Thrive Beauty Bar

I’m going to leave this right here. When someone travels from Denver, CO hoping to get their hair done by an «educated professional» from Chicago, they should be kept informed. I don’t think Alecia B is a real person because I haven’t been able to reach her — AT ALL! This (949) was the one updating me via generic text messages but guess what everyone — there’s no human follow up! Are you out of the hair game, Alecia or have you just not updated you Style Seat profile? Please stop wasting the time of others. It’s hella unprofessional. Also, Shervan Salon has been out of business for a while, so PLEASE update your darn StyleSeat profile or delete it all together. *I won’t apologize if I came off rude. It was my intention.*

I hate to give anyone a bad review, but my last experience with Alecia was so disrespectful and unprofessional that I have to say something.
I’ve been to Alecia a few times before for trims and styling and she did a good job with my hair. The only reason I didn’t leave her a positive review then was her bad time management (I once came in for a 10 AM appointment to have my hair flat ironed and left at 3:30 PM). But a lot of salons have this issue and I always excused it in light of her skills.
Last week was my breaking point.
I made a 5:15 PM appointment for a trim on her website. Keep in mind, Alecia only accepts appointments on her website and she discourages anyone calling her directly. Knowing this, I assumed that she and her employees kept good tabs on their appointments and that I wouldn’t have to remind them that I was coming. I’ve never had to before.
So I requested half a day off work to drive into the city for this appointment. I parked in the lot next to the salon at 5 PM and walked around to find that no one was in the shop. Doors locked. Dark. Empty.
I thought, «Maybe she didn’t have any appointments at 4 PM and headed out for a while.» So as it was cold outside, I go back to my car and hang out there for the next ten minutes.
At 5:14, I got back out and checked the salon again. Still dark and empty. Suddenly one of the guys from the barber shop just next to the salon pokes his head out. He has his phone held to his ear.
He asked if I was looking for Alecia and I said yes. He said she was just there, just before I walked up. And she had just pulled off.
Knowing that I had been there 10 minutes prior and NO ONE had been around, I told him that. He just shrugs and tells me she had just pulled off and maybe I should call her.
I gave her a call. No one picked up. I left a voicemail. I waited 40 minutes outside the shop before I admitted to myself that the last 3 hours has been a complete waste of my time and money and that I had to leave.
I gave Alecia one last call to politely explain my situation and ask her to call me about scheduling for an evening or weekend as I couldn’t request any more time off work.
I didn’t get a call, but April– an employee at the salon– texted me later that night around 10. But the text read as if they had never gotten my voicemails and this was our first correspondence.
April apologized– not for standing me up– but for texting at 10 PM. She said Alecia was busy and unsure if her assistant texted me about rescheduling or not. She said the assistant’s question was if I could do Friday at 3.
So I politely responded that no one had texted me about rescheduling and that the barber next door told me Alecia had just been in the shop– even though I hadn’t seen her there 10 minutes earlier. Again, I explained that I couldn’t request off work again in a while, but I could do an evening or weekend for the trim and asked if Alecia had any availability for that.
It’s been 4 days and I still haven’t heard back from them.
The sad part is Alecia is actually a good stylist, but what’s the point if showing up for her appointments is a guessing game? I feel as if I can no longer depend on her and, what’s worse, I feel that she does not care. They made no real effort to solve this with me and did not once apologize for the trouble.
Even more, my conversation with the man next door was incredibly shady. Why would he lie about her just being there and who was he on the phone with?
Anyway, I’m not risking this again. Unfortunately, I have to cancel my silk press for December and find another colorist for next year. Hopefully someone who can manage their time better or at least assume responsibility when they do make a mistake.
For those still interested, at least email the salon before heading over there just to make sure they’re planning on keeping their appointment. Judging from the reviews here, this happens fairly often.

I was very apprehensive at first with scheduling an appointment due to the mixed reviews I’ve read and heard from past clients. I decided to go against the grain and make an appointment online. The making the appointment part was easy and convenient for this I give it four stars; however, it goes downhill from here. I received a reminder appointment a day prior to my scheduled appointment which I appreciate. I am from the suburbs and wasn’t very familiar with this ½ S Stony Island Ave address so I called the day before to get some driving instructions. To no avail not one picked up so I left a message. No one called me back that day or the next. No big deal I said to myself I’ll just google map it. The day of my appointment. I have a 4:45 pm appointment and I flex my day at work to get off early enough to get there on time (I work in Oak Brook) so I get there about 4:40 pm and find a great park and proceed to the door. When I pulled the handle it was locked. I looked in the window and no one was there. Immediately I get pissed so I call the shop once again and no one answers. I leave a message for someone… I mean anyone to answer the phone. I thought to myself maybe she is running late. things happen but guess what folks… no one comes after 5 mins…10 mins…15 mins…20 mins…30 dog gone mins roll by and no one has come nor has anyone called me concerning my appointment that was scheduled a week in advance!!! Mind you I received a reminder appointment. Long story short no one came, no one answered the phone and no one has called me back. Like the previous poster I didn’t receive a phone call from Alecia nor her paid assistance on wasting my time or apologizing for not at least giving me the common courtesy to say, «Hey girl, we may need to reschedule or I’m running late» and now I’m writing this review at 8:05 pm.
Pros:
she does excellent work can’t even knock her for that
Cons:
Unprofessional
Poor time management
horrible communication skills
very pricey (even though I will pay for good quality hair care)
Probably will laugh at this review because she will still make money since she has a following of people
All in all, this was a pretty bad experience almost thinks she doesn’t value more money or getting new clientele

Found this place after googling a natural hair stylist. I made an appointment on styleseat for a deep condition and a curl define. Upon arriving I was greeted and my appointment started on time. While I was waiting under the dryer during my deep condition another lady was in the chair getting two strand twists. Once my dryer went off I spent an entire hour, actually over an hour waiting for her to finish the woman’s hair. Once I finally got in the chair for her to do a simple curl define. She got to the top where I have some heat damage and needed to put me under the dryer for what she said «a few minutes». Right after that she left out and did not return until a HOUR later. I literally asked her assistant is she on her way back because at that point I just wanted to get up and leave. I’m thinking the appointments correspond with the time that is on styleseat. I had no problem with going a few minutes over. But my appointment was at 3:15 and I was to be done by 4:30. I did not leave the shop till 7, I repeat till 7!!! When she finally did come back she did not apologize for making me wait or anything. Very very very unprofessional, rude, and disrespectful. That is not the way a NEW customer or ANY customer should be treated. Won’t be coming back.

First off I only put one star because you can’t post if you don’t choose one. Otherwise no stars here. Unfortunately my experience or lack thereof wasn’t a good one. I arrived early to have time to A-​find the place and B-​get a park. That being said I wasn’t familiar with the area so I called the shop (no answer) and Alecia’s assistant (no answer) because I couldn’t find the place. By the time she called back I already found the place and a park and was standing outside staring in a dark empty shop. I answered the phone and she inquired as to why I called. I said I was originally calling to find the shop but now that I’m here it’s dark and empty. She replied her assistant «should» be there and apologized that she wasn’t. Apparently She didn’t plan on being there on time as her assistant was suppose to get me prepped prior to her arrival. Anyhow. She went on to say that she’d call her assistant and call me back. When she called back she said her assistant is running late as she got stuck in a patch of traffic and per her assistant the card reader was down as well so if I needed to go get cash this would be a good time. She gave me several locations where to find ATM’s, apologized again and said she was «flying there» I told her don’t fly, which was obviously the wrong thing to say. I went to get money and came right back. Needless to say no one was there. I literally stood outside and waited until 1pm before I left. My appointment was for 12pm. I called Alecia’s direct number before I left (of course she didn’t answer) to let her know I was leaving and how long I waited. It is now 10:15pm as I write this and she still never called back to at least address the situation. I was really looking forward to her doing my hair as I met her at The Celebrate My Beauty event by Eden Body Works. She certainly talked a good game about professionalism but it was just that, talk.

I’m a client, my stylist is Ms. Jausalyn and she is THE BOMB! Professional, ontime, personable, KNOWLEDGEABLE and takes VERY GOOD CARE of me AND my daughters (5 years old) hair. I drive from the South Suburbs because she is WORTH it. I HIGHLY recommend her and guarantee you will be HAPPY with Ms. Jausalyn!!!

I had been to Afro and Baby Hair twice in the past. Once when she was still in Beverly and once when she had just opened Thrive. I loved both visits and I felt that she was very professional and knowledgeable. However, after this past visit I was very disappointed.
I made an appointment online a week in advance and I arrived at 1:20. Once arriving to Thrive immediately I didn’t feel welcome. I said hi and everyone spoke, but it was like they wanted to ask «who the heck are you». The first 30 minute wait was understandable, but a 2 hour wait is unacceptable.
Afro and Baby Hair please address how you and your staff are welcoming clients, the online scheduling, and time management. If you know you are unable to style someone within the period they scheduled with your online site then call them in advance to see if they need to cancel due to you being behind in your schedule.

I’m not really sure what salon the person below was referring to, but my experience with Alicia & the Thrive beauty bar has been nothing but pleasant. Unlike any other stylist I’ve visited, Alicia actually takes her time to get to know her clients, their unique hair condition & their hair goals. So not only will you leave the salon looking oh so fly, but you will leave with some knowledge of how to better maintain healthy hair as well as having the assurance of knowing your hair was properly tended to.

This salon was recommended to me by my dermatologist who had been treating me for scalp alopecia. At the end of six months of steroid shots directly in my scalp, I no longer wanted to ever again see a chemical, so she recommended this salon and said a lot of her clients were buzzing about it. I’m not from Chicago and I have learned to be skeptical about salons. I took a chance and went unannounced for a visit one day. The salon owner allowed me to watch her complete someone’s hair and answered my questions about the process she used to straighten the clients hair with minimal heat. The stylist was patient and kind as she continued to service her client. Her client and I shared our transitioning to natural horror stories with laughter and jokes. The atmosphere was comfortable and professional but not stuffy. We discussed my concerns and came up with a possible style régime that would fit my active lifestyle and professional, yet creative look. Great service, I felt comfortable with her and also in the salon. Décor, neutral grays and blues! My fav! Most of the clients I have seen here are African American, dark brown girls with shoulder blade and longer length hair. Their hair is straightened without the application of creamy crack or super hot dryers. Incredible. The nicest part was that I later found out that the initial consultation should have had a cost but the owner never said a word, that gester showed she cared more about my continued business than the small cost of a consulation. These ladies are passionate about what they do.

Do not waste your time with this salon. The stylist is unprofessional and clueless. She markets herself well which is why I was fooled. Only go here if you don’t mind a dirty salon space that is under construction or don’t mind your time being disrespected. You are better off doing your hair yourself or not doing your hair at all.