are 3 braiding shops in the building. Unity is the last one in the row. read more

I usually get my hair braided in Los Angeles, and after last year's New York experience at Billie Jean's (very crowded, not very polite), I ventured back uptown to try them again while in town. Despite two phone calls confirming they were open, BJ's did not take me because I'd showed up too late for the specific type of braiding. (They were not pleasant and did not care about the money.) So... I came home and Yelped other hair braiders in Harlem, and sure enough, the review for Matou at Unity was ON THE MONEY. She met me at the train, we worked out a very fair price, and first her sister, then, by the end, three more stylists, created beautiful braids for me. Same price as Billie Jean's (I did not get as good a deal as the other reviewer and didn't need braids taken out), but everyone here was really friendly, it was way less crowded, and I definitely would go back! read more

I came across this review while trying to find the shop's # b/c the card was in my other purse @ home. I am a longtime customer of Unity, when I started going there was 4 braiders working in the there. Over the years, I've heard different people say different things about where to get you're hair braided in Harlem. I am very finicky about who does my hair but I will tell you if anyone ask me where to go to get their hair braided...it's always Unity (guys also)!!! They have been braiding my hair since high school & I'm 35 so yes, they get my vote because I've NEVER had a problem! Silla, Matou, Awa & the rest of the ladies are always professional, polite & fair with their prices. At this shop, I've gotten flat twist, twist, cornrows, micro etc & every time it was impeccable! Sabrina, I'm sorry you had a bad experience because that's so not like them & wet & wavy is my thing! I've bought my own and even bought their hair at the shop and didn't have any issues. My sister, who likes a particular brand, always brings her own hair. But either way, they do a good job. Word of advice: when you go, sometimes there are woman sitting outside who work at other salons in the building, just tell them you're going to Unity & they'll stop bothering you. Therefore, I wholeheartedly recommend Unity for my hair braiding needs & I hope you will too! read more

I have been coming to Alima for years now. My sorority sister drives up from Virginia to get her hair done by Alima. This woman even made special arrangements on off hours to do my mothers hair (my mother is in a wheelchair and cant make it into the shop). I have literally let NOT ONE OTHER PERSON braid my hair since I met her. She is smart and kind, and most importantly she listens to what the client wants, and does her absolute best not to hurt you. She is fast and pleasant. In the 15 years I have been getting my hair braided, she is the only one I have gone back to repeatedly. My summer looks would be lost with out her!! read more

Very sketchy place. I am used to the whole routine of going to these kinds of salons to get my hair braided but this was ridiculous. I called before I went and talked to Khady in room 10 but when I got there this woman who was standing outside told me she wasn't there so she would take me then when she took me upstairs she told me "if someone asks you if you called, say no." I didn't understand why but the woman's hands were already in my head so of course I did what she said I'm not trying to get clunked in the back of the head (she seemed like the type to do that). Then they had a huge argument when another woman came in and asked me if I had called. Then another thing.... I love kids and I'm a nanny myself but they had children (like little babies) who belonged to the beauticians running around and misbehaving. Then one of them kicked me during a tantrum.. I was patient about it of course but it was just an extremely unpleasant experience. As for my hair it came out okay. I payed about 120 for crochet braids which I ended up having to fix once I got home. I have natural hair and she combed my hair with a fine tooth comb which was awful. read more

So I went to Unity based on the few reviews I saw on yelp. I have a regular hair braider located in the Bronx, I absolutely love her, but I'm pregnant and her six floor walk up and long walk from the train just didn't seem like what I wanted to do at 8 months preggers, so I headed over to Unity. I bypassed all the women hanging out downstairs and walked straight to Room 8, I told whomever that I wanted box braids and she sat me down. I didn't bother asking for Matou, because I assumed since most of the reviews were about her, she was super popular. After about 3 minutes a woman comes over and asked me what I wanted and low and behold it was Matou. We negotiated $100 and she got started right away. She was pleasant and funny, the only thing is she has a very short attention span, there was an African soap opera on tv and she couldn't take her eyes off of it. I was grateful that throughout the five hours I was there, 3 of her friends came to help her finish, when she prayed and ate. My hair looks great and I didn't feel like I got a facelift from all the pulling. Overall, if you can take the shouting in French and the dirty salon, I would highly recommend Matou at Unity. read more

This review reflects my visit to Unity on 2/19/15 for mid-back length Senegalese twists performed by Matou and her niece, Aiesha. In short, it's not fancy; it's a room full of women braiding hair, it's definitely cluttered (I didn't see anything that struck me as particularly dirty or filthy-see details below), and loud. All of my requests were honored and the services rendered were of a high quality; today I have no bumps and the braids are tight, but not too tight. Matou also styled them in a bun for me before I left. I also feel the price paid was fair and even felt inclined to tip additionally. My total time in the salon was 7 hours (I have long hair) and 4 women finished my braids, all doing a fine job. (I intend to review again after some time as a follow-up to how the braids last and to report any damage; this is my 3rd time having my hair braided and I'm comparing this experience to those in D.C. and Philly) Recommendations: Speak up about how tight you want your braids. I pointed to a braid that was too tight around my edges and Aiesha fixed it and continued in the preferred manner. At the end, they use scissors and a lighter to tame fly-aways. Also speak up if you do not want these methods and they respond very respectfully. Bring a fully charged phone with music/audio book, and headphones; it wasn't the ladies braiding and talking that caused issues for me, but the television and other patrons who were not using considerate tones. I brought along a few snacks carried in a grocery tote (I didn't bring a valuable bag or coat since shops can be messy) and refrained from needing to use the restroom during that time. I didn't bring a pillow, but you could for added comfort. What keeps it from 5 stars? The place is definitely crowded and cluttered; the ladies were working well to 10pm on a weekday, so perhaps they need to get some younger ladies or gentlemen to help them organize and clean up. I also think shops shouldn't be afraid to politely ask patrons to keep a moderate speaking voice in consideration of others; my nail salon does it, so I don't see why they can't also. It's not a fancy set-up, but it could be more convenient with little changes. Other specific details: I called Matou on Thursday morning for same day services and she gave specific instructions to find her. I arrived around 2:30pm on a Thursday and was greeted by her niece, Aiesha, at the Starbucks on the corner- the actual salon was at 43 W 125th Street, 2nd Fl, Room 8. There are a lot of women in the area attempting to attract those looking for hair braiding, so Aiesha asked that I call her to link up. I met Matou once inside and we consulted as usual, she asked what thickness, and then we stepped out to discuss price. She asked what I wanted to pay and asked for a little more because my hair is long, and the next price I gave her was accepted, $140. When we came back in she asked about color. I wanted multiple colors to match the highlights that are already in my hair and when I asked for 3 of the colors she showed me, she had no problem taking the time to mix them, which I greatly appreciated and this factored into an additional tip. Matou began my braids to set the color and thickness, then Aiesha continued for most of the time. Towards the end, up to 4 women worked on my hair (again, it's long) to finish it and all did an exceptional job. read more

Unity African Hair Braiding - Senegalese Twists by Matou & Aiesha at Unity African Hair Braiding - Hair Salons Near Me - New York, New York

Shysters! I got my hair braided this past Saturday, 2/25/12. I told the braider, that I wanted wet & wavy, and was going to stop by a beauty supply store to purchase the hair. She said not to, because they sold it. She showed me the hair 100% human & wet n' wavy. Not only was the hair NOT wet n' wavy...it was SYNTHETIC! Melted as soon as the I tried to curl the ends this morning! I am so disappointed...PISSED is more like it. Don't go there! read more

This review is only for Sylla! Sylla did a wonderful job and I will certainly go back to her again. I had a specific style in mind and she was very diligent with me. She did everything that I wanted and more. I came to her after work, started around 7:10pm and left around 11pm. I have a big head and lots of hair, so it meant a lot that she finished my whole head in less than a few hours. In addition, she was very caring and asked me several times if I was doing ok, as I had come in from work. I really liked my experience. read more

Unity African Hair Braiding - Hair Salons Near Me - New York, New York

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Matou is GREAT!! I live in Brooklyn and I drive up there all the time for her to my hair and my daughter's. Prices are great and hair will last. Bathroom is nasty as hell but braids...GREAT!!! I would DEFINITELY recommend Matou. read more

I wish I could give 3.5. The braids look amazing, but even though I requested a million times to braid a bit looser around edges, she braided my hair so tight my skin is breaking. It's been a week and most of my braids still have red swollen skin and bumps around all of the braids on the edges, and it still hurts to sweep my hair back, to the side, or pull it up. The facility is messy and loud, and to have a decent time I suggest bringing a fully charged phone and a portable charger just in case. The bathroom was DISGUSTING, piss everywhere on the floor and toilet, and the sink was flooded with no soap or hand sanitizer. The ladies give you tissue in the room if you ask for the bathroom. The woman braiding my hair was kind at first, but after asking her at least 8 times to not braid so tight, her attitude became a bit nasty and she spent the rest of the 4 hours laughing and talking very loudly to the women all across the salon. At some point, a woman came to join her to talk and laugh sitting right next to me. I wouldn't have minded except she kept staring at me with a cold/upset look on her face, and she didn't seem to treat anyone else like that. You get what you pay for - I'd come back when I'm on a budget just because the braids look good and are cheap. read more

If you want quality braids at an affordable price then visit Matou. I got in the chair around 11:30a.m and was out by 4:45p.m. This included braiding, hot water on the ends, product put in and styled. She and her daughter worked on my hair, and I didn't get up to use the bathroom or anything so I guess that's why it took a little over 5 hours (this is good time, I've known people who have been in the chair for 6, even 7 hours). Be sure to haggle; I paid $120 for long (ends are right above my butt) small, senegalese twist, and the service was so good I even gave a tip. No need to carry your braids because they have them in different colors for you to choose from at the salon. They ask what you want; speak up. If you want your edges left out- tell them. If it's too tight- tell them. They are very respectful and will try to make you comfortable. Matou is a darling; she hugged me when we met and even helped me take my luggage inside (I was traveling that day so I had my carry on with me). People complain about the surroundings and the salon and the women talking loudly...one word: ignore! Keep your bag close, walk with a few snacks and you're fine. Be sure to call Matou the day before to make an appointment so that she can meet you because there are women outside who will try to persuade you to go with them. This is her number: 917-912-1208. Give her a call, you won't regret it. read more

They use decent hair, place is a mess as are most braiding spots only thing is you have to set your price before you sit in that chair cause if not they will switch up the prices on you in a heartbeat read more

I went to Unity African Hair Braiding to get my hair braided into Senegalese Twists. I read the reviews and decided to go to Matou. I called her cell number and we set up an appointment for Saturday. She advised for me to call her when I arrived to make sure to call her so that I can meet her downstairs because there are women waiting outside to do your hair aka steal customers. Matou works in a room with other braiders. I have natural hair so I'm not sure if it was a problem or not. i did blow my hair but she asked me to comb it out again once I arrived. I was charged $120 for Senegalese Twists (including hair) that reach the middle of my back. At one point Matou had and her niece help out. Matou did an amazing job on my hair and I recommend her to anyone who wants to get their hair done. She can be reached at: (917) 912-1208. read more

I got my hair braided on Saturday. Based on the reviews on yelp I found this braiding spot . I thought they was different from the other hair braiding spots . I was wrong Matou over charged me and made my hair neat in the front big braids in the back . I will not be going back and she had more than 1 person in my hair smh . read more

Like a lot of the other ladies who reviewed this place...I too went to Unity based on the reviews. I called Matou on her cell and she said she could take me right away. I got to the shop and i met her at the train station (she literally tells you to call her, to prevent her fellow co-workers from taking you as their client). So we went upstairs to Unity, Rm. 8. Nothing new to me as I'm used to the typical African Braiding Hair Shop. (hair everywhere, a lot of people in a small enclosed space, ppl selling things, nasty bathroom). We discussed what I wanted which was Senegalese twists (medium size, BSL). Matou is very nice like others stated. However, I was not ready for what she asked me to do next. She handed me a fine tooth comb and ASKED ME TO COMB MY HAIR. COMB GOOD. COMB GOOD (Huh?). I'm natural and I had already de-tangled my hair at home, but to Matou, that wasn't good enough. Not only do they use fine tooth combs to part (which is fine), they also comb each section out with the fine tooth comb before installing braid/twist, to "look neat." Matou started on my hair and her daughter Amy took over. OUCH. While Amy braided fast, she WAS NOT GENTLE AT ALL. Yes, she had a sense of urgency, but that is all she seemed to care about. Pushing/Taping my head several ways was her method. Do you not care about your clients? My twists were TOO TIGHT. I had a headache before I left the shop and throughout the rest of the night. NOT IMPRESSED. I never experienced a headache or "combing hair" when I go to the shops in Brooklyn. Perhaps the bk shops have more natural haired women. (there were very few naturals at this shop in Harlem. maybe about 4) I'll stick to my Brooklyn shops and pay more. At least I'll be leaving w/o a headache and less breakage. You get what you pay for at the end of the day. My ADVICE: Thoroughly de-tangle your hair before going, or else they will do it for you. I suggest you either stretch your natural hair before going or blow-dry (ugh). I ended up taking out my twists because they were entirely too TIGHT and redid them myself. read more

I gave two stars because my braider was nice and my braids came out neat . This is why the other three are missing . First off my hair was way to tight the first few days . Second , about a Week after installment two of the braids near my edges fell out and ripped out of my hair now my edges have barely any hair on the left side this is very unacceptable the fact that my hair is coming out has angered me . I now have to massage the spot daily with oils to make sure it grows back I should not have to do that . I asked my braider to be gentle on my edges but obviously she was not and my hair fell out .and third she took WAYYY to long to finish my box braids it took me about 6 1/2 hours a young lady came in after me and took three hours with some one else and the same style ! Ridiculous ! I DO NOT recommend going to this salon at all ! F.Y.I I WENT TO MATOU read more

Matou and her daughter are very nice and professional. They braided my hair very quickly and was very courteous will definitely be back and I'm sending all my friends read more

I've always been pretty concerned about having my hair braided in NYC. I most recently postponed a trip home from DC to have it done there. But, after hours of reading reviews on NY braiding salons, I took a risk and decided on Unity, specifically Matou. Boy was I pleased. Matou is super sweet, and she and her daughter do excellent work. Highly recommended. I am very pleased with my hair. Call her cell directly to book, a number of other reviewers have listed it. And remember when you go that they are in room #8. read more

I visited the shop in early February and I absolutely love my braids. The braider, Hono, came in bright and early to braid my hair. She was extremely friendly and a fast braider. I got there at 9 a.m. and made it home by two! Believe me when I say, I'll be back. :) BTW, the bathroom is disgusting. Use the restroom before you get there or you'll regret it. :-/ read more

I love my hair! Didn't take too too long! she did a great job! Mama..

So I have been to this hair salon, now twice, after watching this video. No doubt, Sumah CAN braid! Unfortunately, such a hassle! The first time she ASKED me how much I wanted to pay, and I'm not going to cheat anyone out of what they deserve, I stated a very generous (according to her reaction) amount, and when it was time to pay she got all loud on me saying we had discussed more! I straightened that out real quick, and paid as first promised. Now today, I come to get this style. I texted her in yesterday morning, SORTED OUT THE STYLE AND COST! Again she asked me "how much you want to pay" I tell her, she asked me to add 20 more and I agreed. When I got here she's like "it's going to be a little bigger." What? No I want exactly what's in the pic. "Well she gave me 320." (200 more than she asked me to pay just lastnight!) I'm like why didn't you say that when we were talking you knew what I wanted to get. Then she went down a line of reasons trying to talk me out of it! This takes to long, your hair is too short, blazay blazay blazay! Mind you she braided my twa fine with no problems last time, similar braids just straight back. And, folk up in here with a millisecond of hair getting more extravagant styles! SMH I'm crunched for time so I showed her another style (Alicia keys straight back sexy braids or whatever it's called) she gets to braiding my hair with knots at the top like WTF! She keeps looking at the phone and asking everyone questions, like if you are not comfortable with the style just say that don't just do my hair anyway and waste all of our time! One of the other raiders go in depth about the style and Sumah starts to get it right. Sumah then needed to take a break, asking another braider to finish the hair down, telling her to braid it down all the way to end as I requested. When Sumah leaves she starts complaining and fiddling with her phone! YES, SUMAH CAN BRAID BUT IT IS NOT WORTH THE CRAZINESS YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH IN THIS GOT DAMN PLACE LIKE A BROTHEL FOR BRAIDS! SMH read more

This place is filthy. I'm horrified that so many people would sit in this disgusting place for hours. It doesn't take much to sweep the floors and wipe down the counters. read more

Sumah braided my hair and she did a great job. it took about 4.5 hours to complete my Senegalese twist. She is very accommodating. I am tender-headed and she made sure my braids weren't too tight especially around the edges. If you go please ask for her. Expect your typical experience at a braiding shop...bring your own food and limit the amount of liquid you drink you do not want to go to he bathroom there. read more

While I am overall satisfied with the long box braids I received, I do not like what I experienced at the shop. Be forewarned... the other reviewers are correct in what they typed about Matou. To everyone on yelp who sees "Matou" as the primary choice at Unity, I would suggest you find someone else to do your hair within the shop, or go to another shop. To sum it up: Matou is extremely unprofessional and has no respect for anyone's time (but her own). In the beginning of the appointment, Matou started with the back of my head. All of a sudden, someone else started doing the braids and they did the parts much larger than I wanted, which pissed me off. I wear my braids in different styles, and I want uniformity not smaller braids in the front and larger braids in the back. When I said something about the size of the braid parts, they both got upset. But if I'm paying you my hard earned money, you should do as I request, not what you want!!! Matou then disappeared and the other woman managed to finish the back of my head-- meanwhile Matou was no where to be found. Mind you I came to the shop for Matou to do my hair, not for someone else. Matou was gone for the bulk of the appointment. And she returned to finish the front half of my head, she was rough when combing out my natural hair, yanking and pulling at it with a fine tooth comb. I corrected her several times, and even combed it out myself with my larger comb, yet she insisted on doing it her way. To take it even a step further, what should have taken at least 4-5 hours to complete, took well over 7 hours because of her inability to do the hair from start to finish!!! Again a complete lack of respect for other people's time. During this whole ordeal, I watched another hair braider sit with her customer from start to finish... I don't even think she went to the bathroom once. Her hair was done beautifully-- parts and all. And once she finished with her customer, she went to the bathroom and then sat down to eat. Big difference from Matou's philosophy. Best believe, I wrote down that braider's number and intend to use her for when I want my hair done in braids again. My final thoughts: Stay away from Matou!!! You're taking your chances with her. Expect to stay for a much longer time, and expect to experience what a few other reviewers have already stated about this woman. There are many other braiders in the shop who will complete the task you are paying your money for. And if another braider helps out, that's fine. Just make sure that she is doing what you request and not what she wants to do. read more

I have to give this place stars. I decided to go here based on the reviews on Yelp. After having a terrible experience at another African braiding salon,I decided to try Unity. I called Matou,and she was actually pretty nice on the phone,and we made an appointment for a few days later to get my hair done. I am a natural,and I went in with my hair oiled and ready to go. I negotiated a price with Matou,which was $110 for Senegalese twists. Everything was fine,UNTIL it came down to actually doing my hair. Once again,I had to deal with these women telling my hair is tangled....and NO. I did not blow dry my hair bone straight for them to braid it. If anyone continues to shove combs into my hair,drag their hands over it continuously,it TANGLES up because of all of the touching and manipulation. I was then encouraged by said person to,"Perm your hair. You are a woman and women comb their hair." Just because they were having difficulty with it,they made a freaking big deal about it the entire 6 hours I was there. It was obnoxious because honestly,I could have kept my $110 and gave it someone else if it was so damn difficult for you. Secondly,its unprofessional of the highest extent to talk about a client in your native language throughout the entire process EVEN if their hair is difficult. I sat there furious,and contemplating just getting up and walking out. When my hair was finally finished,it looked amazing...but it was traumatizing because tangles were RIPPED through yet AGAIN. Its just depressing that there are almost no salons willing and knowledgeable concerning taking care of black hair properly. Although my braids were tight and looked pristine,I started getting bumps around the nape of my neck and edges because they were TOO tight! Every single baby hair is in a braid!!! About two weeks into having them,I contemplated taking them out. I simply couldn't sleep with them in! Finally they loosened up and the bumps began to heal,but some of them started sliding out after washing my hair just ONCE. I am also now concerned about my edges since a braid has already come out around my edges...and there was HAIR in it! :( I think the job was neat,and looks good...but too tight. TOO DAMN TIGHT. And I think the customer service is lacking. They play African movies which is a bit funny. But for the love of GOD!!! They spend every single minute talking and yelling. Why are you yelling to the person who is standing right beside you....right in MY ear?!?! I was beyond annoyed because I couldn't even listen to my music. Their voices over powered my Dre Beats!!! Overall,from this being the second awful experience at one of these many braiding shops,I have decided to take a break and just embrace MY hair without having it in braids. I feel like I will have better luck growing it and taking care of it than having unknowledgeable,brainwashed people dealing with MY hair. Or better yet, I will learn how to braid it myself. But now I have to be worried about my edges. You've been warned folks...good luck. read more

I only let Matou braid my hair and if she isn't available I leave. I haven't been in years because Matou had a baby and she wasn't available as much. Whenever I pass I check to see if she is one of the women outside. All of the women in the shop have been there forever, but they all do not do the same quality work. You will see the same women outside all the time and the better braiders are inside working. I am thinking about going by tomorrow to get my hair braided by Matou. I advise going during the day. In the evening all of the braiders kids are out of school and running running. Also, there are huge rats in the building that come out at night. The braiders aren't afraid of them, but the customers are. Finally, never go to the bathroom. I'll leave it at that. Just don't drink anything which is really hard. Braids and prices are good. Of course, I've only liked Matou's work. Let someone else do my hair once and wasn't as impressed. I think that was the last time I went. Also, I bring my own products and combs because they pull people from the street and sometimes they will wash their hair and other times not. They never sanitize their combs and use the same jar of hair oil for everyone. I'm not sure why the health department allows this so I just bring my own products. As someone else stated bring cash and bring enough to buy your hair extensions unless you are bringing your own hair. read more

I made an appointment with Matou weeks in advance, I called her Thursday and Friday before my Saturday morning appointment to ensure that she cold do my hair at 9:00 AM. Sure no problem, see you then. I showed up at 8:30, waited for her to show up which she did at 9:45. In my 1 hr and 15 minutes wait I had enough time to look at the absolutely filthy conditions under which I was about to get my hair done. I mean it was disgusting. The plastic carts they aere using were filty and caked with muck. all the cahirs were ripped and had gross dirty sponge stixky out of them. I was unfortunate enough to have worn a dress and I kept pulling it down so that I didn't come in contact with the filthy sponge!. After she showed up I realize that she has 5 other cleints booked for the same time. So she tells me that her sister is coming to braid my hair and now I have to wait for another hour. I showed her the style I wanted and when she was done it was the total opposite. She braided it very quickly and that was the only good thing. I take very good care of my braids but I realize that my hair was so fuzzy after just two weeks. I've always had cornrows and I couldn't imagine why they looked like that so early. They were fine cornrows and those normally last me 6-8 weeks. I had to remove them after 4 weeks because I looked so unkempt. When I took the braids out I realized that ALL MY CORNROWS WERE MY HAIR! She only put the braids at the end. My hair was such a tangled mess. I am pregnant and will have my hair braided for the duration of my pregnancy but I will NEVER go to this place again. read more

I got my hair braided on 1/31/13 it already looks like I had my hair for over a month. Matou did my hair and she could have done a better job. She didn't really part my hair neatly at all. I had to take out three braids near my edges because they were too tight and breaking off. I think some of the other people there do better jobs because I was watching this other woman get braids..hers were parted neatly and done better, i was a little envious wishing the same lady was braiding mine. I don't think I will be going back. I will try another place. read more

I took my daughter to get her hair braided here today. After reading previous reviews, I chose Matou. She was very, very good. Warm, friendly, honest and very good at her craft, my daughter's braids look wonderful. And, when my mom saw them, she decided to get her hair braided by Matou as well! I highly recommend her. read more

I wanted to get box braids, but had no idea where I should go. I'm very particular about my hair and was concerned about finding someone who would be conscious of the fact that I have healthy hair and would like to keep it that way (meaning, someone who will not braid too tightly and would not take out my edges). I searched on the internet and read a lot of reviews. I could not find any solid recommendations, so I just decided to go to 125th street and scope out the shops in person, hoping to find someone doing nice work and schedule an appointment from there. To keep it short and helpful, I decided to go with Unity African Hair Braiding at 43 W 125th Street in Harlem. I met Baby (the hair braider). She was very nice, she paid attention to my requests and concerns, she did not braid too tight (my skin's not tight, there are no bumps, or any evidence of any strain along the edges of my hairline). Baby also checked in with me throughout the process to make sure I was happy. When I told her something felt tight, she adjusted accordingly and made sure that I was comfortable. She did a great job! She gave me exactly what I wanted. If you are as inexperienced as I was with hair braiding in Harlem, be advised that you will more than likely get your hair braided in a cramped space because there are several people braiding hair in each room. I also recommend eating and using the restroom before your appointment. I paid $100 (hair included) for small/med waist length box braids. Baby will take her time and do a great job! Call 646-244-0379 for an appointment. read more

I was skeptical of going to Unity because of some of the past reviews especially paying for human hair and getting synthetic. I went to Matou with my own 100% wet and wavy hair because the hair that is sold in the salon is a mix of human hair and synthetic and can not withstand a hot iron. She asked me to tell her exactly what style i wanted and she did an amazing job on my hair. It is well done, very neat and I got a bunch of compliments. It took approximately 5 hours to complete not including the eating, bathroom breaks and prayer. My hair is not braided too tight, I have no hair bumps, safe to say I will still have a hairline when I take out the braids. I paid $100 (hair excluded) for small waist box braids. If you are looking for a salon that is upscale this is not the place especially for the faint of heart. Eat and use the restroom before going to Unity. I recommend Matou 100% if you want your hair to look beautiful. Her # is 9179121208 read more