Lila Beauty Salon

I hate to do this, but since my last review the customer service in this salon has steadily deteriorated. It seems like each time I come into this place the wait gets longer and longer. Customers are not taken in order, but based on who is buddy– buddy with the stylist. My latest visit was enough to make me decide that i need a new salon.
I came in to be seen by a specific stylist for a relaxer. While I was on my way to the sink to have the relaxer washed out of my hair 2 customers walked up and started chatting with my stylist. This is beyond rude. There is a person with a head full of burning chemical sitting here in front of you, but I’m glad you have time to stop and chat with people instead of asking them to wait 3 minutes while you rinse out the ammonium thioglycolate that is presently burning through my scalp!
I got a deep conditioner and a woman other than my stylist rinsed it out. This didn’t bother me too much, as I am accustomed to this at some other salons. When I look over at my stylist, she has a steadily increasing crowd waiting for her services. I nod off under the dryer and when I wake up about 40 minutes later I look over to see that several women have been taken ahead of me.
Now, I have thick hair that takes awhile to dry so I gave her the benefit of the doubt and assumed that the other ladies’ hair had dried faster than mine, so they received a blow out first. But after sitting through several more customers (after my hair was dry) who had clearly arrived after me, I realized that not only was she over– booked, but she was taking preference in choosing who she styled next.
After getting her attention she makes an «Oh, you’re still here?» face at me and pushes me off on the blonde girl with the uni– brow. She is not busy and has no customers because she CLEARLY HAS NO IDEA WHAT SHE IS DOING!
(The last time I was there she practically ripped my hair out when trying to comb it out. FYI: a bit of leave in conditioner and a regular comb would have done the trick)
She takes out the rollers and without even asking me, starts spraying some awful smelling stuff (in a pink bottle) in my hair. It smells like fruit salad and candy or something. Yuck. Then during the blow out she starts concentrating the heat on my scalp. Now, my roots are jet straight as I’ve just had a perm and my scalp is slightly burned from Chatty Mc Talks-​Alot who couldn’t rinse the perm out in a reasonable amount of time.
She burns my scalp the first time. I point this out. Then she gets on her cell phone and starts running her mouth and not paying attention (Very professional! And you wonder why you have no customers.) to what she is doing and gives me a SERIOUS scalp burn! After she realizes what she’s done she actually takes the time to pay attention to my hair and says «Oh, you had a perm didn’t you?» YOU WOULD HAVE KNOWN THIS HAD YOU TAKEN THE TIME TO ACTUALLY LOOK AT MY HAIR IN THE FIRST PLACE!!!
I don’t ask for much when it comes to salons and customer service. I don’t require music and coffee and conversation. I’m a get in and get out kind of girl. But I DO NOT appreciate being passed off to someone who is CLEARLY inexperienced because you don’t have time to do the job that I am paying you to do! Furthermore, lose the cell phones ladies. It looks extremely unprofessional. I mean, you don’t even see employees at McDonalds using cell phones! Ask your clients questions and pay attention to what you’re doing.
For me, it’s too little too late. I won’t be returning.

As Dominican salons go, you will be ushered in and out because the turn around is where these salons make their money. That will be the case at Lila’s as well. However, ever since my first time there, I have yet to find anyone who can blow my natural hair out like them. And when I was living in the Bronx, I didn’t care about the trek to Harlem because when I left my hair was glorious!!! And there have been plenty of other salons that have told me I need a relaxer, or become annoyed they have to exhibit skill to get my hair the way I like it. Not at Lila’s. They told me forget the relaxer and just deep condition every visit. I am a regular of Yoanni and Elizabeth.

DO NOT GO TO THE LADY WITH THE THROWBACK GOLDEN AFRO. She will eff up your hair and make it look like you too took a trip on the time machine back to 70’s hell.

In the 3 years I’ve lived in NYC I’ve had an awful time finding a hair salon that actually cares for African-​American hair. I’ve tried many high end salons mentioned in major magazines as well as mid-​range and neighborhood Dominican salons to no avail. I chose Lila since it was a couple blocks from my apartment and it always seems to be packed.
My visit took place in October 2009. I have relaxed shoulder length hair and was there for a wash and set on a weekend. I had about a 30 minute wait and it was towards closing time. The wash assistant was an older woman who seemed very annoyed and tired, and I had seen her soak another patron’s clothing with water so I asked her not to do the same to me. She obliged and then I was roller set after about a 10 minute wait. The dryer time and temperature wasn’t more than what I was used to but the blow dry experience was AWFUL — this after I told them to blow the root only. My scalp was singed and even bleeding. I even showed my husband when I got home and he was appalled. Yeah, blow drying makes your hair straight but it is horribly damaging the way they blow dry and it is not worth any style to do this much damage to your hair and scalp. I will not be going back to Lila.

There are too many Dominican shops in NY to waste your time with this one. If you have natural African American hair, definitely bypass this shop.
PROS:
— the water during my wash was warm (I had to think of something to place in the PROS section.)
CONS:
— stylist will cut/​trim your hair WITHOUT your permission
— your makeup will have to be reapplied after your wash because your entire face and upper neck is soaking wet
— soaking wet towels around your neck after wash is not cool
— no credit/​debit cards accepted and have to use ATM machine next door
— using nails to scrub the scalp during wash is a no-​no
This place uses too much heat (even for a Dominican shop) so definitely request a deep condition. At the end of the horrible visit, I had to go next door to use the ATM machine. I had to pay an ATM fee and watch my back while shady characters loitered behind me.

Okay here it goes… the good, the bad and the hurtful!!! Its a shame I can’t give the salon 5 stars but I will tell you why. THE GOOD– Most of the women at the salon are there for the enjoyment of doing your hair, as well as making people feel better by making them feel beautiful. You don’t have to make an appointment, even better if you can pull yourself out of the bed early in the morning! You can be in and out (fabulously) in under 2 hours if that! Not much conversation, which isn’t bad because you want your hair done not a talking session! Your hair will be bouncy, shiny straight and slightly or tightly curled depending on your preference. $ 30 TOPS! WOO-​HOO THE BAD– If you have natural hair (i.e. African American hair without a relaxer, or any tightly curled textured hair) be prepared to fight! For what you might ask, well to not have a relaxer because they don’t want to do extra work. The attitude that follows will make you want to run out. The never ending dryer time will make you wonder why you are still there. Next comes the worst, the blow dryer! Yes its the hottest dryer that will ever touch your scalp! And it BURNS, IT BURNS! At last you look at the finished product in the mirror and you’ll see why you stayed through the whole ordeal!!!

I just got put on to Dominican hair salons. I didn’t know what I was missing. This is a review of the wash and set service. Love this salon because I hate doing my hair. You walk in and they literally start on your hair right away. There’s little to no wait. I was able to get in and out in under 2 hours.
They actually scrub your hair giving you a real scalp massage. The roller set is done super quick. After sitting under the dryer for a while you can opt for a wrap or their amazing blow dry technique which leaves your hair really soft and shiny.
At a total cost of $ 25 I see myself there at least twice a month.

This is a review of the salon’s wash & set service… I didn’t have my hair relaxed there.
No appointments are needed because there are enough women there to take you without too much trouble. Yes, there can be slightly extended wait times during the peak days and times but they’re not bad enough to warrant creating an appointment system. They open every day and have long hours.
After you find street parking (which may take a while), just walk right in and head to the back where one of the women will wash your hair with some sort of wonder-​shampoo and conditioner. Feel free to bring your own shampoo/​conditioner but it’ll cost you a few extra dollars. After the wash ritual, someone else will set your hair in the magnetic rollers and sit you under one of their VERY HOT driers. A word of warning for those who are intolerant to the heat… don’t be afraid to ask to turn it down a couple notches because you will be uncomfortable the entire time and that is no fun at all.
Grab a magazine or dig for the book you brought with you and hunker down for the next 45 minutes to an hour. I would recommend checking the dryness of your hair to make sure that it’s completely dry when the timer is near its end because there is nothing worse than sitting under the drier, thinking that you’re all dry and then when the stylist gets you 10 – 15 minutes after the timer has ended, she sits you back under the drier for another 20 minutes.
When you’re finally dry, be prepared for yet another hot blast where the stylist blows out your curls and roots. Yes, you’ll want to cry when the heat is on your scalp but your hair will look so good. :) If you want a doobie (hair wrap), have your pack of bobby pins ready for your stylist to use as she works her wizardry of wrapping your hair around your head. If you forgot to bring hair pins, they’ll use their own but that will cost you a little more but not much.
Oh what I would give to be able to go to Lila’s every week! Why don’t they have these kind of salons on the west coast??? Lila’s is one of the top local spots I miss the most about NY (yes, I’m easy to please). It’s cheap enough to go every week if you have the time as it costs no more than $ 25-​$ 30. And that is after tips… and please do tip the women.