Aabies African Hair Braiding

I had a very hair-braiding experience with Aabies. I got my hair braided by them on November 22, 2009. On January 30, 2010, I started the process of taking my braids out. After finally getting the braids out and starting the process of washing and conditioning my own hair, my hair became really tangled and matted down. And I was not able to comb it at all.

I come to find out after my hair started coming out from the combing. I realized it wasn't my hair just being tangled up; the Aabies hair braiders (2), who did my hair, put some type of bonding or nail glue in my hair, I guess, to keep my braids from coming out so prematurely. I did not authorize them to do no such thing nor was I asked by either braider if it was OK or advised on what they were doing. I only found this out after I attempted to take braids out on January 30.

It took me 2 days of washing and conditioning my hair to try to undo what they had done. Of one of these days, I had to miss 8 hours of pay (February 1, 2010) because of the severity of the condition of my hair. I couldn't comb it or do anything with it. I finally was able to get my regular stylist to help on February 1, 2010.

After several long hours of conditioning, treating, and combing what she could of my hair, she was finally able to get it out. I find this very unprofessional behavior, embarrassing, and now by telling my story, I have heard a lot of people complain about this business now due to my experience.

I have also seen on the Better Business Bureau that they have a Grade F. I would like for this business to be looked into, because they can't keep getting away with treating consumers who spend a lot of money on braiding like this, just doing whatever to make money. I would also like to be fully refunded the $185 i spent on the braiding, the 8 hours of pay I missed from work and the mental distress it has caused me.

I would also like some compensation for my hair coming out and treatment i will have to endure going forth, due to breakage and damage done to my hair from this. loss of pay from work,

I was in the process of transitioning from relaxed/permed hair to all natural hair--chemical free. I wanted a style that would allow my natural hair to grow a bit more for length. There was a service at church that Sunday, that I was responsible for--needless to say, I wanted my hair to look nice. I had been listening to the radio station which advertised micros (really small braids) for $100.00--at this african braiding shop called Aabies.

My family and I went to check out the shop. They had two different locations in the N. Tryon area in Charlotte. One was closed, however, the location inside the shopping center was open so I went in. I felt a bit uneasy because there was no friendliness with the staff. They just stared and stared. I took a look at some books and I was so uncomfortable--I left. This was a Saturday night. My husband convinced me to go back that next morning, Sunday and try again. He said it was 8pm at night and they were probably tired, since they are open until 12 midnight.

Well, I went in the next morning and the lady that began working on my hair was an older lady and she convinced me that she wanted to do the best for my hair. As I sat in the chair a man came around with a pad and a pen. I am not sure if he was deaf or didn't speak English--anyway he came around and had me sign the sheet as I was about to get service and then he waited around like I was supposed to do something else. I looked at him like--may I help you and the lady says "he is waiting for you to pay the 100.00. I said, But I haven't even seen the finished product nor had any kind of service.

She asked me what color I wanted my hair, I informed her I needed something to match my brown hair color--number 4. She then told me that the man with the key had left--the deaf guy who wanted to be paid in advance--and he was the only one with the key to the room of hair. She said that she could start my hair with some red color at the back and fill in the brown when he came. What is that? There is no red anywhere in my hair.

Next, as she begain braiding my hair with the braid hair. I informed her that I did not want my hair braided too tight. I wanted to keep my edges. Some individuals braid too tight and pull on your scalp, and your hair comes out--this especially likes to happen around the edges. Then we had an argument b/c she was intent on braiding so tight that the corners of my eyes reached my ears. I told her it was too tight and she said that she wanted to do a good job.

I told her that she could do a good job without pulling my scalp that way. I have had braids before and they were not nearly so tight. She became upset and began speaking african/french with the other braiders. I knew she was talking about me, but didn't care. As long as she loosened up a bit on her braiding. Four hours later, she was finished. She was bragging to the other girls because she finished the micros in such a short amount of time. Perhaps I should have been a bit wary of that.

Well three days later after receiving the braids---THEY STARTED COMING OUT! Now my husband and I paid 100.00 and 3 days they started coming out. So we went back and they told me the lady who did my hair was not there. I said, well my braids are coming out--what am I supposed to do about this. So, the girls who were there began work on my head--it was about 4 of the braiders on my head and rebraiding the braids that came out, and those that look like they were about to come out.

What a hassle. I only kept those braids in for less than 2 weeks. They were all different sizes and kept coming loose. When you pay a price for anything and that price is a good bit of money --like 100.00--you want quality. Well, I got no quality--it was a rushed job and a horrible one at that. I don't recommend this shop for braiding to anyone. They have horrible customer service at this Aabies location, were short of patience, and very mean. I wasted 100.00 that I could have used elsewhere, like on my three children or my husband.