I came here because I had seen their ads and I thought it might be a good place to get my hair done on a budget. The first time I went I got one student to do my hair and it looked great, everyone in the salon was complimenting me. I went back a second time and asked for the same guy, but apparently he was done with his salon hours so I was assigned this other guy that should seriously drop out of beauty school! He was so rude, his flat iron was really cheap and he left a bunch of flat iron marks in my hair, and put a lot of oil in my hair (a first for me). It was so bad that another girl offered to pas her flat iron over my hair to try and fix it, but the damage was done. Since it's a school, you don't get much consistency and very little choice in who does your hair. I would really recommend just spending a few more dollars to see a professional and not face the luck of the draw here. read more

During my visit, they were not professional. Washing my hair took longer than expected, and as a result the instructors and students were rude. One student told me if I selected small rollers, "You will be here alone to dry (my hair), and you will need to take the rollers out yourself because I'm leaving". I did not have a problem modifying my choice, but she should have presented her position in a respectful manner. If you want to be treated as a client, I advise you to pay 15-20 dollars more and go to a real salon. read more

It's been a while since anyone has done a recent update on Durham Beauty Academy, so I figured I do the honors. I have been to Durham beauty academy a total of three times. One time for regular wash and blow out, and a Nother time to get my natural hair cut into a taper. They are very understanding and have a very warm atmosphere. There's always at least two faculty members available and active when people are doing the clients hair. I have had great experiences every time that I have gone to this beauty Academy. They are open to doing multiple types, textures, and styles of hair. Their prices are very reasonable, and they do allow walk-ins during the week. read more

The staff are rude! So confrontational for no reason. The lady that runs the school is so unprofessional. It is so poorly operated. The students rarely show up. I had to go back for a service multiple times with an appt and still waited 30+minutes and was never serviced as if no one wanted to do the job. Other than being in close proximity to where I live, I have nothing good to say about this school. Overhearing conversations by students it is my understanding that if it is the service that they do not want to do because they have done too many of them and it does not give them credit to graduate they make every excuse under the sun to not service the customer. They will walk out and say "oh I have emergency" read more

Made a video of my butchered hair; https://youtu.be/rip-uNCFdkg I only went here because Regency Beauty Academy closed down and someone who went there recommended this place to me. I loved going there for years and always got a great haircut. The TEACHER of the this academy, NOT the student, BUTCHERED my hair. She goes by the name "Ms. Washington." The student stood there shocked at what she witnessed and apologized to me. My communication was as clear as it could have been to both of them; I wanted an A line haircut which means longer in the front in a pointy style. Long enough to still get all my hair in one ponytail. The teacher acknowledged this saying lots of people want to be able to have a ponytail with no need for barrettes. The student was doing a great job until the teacher came over at the end and said "How about we frame your face?" I am not a stylist and do not know what "framing" means. So I said, "If that's what makes it longer in the front." I trusted her. She then cut 12 inches off giving me mangled bangs. The opposite of A line. I gasped. "What did you do? I can't pull this into a ponytail!" Ms. Washington stuck her nose up in the air and walked away. No apology, no acknowledgment of what she had done. As I told them, I have very thin hair and this is why I get an A line cut- it adds volume. The teacher ruined my hair. It is now not only super thin but lopsided. If she can't be bothered to explain to me what "framing" is before doing it, HOW DOES SHE TEACH ANYONE ANYTHING???? She already knew I did not want short hair in the front. This felt like a personal attack and I did nothing to her. Thank god for barrettes and hats. I will have a good year of waiting for this to grow out long enough just to be able to get a normal looking haircut, at least another 6 months before I can get the hair cut I asked for today. When I called and said I wanted the $8 back on my credit card the lady told me I'd have to come back in to do that. I informed her I will call my credit card and contest the charge. They make you pay before you get your cut or else I would not have paid at all. I've also contacted the BBB, Education and Cosmetology Board. MS. WASHINGTON NEEDS TO BE FIRED. She is incapable of styling hair, listening, teaching, taking responsibility for her own actions and apologizing for her CHOICE to do this to me. There is no way this was an accident. She wouldn't even apologize. That's what hurts the most. Sad Durham no longer has a beauty school but I will pay $50+ for a haircut before I ever go to any beauty school again. Really miss you, Regency! :( read more

So I'm going to amend my original review of Durham Beauty Academy. While I am still clear that DBA has terrible management and inconsistent pricing, my original review focused too much on my interaction with a customer service employee. While I don't want to make excuses for this employee's disrespect, I realize that customer service employees are often stressed out, overworked, overburdened, and underpaid, especially during this time of the year. I know that my interrogation about DBA's pricing inconsistencies likely added more aggravation and stress on this employee's time and patience (since she likely wasn't aware of the full scope of DBA's pricing inconsistencies), and for that I take full responsibility. The pricing problems should have been addressed only with DBA's management, period. This was not an issue that I should have burdened a front desk employee with, and for that I apologize. I do not want to contribute in any way to the dehumanization of customer service workers, which is already an endemic problem in this society. As I wrote last week, the ultimate responsibility for pricing inconsistencies and poor customer service falls on DBA's management. I should have been clear about this in my original review. I did speak with DBA's director this past Thursday, where she kept offering me a half-price special to come back and use their services. However, I am even more resolute in my decision not to patronize DBA again. I don't care if DBA offers me a half-price deal, or if their services are cheaper than regular salons. I only support businesses where employees are given the information and tools to do their jobs well, and where both employees and customers are treated with dignity and respect. read more

Last Friday I brought my daughter to have her hair colored. The process took a long time (average time for color) but she absolutely LOVED her hair! She could not stop looking at herself. The student did an excellent job. She has gone to professional salons and her hair did turn out that well. We will definitely schedule more appointments at the academy. Thank you to Chantell. read more

My daughter tried to use a groupon and ended spending over an hour waiting in the lobby. She was never seen, and had other appointments. The staff was rude and manager was unwilling to even come talk to me about the issue when I called my daughters cell phone (because their phones were broken). Will never try to go there again, and I would recommend not using them at all. All around poor experience, and so unfortunate for my daughter as this was supposed to be a fun part of her graduation experience. read more

I had worst experience at this place..I had spa manicure and pedicure voucher from Groupon. Student who performed pedicure was not at all interested in giving service..she was not been supervised at all. She was very slow and not organised at all..pedicure was little ok.but for manicure she only dipped my fingers in water and applied nail color though I did ask her whether she was supposed to do anything other than this .she denied it. And nail color was so old and of bad quality. I had to come again from car parking to clean that mess. Same student was so irritated seeing me back. she did not take any efforts of taking nail color back ..she applied on same mess she created and made it more worse..I had no option left to tell about her short cuts to her supervisor. They offered me same service again by same lazy student. This time also she was not supervised. She was only busy in watching other clients and her fellow colleagues who was providing hair service. She some how did all few steps without filing nails. Do not go for other services ..I only saw people opting hair services that too for Afro hair. Worst place..please teach trainees about customer service.. read more

I made an appointment for 2:30 PM, they didn't seat us until 3:15, we had to keep going up asking what time they would get started and they kept saying a few minutes. The staff was extremely unprofessional and loud, it was a very uncomfortable experience. The colorist ruined my hair and had no idea what she was doing, she missed several spots so my hair has big blotches of my old color in random spots, it looks horrible. The stylist was not at all personable and it took WAY too long to do a simple dye job (over 2 hours). In the end, my hair was so matted and tangled it took over 45 minutes just to de-tangle it, I have no idea what product they used on my hair but it has NEVER been tangled like that. I left without them styling my hair as I was afraid of what they would do. I will NEVER return here and I wasted $37 for a horrible dye job. Also, the cleanliness of the establishment left a lot to be desired. read more

I called at least 2 wks before to make an appt and then 1 wk before to change the time and like 2 days before to confirm that appt. They were very polite & took down my name on the phone. I went there at the said time only for them to tell me they are no longer taking clients for the day. I told them I had an appt & they looked surprised, as if they don't even do appts. They now opened a book (just to pretend they actually had an appt book), looked back up and said No, we dont have you down. Needless to say I was very angry and upset. It look me 35 mins to drive to and locate the place & my hair was in a mess. So wrong! 1 hr of my life & gas that I will never get back. read more