Bintou Hair Braiding Salon

This was my first time getting single braids. I needed a protective style while I work out. Lord have mercy. I just pray to God that all the work I have been putting into my natural hair which is now down my back is not ruined because of this person named Tana; whom they state that because she is pregnant was the reason why she was so rough. I requested for them to wash my hair and I bought my own natural hair products with me called devacurl. The young lady with the glasses next blow dried my hair free handed, meaning a comb never touch my hair. So my hair was a tangled messed as they began to braid. 3 of them worked on my hair. Tana was in the back, and as she parted the tangled hair, I could hear the crunching and ripping of my hair as she began to braid. The girl on my edges (Linda, Bintou’s sister) and the girl that did the ends were gentle. Tana was fast. But she was extremely rough. At one point I asked her to please detangle before she braided. She detangled the next braid while making evil eye contact with me in the mirror and you could see she purposely did it rough, as she raked the comb from top to bottom in a rough manner. That was the last time out of the 2 times that she detangled my hair. K. So, her next mess up was my own loose hair was stuck in a braid and this woman, yanked the crap out of the piece of hair that was braided into a braid to take it out and to use it for her next braid, the girl with the glasses saw her do this, and shook her head, but stayed silent. Honestly they should not have this woman braiding at this salon. She was terrible as she sat their with a tiny broken comb that she used to hold my natural hair out of her way and to make the parts with. Every time she tried to hold my long natural hair out of her way, with that broken comb it would almost sink into my poor throbbing scalp. She left once she was done braiding. The other 2 women finished my ends, once they finished my ends they both took scissors in their hands and as soon as I saw they wanted to cut my hairs that were sticking out of the braids I finally said stop, I had already been through enough with these people, so I had to finally put my foot down, I was not going to allow them to just butcher my hair dude! no heck no! So they asked me then what do you want us to do, so I had done some research and I told them to use the setting foam lotion, which she ended up doing and dipping my hair in hot water. I tipped them both, because they were OK. But Tana! The thought to tip her never crossed my mind! Bintou, Tana should not be working here, she is fast, but it comes at an excruciatingly painful price! Not to mention she was on her cell phone the whole time she braided my hair.

This was my first time going to Bintou’s. I walked in with out an appointment and was greeted by a woman who was in training. The owner had stepped out, but she called the owner right away. I waited for about 10 to 15 minutes. Once the owner got there is quoted me a price for the style I was interested in.
The owner and staff was very nice and professional. I had been to other hair braiding salons and most of them rarely interact with their clients, but she was very down to earth and held conversation.
The only thing I didn’t like about my experience was at the end she had to pick up her child and I felt like she rushed the back of my hair, but at the end my hair still came out neat and full. I would say that my overall experience was good. I think that I would visit again.

This place is gross and sadly I stuck it out because it came regrettably recommended. First I made an appointment with the owner and I assured her that I wanted her to do my hair because she was the one recommended to me. When I got there she wasn’t there, the other «staff» called her for me, she said she would be right back. She said that her sister would start me and she (owner)would finish but as you can assume she never finished them. Literally did about six braids in the front that the staff finished. Her words «oh don’t worry I wouldn’t recommend them if they weren’t good». So against my better judgement I stayed.
Now they commenced to play the hustle game with prices, it wasn’t until I was about to walk out until they lowered their absorbent prices. I notice them trying to hustle everyone that came in. Some people accepted the crazy prices others left. Unlike most shops in the area they make you buy your hair and the price is still high. which leads me to my next point.
The hair is cheap and old. So old that is has a dull finish that even olive oil sheen can’t penetrate. I never had to use eight packs of hair on my head and it’s because the packs we’re skimp and short. I was told by other stylist that I was hustled because she should’ve used longer hair for my desired braid length.
As far as the braids… Finished product… Looked old after less than 2 weeks. I asked for a middle part they gave me a zig zag middle and a mini side part. All of my braids are different sizes because they had three different people working in my head. All good when it comes to speed but I prefer better quality than quantity. Seriously it’s only been less than 2.5 weeks I’m already going in this weekend to another place to get them done over. Oh forgot to mention that the old hair has a shaggy effect on the ends.
Lastly when I called to explain how a braid fell out while at work. Yes I forgot to mention that! The «owner» acted like she sympathized with me. Told me to come in
so I can show her how raggedy my hair was and how I now had two missing braids. When I got there she spoke down to me, pointed for someone else to look at my hair when I felt like she should’ve been doing the inspecting since she is the owner. I could go on and on about how how horrific my hair was but I’m honestly tired of typing. If I could leave you with this lasting notes/​tips:
The staff are often musty – during my first and follow up visit the shop reeked of body order. They have young girls braiding who lack experience. The shop is disgustingly dirty and the owner is rude and unprofessional.

I have been to other places for the same style and they charged me $ 80 more. They had no shampoo so used bathroom soap to wash my hair, they the sink wouldn’t work… it would only disperse scolding hot water. After all that at the end she said it was extra for the was… yeah right! That would have been $ 90.
My hair came out fine but I wouldn’t go back!

I have been going to this shop for years!!! It is a bit expensive meaning hair is not included in your service but convenient since you can get the hair at the salon. I am always impressed with the service and love the work that is done.