Ossama’s Hair Design

This place is pretty icky in terms of cleanliness. I went there in person about two months ago and asked older gentleman how much for wash and cut and he told me 185. I told them I didn’t need it styled and he changed price to 135. That was still too steep for me. I went somewhere else. Today I tried to give Ossama’s another chance. I called before I went over and asked for price of wash and cut. She asked if I needed trim or cut. She then explained that a wash and trim would be 15.00 but a wash and cut would be an additional 25. Not sure why her prices were so different from the gentleman’s a couple months ago.
She told me to put on a robe and wait in the back for the shampoo. There was a gentleman shampooer painstakingly trying to detangle a client’s hair. He was combing from the top and she was telling him to detangle from the bottom. He wasn’t listening. He was telling her why he knew better. It looked like it was going to be awhile. Meanwhile there were four stylists our there standing around doing nothing. After 15 minutes, I asked if there were any other shampooers, a gentleman replied no. I decided this wasn’t going to be the experience I was hoping for. I asked them if any of the stylists knows how to shampoo hair, he turned to ask Mary if he could shampoo my hair and she told him no. In front of me, she told him no. He turned and explained to me that they didn’t want to take away from the shampooer’s «money.»
I live very close by. And pass by every day. I try to give Hyde Park my business as much as possible, but I will not return to this establishment. They need to refresh the place and clean it. I guess Mary has to like you before she will provide the service you’re paying for. This would be half a star but I don’t know how to do that.

Everyone is professional from the hair washer, blow dryer, and the stylist. Mary finished my hair again, and my hair is gorgeous. I got loose spiral curls this time. The last time I got a flat ironed. My hair is fresh too. I did not have to wait this time, but it is a salon. I walked into the area to have hair washed. Once that was finished, I waited approximately 5 minutes to have my hair blow-​dried. Immediately afterwards, Mary was waiting for me. She asked me what I wanted. I also asked her to trim my ends. I will go again and again. $ 70.

My hair is very healthy my color is vibrant Mary is very professional my hair is in very good hands.

Horrible came in on a Sunday only one person doing hair. Prepare to be there for 3hours

I have been here a couple of times just for my eyebrows and Mary has done an excellent job every time. Today is my first time getting My hair done. It is a Saturday and it is going pretty fast. Great customer service and I love the hairstyles!

Nesh and Frank did an awesome job with my hair. Quick, easy and beautiful. Glad I stopped in on a Tuesday morning

My 1^st time here and I had a very good experience. Mary did a great job and I was in and out in a short time.

Been here many times before, they work fast and get your hair looking great ! … I love the staff they make the experience even better. The location is clean and there is space to hang your coat and bag of necessary. Their price point is moderate I spend $ 50 for a wash and style. Definitely suggest trying it out !

Mary is an absolutely fabulous stylist! She is personable and fast. She cares about the health of your hair, and is honest about treatments needed and not needed. I started my mother coming as well, and she loves it too. I would definitely recommend Mary at Ossama’s!

Easy to get services, I didn’t even have an appointment! The hair shampoo man was effective and pleasant. He even helped me take down my cornrows. The man who blow dried my hair was also nice. Mary curled me up and made recommendations! I will be back!

I been coming to Ossama’s hair design for 4 years. I never been disappointed. Mary is an excellent hair stylist. Great prices, fast service in and out within 45 mins. I recommend it to friends and family

I wanted to like this place because they do a good job on my mother’s hair. I only came because it was convenient for my schedule the day I needed my hair done (my stylist is in the burbs). I am natural (10+ years) and went from having my hair blown out once a week to once or twice a year. I’ve worked hard to grow out the heat damage over the last few years and, of course, was nervous going to a new place. It started off fine. The assistant washed (rather rough in my opinion) and conditioned (if you do not get a deep condition, they apply product, comb it through and wash it out-​no steamer) my hair. Then its gets bad. While my hair is natural (4b) it is soft and fine. The assistant added a heat protectant, which I appreciated and proceeded to blow dry. He was extremely too rough. I could feel the hairs breaking as he pulled the brush through. I offered to help detangle but was ignored. He would dry one part, dry a second part and add them together and go over it again. Once I realized he intended to do this for each part he dried, meaning that he was continuously adding heat to already straightened hair, I asked him to stop going over the same sections repeatedly. This time I was not ignored but given a snide remark about getting my hair straight. Again, I am not new to natural blowouts and have been getting them for years. My regular stylist can get my hair bone straight with one or two passes, so my hair hardly needs excessive heat. When he finally finished, he proceeded to do a final pass; but, frustrated, I got up and said «it’s straight.» The stylist appeared to be nice and although she also used too much heat, I liked my hair. So all is OK (I had already decided not to return but it wasnt Unilocal worthy) until checkout. I was charged $ 55. My mother only pays $ 45 which is what I assumed I would pay. When I inquired about the $ 10 difference, I was told that I had virgin hair. Ummm, excuse me but my mom has been natural for at least 8 years! They had no answer for that. Maybe if they would’ve said length, I would’ve understood as my hair is longer than my mom’s. Most of the other salons that have natural clients charge the same price for everyone unless your hair is really long. Imagine my surprise when told I was being charged more than my natural mom in a salon that does natural hair. Silly me! I will also point out that the client before me made a fuss about being charged $ 65, stating «I always pay $ 55, so why is it more this time?» There is too much competition in the immediate area for this type of behavior. The pontential heat damage, excessive manipulation, and inconsistent pricing is not worth a style that can be done at half a dozen shops in walking distance. For heat conscious naturals, I would caution you to steer clear. For those with perms or who blow dry often and enjoy pricing games, the stylist is decent. *fingers crossed that my curls return!

Got my hair washed, trimmed and flat ironed today. They were very fast and friendly! My hair feels great. There were only two downsides. 1) the environment is not the best. Workers mostly spoke to each other in their own language. TV was on the whole time. It’s definitely not upscale. 2) I ended up paying $ 85, which I feel was a bit much for a wash and flat iron. Of it was an upscale salon I would understand.
Overall it was a decent experience and I will probably come back again.

Mary did a wonderful job on my blowout first time here and will be back for more thanks Ossama’s! They really are the true meaning of get you in and out.

I just want to say I recently started getting my hair done by Mary and she does an Excellent job, I love going there because you are not sitting around all day and the products are wonderful, my hair always feels very full of body and soft, Excellent Salon!!!

Been coming here since high school… Mary is the best. They also do really good hair coloring

Sucks!!! I cant find any other word to describe except horrid. If you want to be unhappy come here! Ruined my hair

I’ve been coming to this salon for years and as a result my hair is healthier and longer. They know how to handle natural hair and Mary is the best hair professional. Mary also does an amazing job with eyebrows! If you ever need a hair service stop by Ossama’s Hair Design on Cornel. It gets packed quickly so try to get there early. Due to the parking situation in Hyde Park, it is easier to take public transportation or walk. Divvy Bikes are down the street in front of the high school.

Mary has been doing my hair and eyebrows for a long time, I believe its been about 4 years now and she’s Great. I only have Mary style my hair no one else. I guess it depends on who you allow to style your hair there. I’ve had relaxers, ends trimmed and highlights put in my hair, but again ONLY by Mary. I have no complaints regarding the service i recieve from her. I also like the guy who washes my hair because he takes his time and really washes my hair really good.

1 star for cleanliness.
THE PLACE IS DIRTY, FILTHY! But, I like my stylist a lot and I just try to overlook the dirt&filth by side-​eyeing the place EVERY TIME I go there, and notice that nothing has changed since the last time. Once, I mentioned my «observations» and it was stated that something would be said to the management.
BLEACH & water, Ossama’s Hair Design? Fabuloso, Mr. Clean?
Also, please change the battery in the fire alarm (located in the rear where the wash bowls are). That CHIRP signals, a new battery is needed! DUH!
P. S. Yesterday-​4/​26/​14, I noticed a Chicagoland celebrity in the bldg., in the NW «corner». Nope, I wouldn’t be caught dead out in the open either: D