Bibi Salon

I don’t know what Elliot did, but since he cut my hair, after asking me what I wanted (which was healthy hair, keeping length, but cut it, sir) my hair is DA BOMB. Even after his flat iron, my curls are healthy a luscious, after I washed it two weeks later.

For the first time I went to BiBi Salon! Elliot was my stylist and he was fantastic and well informed about healthy hair and how to style.
Context:
–I historically hate getting my hair done in NYC, I go to Philly instead
–I have natural hair, but go back and forth from curly and straight
–I picked Bibi Salon because I love Phyto Hair Products
Experience:
–Elliot did everything right from the blow dry (used a flat brush and not a round brush) to the flat iron (I was pleased to see that he could curl with a flatiron)
–Service was great
I will definitely be going back because my hair will remain healthy, my hair was beautiful, and I felt comfortable/​relaxed.

I found Bibi salon on Unilocal and went there to get my slit ends cut. The service was great and my bangs are to die for. I would definitely recommend them. The only reason I won’t be back is the price. I was charged 125 $ for the cut when the website said 85 $. I didn’t complain and gave a 15 $ tip. I do think the service was overpriced, so I won’t be back.

Finding a hair stylist that listens to what you want seems like it should be an easy task to achieve, although sadly I spent a good amount of time trying to find this in NYC. I was tired of going in with a specific idea, and walking out of the salon looking like the 17 other girls leaving that day. And then I found Elliot.
I first found Elliot in soho, where I was relieved to have a conversation with my stylist about what it was that I wanted for my hair. I would doubly surprised when I actually got the results we discussed prior. I was so happy in fact, that Elliot managed to take a downtown girl into Harlem to continue the budding relationship.
Elliot is the perfect mixture of talent and good company. He listens intently, provides valuable inputs and executes what he sets out to achieve. He is empathic and also had an opinion in which he can deliver in a non-​offensive manner. I trust him to dramatically change my hair if so desired, because I know I’ll leave feeling wonderful. Elliot is so worth it and more.

So, about a month ago I tried BiBi Salon and have fallen in love. I’ve already gotten my hair washed and styled three times here and this coming from a girl that used to go to the Dominican salon on a regular because it was cheap. This year I decided I need to take better care of my natural hair and find a stylist that can help me take care of my hair. During all of my visits, I was offered a glass of wine or mimosa on Sunday afternoons. I’ve gone to Elliott all three times and I wouldn’t change it for the world. His attention to detail when washing and styling is unmatched. I always leave beyond satisfied and he just has a great personality:) The salon also uses great hair care products that leave your hair w a natural luster and styling techniques that leave your hair whipped for days. I also love that you can make the appointments online. I found my new hair salon and I’ve recommended at least 5 friends and celebrity clients to him and they were all beyond satisfied! Thanks Elliott and BiBi. See you in 2 weeks.

I’m just now finally getting around to writing a review on Bibi which I guess goes with the whole bad news spreads faster than good news.
I’m from the south where wash & sets are popular without the whole blow out thing as are done in the Dominican Salons here. There aren’t many black salons here in NYC (in my experience) who actually care about the health of your hair not just about getting you in and out the chair. After having my hair fried from improper relaxer application and subsequent blowouts at other salons finding Maisha was a Godsend for my limp damaged hair. I’ve been going to her for the past two years and when I stick with the healthy hair regimen she does when I’m away from the salon my hair stays in good shape.
Yes the Phyto relaxer does not give you the bone straight look but it’s not supposed to — I realize that isn’t for everyone but for me at this point trying to nurture my hair while not going natural it works for me. I feel more comfortable in using my flat iron etc while still having some body.
Yes the salon is pricey compared to some other salons but for me the health of my hair doesn’t have a price tag.
I also like that I can use my credit card and tip on it as well really convenient when it’s one less trip to the ATM I have to make.

Fast, friendly, great prices, extremely capable! I got a haircut from Maeela and felt comfortable even though I never got a haircut from a salon before (Best of all for me, they are a few blocks from my apartment)
Good Conversation. Tip well!
Update: The store owner offered me a $ 20 credit to write this Unilocal review and then never gave it to me. Although I did have a good experience when I went, I do not plan on returning to Bibi salon.

A Bibi regular recommended by another Bibi regular, I’ve relied on this salon longer than any other in New York. This place is a rich corner of the Harlem community on the increasingly vibrant Frederick Douglass Boulevard, featuring new artists’ work on the walls and a good collection of other local businesses’ postcards by the entrance. Give it a try, and enjoy the company of Bibi’s friendly staff and clientele.

I have natural hair and have been going to Bibi Salon for a few years now and I love it. I send as many of my friends as possible. It’s basically a full service salon: weaves, roller sets, press and curls, naturals, they handle it all.
I first went to the salon on a hopeful whim after having 2 other stylists’s burn my hair with a hot comb (I know, I should have known better). The first thing I noticed was how nice and personable the staff was. I also really appreciate that I can talk to Maisha (the owner, main stylist) and she listens. If I say I don’t like a certain product or I think doing something will be a difficult routine change, she doesn’t push it on me. I like that consultative approach because it makes me take some ownership of my hair as well.
Now, I’m proud to say that my hair is back on track and everyone around me has noticed that transition. It’s healthy, growing and the longest it’s ever been.
One note at first the Phyto product line prices may give you sticker shock but you use very little per use; I’d say I probably spend $ 10 – 20 more on hair care per year this way… well worth it!

Bibi Salon is like Cheers for hair, a place where everyone knows your name. I love coming to this salon, which is a refuge from my crazy life. Aside from a great hairstyle, I leave the salon feeling relaxed; they always offer refreshments and a great atmosphere. In the 4 years I’ve been coming here, I have only had one less than stellar experience, and the owner, Maisha, fixed the issue immediately. Maisha and her staff clearly value their clients. You should know that multiple visits can break the bank and this is not the place to go when you’re in a hurry; so I go to another salon for weekly maintenance, but when may hair needs some attention I head straight to Bibi Salon. If you are looking for a salon that truly cares about you and will monitor the health of your hair come to Bibi Salon.

This place is my hair recovery salon!!! I found this salon thru a Living Social Deal. I was in need of some help with my hair. My hair was over processed and breaking. Every time I put my hands thru my head, strands of hair would fall out. So I needed help. I came to Bibi salon for a style. But while I was there Maisha educated me on my hair. Just by looking at my hair she noticed I switched perms! Well I was sold. I returned two weeks later to start my journey of healthy hair. It’s been two years later and I’m so pleased. This place will not disappoint.

Don’t walk but run away from the place. I’ve seen it for the last 2 – 3 years and walked by simply because it looked like a place that would rip me off and give me mediocre treatment. I’ve never been more correct. I went there on a friend’s recommendation but deeply regret not having listened to my gut instincts. The staff are very friendly, attentive and responsive. The products used, which are mostly (or all) PhytoSpecific (
) are pretty good — I’ve never been wowed by what the products do to my hair but people swear by this brand… and so be it. The reason I’ve giving the place only one star, despite the above is because of 1) pricing and 2) skill when it comes to natural hair. I got a roller set, which normally isn’t a problem except the ends were scrunched, which means they don’t know how to roll. I was also given a trim as a result of the poorly rolled and therefore scrunched ends… literally a snip here and there. the trim was suddenly labeled a cut when I got to the register and I was charged $ 85 for it. So, that’s the pricing bit. Now, on to whether they know how to work with natural hair — no. You do not use a brush on natural hair. You do not fry the crap out of natural hair and leave it bone straight… thanks to their lack of skill, I’ll probably have to get a real haircut soon because they completely ruined my hair. The grand total, after all was said and done, was over $ 200 (roller set, treatment and trim). I don’t have a problem paying $ 200 if 1) the place clearly states how much each service costs and 2) if I feel like I’m getting what I’m paying for. I was left deeply disappointed with the end result and with empty pockets after this. There’s a little Dominican place down the road that I sometimes go to… I show up with my own hair products, they wash and roller set and I pay $ 20 for results that are a little better than those I got at Bibi Salon. Never again will I cast a shadow on Bibi Salon’s doorstep.

Owner, Maisha is an expert at what she does!! I have left many a stylist before I found Maisha. She knows what she’s doing, is stylish and more importantly, puts the health of her clients hair first. Another must have quality, she is prompt… I am always in and out and I leave with healthy, lightweight, shiny hair. So glad I found her!
Also of note, the salon is beautiful, comfortable and clean. You can’t go wrong.

Pros: Falon is amazing with natural hair. She listens to what you want, is gentle with your tresses, and gets the job done quickly. I’m going back for appointment #2 this week.
Cons: No freebees here. Bring a small bag of gold.

I had a similar experience as Tendai concerning my natural hair. It was so dry when I left I couldn’t believe it. I purchased some of the Phyto products, but wasn’t impressed. Went back to using my tried and true Carol’s Daughter. Would go back if I was getting my hair straightened. They kept trying to sell me on their blow out.

I need to write an update because I have continued to go to Bibi Saloon. A couple of really awesome things about the salon.
1) They have special events on occasion i.e. beauty consultations, Phyto days, etc.
2) They now have an online booking system which makes life so much easier!
3) The staff is AMAZING. All of the ladies are wonderful and I always feel at home when I am here.
I will not lie to you, an appointment here will put a dent in your pocketbook but heck… you work girl, so you deserve to treat and take care of yourself, right?!? :)

I have to say, the ladies were very nice, they were constantly checking to see how you are doing. But, I didn’t pay for them to be nice to me; i paid them to do a damn good job on my hair! i should have listened to the reviews and not gone here. But because I did see some good reviews, i thought, «why not?» well i’ll tell you should pick somewhere else.
First, my appointment took 4 hours. It doesnt take four hours to get a hair color, especially when I was the only client there. But the worst is that when she was blow drying my hair, she was damaging it so much. she’d pull my hair with the brush and she’d just harshly brush through the tangles, breaking the hair further. I never brush my hair like that! With every stroke i heard the breaks of my poor hair. She was very rough. She is supposed to be a senior stylist; and that was no senior stylist treatment! Then I asked her to just trim the ends because I liked my hair cut and I wanted to leave it the way it was. So she started trimming and trimming and changed my hairstyle. To make things worse, I was quoted on the telephone that a hair cut and a hair color would cost 75 dollars each. Well, when I got here, They were changing their price to an even higher amount. Which was why I decided to not do the hair cut and do the trim instead, and it turns out that the stupid simple trim costed me more than the hair cut. I was so pissed off tha they didnt inform me when I asked!
Overall my experience was not good here. I’ve had a complete head make over for 80 – 90 dollars (hair color, and cut + style) and here I walked out with just a hair color (where I could still see my whites), and an over paid bad trim (not even the hair cut I wanted), and paid $ 170. I will NEVER, EVERRR come here again, nor will I ever recommend this to any friend. So even though there are good reviews, skip them because this place is not worth the prices they charge.

Sorry have to say it but these people run on CPT, I had a 11am appt and was seen at 3!!! Bought a deal on living social and decided to give them a try as I live in the neighborhood. First off it was for a cut, blow dry and conditioning treatment with take home products. I have long thick hair and sorry but I have a rule never let a bald hair dresser cut my hair so I skipped the cut, the wash was AMAZING and the place itself is cozy to say the least. Overall I wasn’t really wowed and didn’t receive the star treatment other have described of this place.
And I didnt even receive my «take home» products as was advertised.
SMH

Having moved to the neighborhood only in October of
2010, I am still in the process of finding my go to places in the area. So walking back home from my weekly grocery trips to Best Yet supermarket I noticed BiBi and decided to give it a go. Yes, the prices aren’t cheap but then again this isn’t Supercuts and I soon found out that you get what you pay for.
My hair is hard to cut, not simply because it’s thick, straight and unforgiving but it grows in the most random directions. At one time I was content to pay $ 12 dollars at a barber to get a #6 on the sides and a trim on top — later having to use a pint of gel just to get it to not stick up in odd places all over my head. No more!
Maisha knows her stuff. She used scissors the whole way (a true sign of a competent and skilled hairdresser) and cut my hair just the right amount in all the right places. My hair now looks great even without any product!
I’m thrilled that I can walk down the street 2 blocks to my salon.
Maisha, I’m glad to have found you.
Andrew

The Good – my appointment time was honored and i didnt have to sit around all day waiting. yay for punctuality in a black salon! you go girls!
The Better – they offered me complimentary mimosas like every 3 – 5 minutes. I hate sobriety. I love mimosas… ergo i love Bibi Salon.
The Bad (which may actually be good for some) – I called a couple days prior to see if it’d be ok for me to bring my 1 year old daughter and whoever I spoke with said it’d be fine. Once I got there, the stylist (Danine) said kids arent actually allowed but it’d be ok since I had called and asked first. My daughter sat in my lap and behaved so we didnt have a problem. They do, however, style/​cut kids’ hair.
The «say what now” – I paid $ 48 for wash, cut & conditioning via living social but the actual price would have been a whopping $ 185. I know this because the receptionist was so kind to print out a receipt for my viewing pleasure. At first I didnt know what the receipt was for since I had a voucher to cover my visit but then when I looked at it I realized she was trying to give me some insight before I booked a follow up appt at full price. So while I enjoyed my visit to Bibi I cant afford for it to be anything more than a one time fling.
The actual point – my hair does look cute and healthy and whatnot but no more or less than it would with any other less expensive salon. I do, however, wish the salon well and appreciated their kindness, timeliness, cute décor and endless mimosas.