Tamara

This for me is an incredibly late review because I’ve been visiting Tamara for a few years now, but the world needs to know how awesome she is lol.
I came to Mane Advocates in the hopes of getting my hair cut short. Nervous about trying a completely new style, I had spent weeks looking at other salons in the city, but their prices were too high and I didn’t find a stylist who could put me at ease about significantly shortening my hair. Enter Tamara! I booked a consultation with her and showed her some pictures of what I wanted, and just from her professional and straightforward demeanor, by the time I left (with an appointment for the cut booked), I knew I was in good hands.
Fast forward to almost 3 years later, and I legitimately don’t want anyone but Tamara near my hair with scissors. The perfect cut she gave me had people asking «why didn’t you do this sooner?!» My hair is healthier than its ever been, and she routinely recommends products to keep it that way. The relaxers I get never burn my scalp, either. And when my hair grows out, it maintains its shape. I’m always impressed. This salon is totally worth a visit.

ABSOLUTE BEST BEST BEST hair dresser I’ve ever been to in all my life. Tamara is a rock star. You will walk out with hair soft and bouncy as if you were in a Pantene commercial. Tamara is extremely talented and you won’t be disappointed.

God bless her hands. My hair has been growing and is stronger. I have been debating if I should go back natural but I never had hair issues even now that I’m using a relaxer. Being natural takes patience and consistency which is something I have to practice. I may try it again in the future but ad of now, I am content with my hair results.

I am still going to Tamara. She is still amazing. I’ve had numerous scalp issues pop up and despite the setbacks my hair is still looking healthy, full and fabulous. I stand by my previous review and then some! I really hope Tamara never leaves NYC because if she does I’m gonna make a yearly pilgrimage to wherever that hair goddess goes.

Just got back home from my appointment at Mane Advocates and I am so happy that I took a chance with this salon. I stopped going to salons after my last relaxer, but I recently decided to look into some good ones to try– Mane Advocates was at the top of my list.
This was the best relaxer experience I’ve ever had. In my past experiences with other salons, base was not applied to my scalp, the relaxer would be combed through my hair, and I would eventually end up with burns. I didn’t experience any of this with Tamara. She was extremely thorough and took great care of my hair; she also gave me advice about maintenance and future hair care. I love the results (volume and swing! great cut) and will definitely be back.

My experience here today was so incredible, I had to write a review as soon as I got home!
I went in today to get a relaxer touch up, nothing complicated. First, I was very pleased with the calm environment of the salon. That may be a weird observation, but I cannot tell you how many times I’ve walked into other salons and there was some awful talk show blaring on the tv and stylists gossiping just as loudly. I came straight from work so I appreciated the relaxing music and pleasant conversation.
Now on to the important part. I was throughly impressed with Tamara’s professionalism from the moment I walked into the salon. She informed me that she was running a bit behind and asked me if I needed to be done at a certain time. I have never had a stylist be so considerate regarding my schedule and I really appreciated that she cared enough to ask!
When it was my turn in the chair, Tamara seemed very focused on making sure that I was comfortable and that I was not experiencing any discomfort from the relaxer. I have had my fair share of horrific scalp burns from previous stylists who insisted on smoothing the relaxer with a fine tooth comb, overall rough handling, etc, but Tamara was a pro! She was extremely efficient and gentle when putting the relaxer in my hair and she even made sure to base my scalp, not just my edges! (+2 :)).
After some time under the dryer and a quick blow dry/​flat iron, my hair came out looking fabulous and super soft! I also like how she showed me how much of my hair she was going to trim instead of just chopping it off.
Overall my experience was lovely and I am confident that Tamara will help me in my healthy hair journey. I will certainly be coming back for my next touch up!
p. s. There were also snacks!

I recently had a visit with Tamara to get my natural hair blow dried, flat ironed and trimmed. I was initially apprehensive bc I currently have heat damage from 2 occasions with separate hair stylists.
Tamara gave me a good wash and condition. I appreciate all the steps she used. She sectioned my hair and applied conditioner thoroughly and detangled each section. I was placed under the steamer which I was happy about. Tamara handled my hair with care overall. I was so relieved. My natural hair was silky and flowy when I left.
I washed my hair the following week praying I didn’t incur further heat damage and my hair bounced right back! Tamara is a keeper ! I will be going to her going forward and I am nothing short of delighted to find someone I can trust with my hair. My fellow naturalistas, your hair will be in good hands !

This review is for Marie. I had my hair done the day before my civil ceremony. Big risk; I know! I’d searched and searched to find an appointment for Monday. Luckily, Marie had an opening. There was no wait time, I showed up at my time and she was ready.
Now, I’ve been transitioning for over a year and a half and am mostly natural, but I have a few straight ends in the front. I am a lazy natural, they need to be cut but I was not here for a big chop. I expressed this to Marie who trimmed them. I hate getting my hair trimmed, hence the straight pieces in my head. She told me all the things I knew, that keeping the ends might be hindering my growth and that they will break if not properly detangled etc, but I’m stubborn and she listened and did as I wished. I appreciated that.
She pincurled my hair as I requested because I was going to be the one to do my own hair. Honestly, I pulled out the pins and stuck my blusher on and it looked fabulous. Taking our pics in Manhattan, I was told by all the little preschoolers I passed that I looked like a princess. And I felt like it. I wouldn’t have felt like that if my hair didn’t look good.
She reduced my price because she didn’t give me a full cut. And I left with some samples.
I’d recommend!

This review is for Marie at Mane Advocates
Tamara referred me to her when she was stumped as to how to handle my hair. She felt Marie would do a great job and she was right! Marie sat down with me and pored over countless pictures of various hairstyles and listened to my hair woes. Her patience struck me as rare in most stylists. She worked with me to create a unique style that would not pull my edges yet would still look good enough for the office.
Even though I didn’t come in thinking I’d use extensions, we settled on a style that would require a few extensions. She was willing to wash the extensions we decided to use before putting them in my hair so my scalp wouldn’t react to the hair. She also made sure to pick the correct color for my hair (even when I insisted she needn’t bother) because, as she explained it, «if you don’t look good, I don’t look good».
Her hands were very gentle (a total plus for us natural girls!) and she was incredibly polite. The best part is, she was willing to adjust her price (without me having to ask when she realized the style wouldn’t be too complicated .
I’ve been around the block when it comes to hairdressers and have had more than my fair share of expensive of horror stories but this was the first time, in a long time, that I felt like I was in good, professional, affordable hands. I hHIGHLY recommend Marie.

I’ve climbed some mountain and trudged through valleys with my hair after perming it, and then I made the decision to go natural. With weak hair and a tender scalp, I have gone to many African hair braiding salons, and went to bed with a headache for the next three days, for my braids were too tight. This also proved to be not so friendly for my transitioning hair. I went back to perming for a short while, and then back to braids. a tiring cycle of indecisive monotony. And then I discovered MANE ADVOCATES, and I’ve gotten a fresh start on my natural hair journey. I went recently last Saturday to get Havana Twists done by Marie, and needless to say, in about 4 hours (I also got my hair washed and a few other things) I was out of the shop and about the rest of my day. This certainly beats the 6 – 7 hours I’ve spent in many African salons. Not anymore. It was also the first time I’ve gotten my hair braided/​twisted and did not go home with a pounding headache.
I wish I paid a little less for the style and I wish it was closer to home, but comparing it to other places I’ve been, this was a great deal for me! The environment is very welcoming, Marie treated me so well, one of the best hair stylists I’ve been to. I give this place 5 stars, and I definitely recommend it to everyone! Hair by Marie, you will see, for natural styles is the place to be.

Tamara and I started off on a bad foot. I had received a service that I was not happy with and wrote a review about the service. However, Tamara contacted me apologizing for the service and offered me a free service (she ended up giving me two free services) to help me as I transition from relaxed hair to natural. I was skeptical about transitioning, getting regular trims, and reducing the amount of sew-​ins that I get. Tamara trimmed some of my hair and advised me to try wigs as an alternative. My hair has grown so much thanks to all of Tamara’s amazing advice. Since I am a college student and my hometown is not New York City, I unfortunately cannot go to Tamara during breaks but she still gives me advice and consultations via email on how to manage and maintain my hair. She is a very caring beautician who only wants to see your natural hair thrive.

Tamara is as good as it gets when it comes to being a hair care professional that cares about her client’s hair and well-​being. Tamara takes you by appointment only and truly doesn’t double book because she doesn’t like to keep folks waiting.
Tamara cared for my weaves and my loose natural hair for a year and a half, and now that I have locs, her colleague Dee has been my go-​to. I love the quality of service and care that I get when I go to Mane Advocates!

I saw Tamara almost 2 week ago. I had my natural hair (3c-​4a) washed, flat ironed and trimmed. My appointment started and ended on time. She did not assault my scalp while detangling. She did not fry my hair with the blow drier. She actually ASKED me how much I wanted cut, she did not assume. She repeatedly asked if I was comfortable during my appointment. She did not force products on me. We had a long conversation about a possible protein treatment I was thinking about having, so that I could make an informed decision to hold off on it for now.
My hair STILL looks absolutely beautiful, now, almost 2 weeks later (after 3 rain storms and humidity!!!). I don’t readily give rave reviews. Tamara deserves it. She is EXCELLENT.

So I’m back to a pixie cut; not due to any fashion statement which is being made by so many today, but this is cards I was dealt and just had to cave:-(Oh well it’s hair and will grow back I convinced myself.
Tamara @ Mane Advocates made this change happen and I must say I’m pleased with the performance. First off I had to set my appointment like 2 weeks ahead because of how she was booked out. I thought to myself this must be a good sign. Being a new customer it was required I paid a deposit which was 50% of my service… so good so far.
I made it on time for my 4pm appointment and as I entered the salon Tamara told me where to put away jacket and make myself comfortable. I went in for a relaxer and precision cut, there was a small wait because she had someone else assisting, but it was just 2 of us in the salon… wow personalized treatment I like it.
Tamara examined my hair and we worked out the best way to get my hair looking backing to normal… too embarrassed to state my hair issues. :-) For my hair cut we decided on a style I know I could possibly pull off while trying to get my hair back to a «normal» state.
The process was effortless and I had no worries, I just left everything up to Tamara to work her magic. This is how you know you’re dealing with a true professional. A professional she was who gave me good relaxer and a superb cut. She also gave me pointers on how to style for my new pixie hairstyle.
A few days after I received an email from Tamara asking how is my hair doing, we exchanged a few emails and I was very grateful for her concern. Great customer service, thanks a lot Tamara for your exceptional service.

I’m a Unilocal girl to the bone. I won’t try a new service or venture out to a new restaurant unless I read reviews first. So when the time came for me to get my natural hair done, I ventured unto Unilocal first. The reviews for Mane Advocates were stellar so i decided to check out their website. I found their website easy to navigate and the prices VERY reasonable. I also appreciated the online book option as I am more a computer than telephone person.
Long story short, I booked a consultation (free of charge and no strings attached) and within a week, I was able to see Tamara i believe. She looked at my hair, made some legit recommendations (trim and treatment), and booked me for an appointment in 2 weeks. Yesterday was the big day and I have to say, this has been on of the most pleasant hair appointments I have had in a long time. My wait wasn’t long (½ an hour if that). She talked me through the process and at the end of it all, did not force products down my throat. In fact, she made a few recommendations and gave me 2 free products to try! Impressive. So in case anyone is wondering if this salon is worth a visit, consider that:
prices are reasonable
the wait time is not too bad
it is easy peasy to make an appointment
you’re dealing with a professional
you and your hair will get 1 on 1 attention as she only deals with 1 client at a time
she’ll be honest with you about what your hair needs and how to maintain it AT HOME (I’ve never had a hair salon tell me how to keep my hair in tip top shape — they usually give me minimal advice in the hopes that I’ll have to come back to keep my hair healthy)

At the end of the day, my hair looked good, was manageable, and i was able to wear it my way the next day with no problems!
Only thing I would personally like to see is pictures of her work on her website.
Awesome experience overall and i think i will be back in a few months for a follow up trim and treatment.

I’ve had so many bad salon experiences that I am almost conditioned to expect bad service, but going to see Tamara is always a peaceful experience for me. She’s super cool, professional, knowledgable and proficient and is the only person I’d trust with my hair during the transition phase (which makes traveling and being away from her difficult). But if I was more of a girly girl and a little less lazy, I’d do better when I’m away from her since she explains everything she does so that I could do it on my own. That’s part of what makes her great, she’s not desperate for business and isn’t trying to get you in to see her all the time, she genuinely tries to help her clients feel comfortable with their own hair. I wish there were Tamaras in every city, would make my busy life easier!

I love this salon. Ive been to salons across the country from San Francisco, to LA, to Texas and around NYC (Ive moved a lot) and Ive never met someone so knowledgeable about hair like Tamara. I was impressed to learn so much the technical aspects of hair, scalp and care. You can tell Tamara is very well educated and keeps current on new developments and products. She a bit on the pricer side (not expensive but def not cheap) and there always seem to be a wait for your appointment time, but trust me its well worth it. Ive gotten blow outs, flat irons, curls and now I go to her for Brazilian Keratin Treatments.
I once went to another salon that charged cheaper for the Keratin and noticed the one, the experience wasn’t that great with fumes going to your eyes (oh Tamara has top of the line equipment that sucks up the fumes above your head. Theres tons of other hair equipment there too that I was very impressed with like the hair steamer (looks like the hair dryer that u go under but its humidity steamer to lock in the deep conditioner into ur hair) and two the results didn’t really come out as good as when Tamara does it. Ive never went to anyone else since.
So hands down Tamara is the best. Shes knowledgeable, has impressive hair equipments, friendly and does a fabulous job on any hair type.

I had never been happy with a haircut in my 26 years of life until I came here. I’ve always wanted short hair and none of the previous salons I went to would cut my hair that short because they were worried that my curly hair would be too big (who DOESN’T want big curly hair???), so I was a little nervous trying out Tamara since all my previous experiences at other salons have ranged from terrible to meh.
I showed Tamara two pictures of what I wanted and one picture of what I didn’t want and she immediately understood the look I was going for. She cut off 6+ inches of my hair and now I have a curly, short, layered bob and I love it.
Tamara straightened my hair so I wasn’t positive that it was going to look as great curly as it did straight but Tamara made sure I knew that if there were any problems, I could come back at anytime to get the cut fixed (for free of course) and she even sent me an email the next day to check in on how I liked my hair. Although my straight hair looked fab, I missed my curly hair so I washed my hair the next day and the cut looks even more amazing curly than straight. Definitely will be back for my next cut/​trim.

Came to get my hair cut… Told Tamara what I wanted, I’m under the dryer now and I a, not one bit concerned as to what I look like!
Tamara is my magician!

Tamara made my hair shine. She KNOWS natural hair (she’s natural as well). This is the most beautiful its ever looked! First and foremost, this is not my first time going to Mane Advocates. I used to see another stylist there years ago so I was familiar with Tamara. I remembered being super impressed with the way her clients hair looked and always wanted to try her out, but I’ve been through a lot with my hair and stuck to what I knew. However change is GOOD sometimes (in this case it was phenomenal) Tamara is a rare find, a natural hair guru — and from what I saw — a hair guru in general (relaxed, colored, natural you name it) You WANT her hands in your hair.
Anyway After receiving a chi enviro that dried and fried my hair, and a hair cut that made my hair look very nice while straight, but my fro look like a christmas tree I decided my hair needed a change.
So off to Tamara I went. I missed her quaint, quiet, cozy relaxing salon so it was nice to be back. She took me right on time and asked me if I was having any issues with my hair. I explained my issues (damaged ends and too many layers) and she gently washed and did a clarifying treatment on my hair, She combed through my hair so gently. I doubt I lost a strand. She was so delicate. It was nice. next she put me under the steamer (which was soooo invigorating) Then gave me a keratin conditioning treatment under the dryer that she didn’t wash out (to protect my hair from the heat of the blow dryer). I was so used to Mizani Thermasmooth and it’s results, that I wasn’t even prepared for what my hair was going to feel like.
After letting the conditioner bake for 20 minutes she blew my hair out using little tension and with a denman type brush (not those rough bristle brushes that rip and tear the hair) Then I felt my hair (well besides feeling it I SAW MY HAIR) it was shining, it felt like silk, or maybe 1000 thread count sheets ;). Next she flat ironed it and used heat protectant on every section, not just three spritz around the head. By the end of it my hair was soft, silky, shiny, just sparkling. Next she trimmed my hair and blended my two longest layers into one. She cut in a way that allowed my curls to fall nicely again. She even gave me the side swept bang I’ve been seeking for years.
I left the salon looking, feeling like a million bucks. I have received more compliments on my hair than ever before. Everyone is asking me who did my hair. I will be back in 6 weeks for a conditioning treatment and flat twists (i loveeeee that steamer). I highly recommend you RUN TO TAMARA! YOU WANT HER HANDS IN YOUR HAIR. She’s gifted, kind, gentle and cares about the health of your hair and style. She sets the bar extremely high. I don’t know if anyone can top it. Stop reading this review and BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT! You will not be disappointed.

Let me just start out by saying, I always switched salons! Don’t you just hate when you spend your money on something you don’t like? I then searched for African American salons specializing in hair care and came upon Mane Advocates. I went online to their stylist pages and noticed Sophia because of all her credibility in hair care. I easily went online and scheduled an appointment.
When I arrived, I loved how professional the salon look. It is very small, yet personal (client-​stylist) and well kept. When I went there I got a wash and set. I honestly thought my hair was in a horrible state. During the whole process Sophia asked me my hair goals and what I do now. She kept saying that we will get there. She is def. into getting your hair healthy first and she said length will come afterwards. She recommended products that I should use. In addition, she asked me how I was doing. I LOVED THAT! Salons often don’t feel to get to know you as a person. However, communication can def. be an asset to the entire service.
Once I was done, MY HAIR LOOKED AMAZING, My hair is about shoulder length and it had so much movement and body. I’m often shy to wear my real hair out because it looks so damaged, but I def. wore it out once I left Sophia. I will def. continue going to her. She is well rounded in hair care !

Let me be perfectly clear — I have NOT had my hair done at this salon, so you may want to disregard this review on those grounds. Disclaimer aside, here is my review of ONLY my experience trying to set up a consultation with Tamara:
First of all, there is no phone number provided on the website. We’re asked to email a stylist. Ok. I emailed Tamara on Jan 18, telling her about my hair and what I wanted done, and giving her some general times when I would be able to come in for a consultation. No response.
On Jan 30, I sent a very brief email mentioning that I had sent a message a couple of weeks ago and asking if there was a better way to get in touch. I got a response about four hours later from Tamara apologizing for email troubles and asking what I wanted done to my hair and when I could come in. So 20 minutes later I resent details about my hair, what I wanted and when I could come in. Forty-​eight hours after that, I get a response saying this week won’t work for a consultation and suggesting she could either talk to a co-​worker or try for next week. (yeah, two days later this week doesn’t work for me anymore either!) I respond again within 20 minutes saying next week is fine. And… that’s it. She never responded at all.
WTF? Why is this your system? I mean, why can’t I just call in like at a normal salon? If we are going to do this via e-​mail, you need to be on top of it. Otherwise, let’s just get on the phone and set this up!
Wow… lame.