Le Balafon African Braiding Salon

Locally owned & operated

20 years in business

I had an appointment with Nina, and she genuinely made my whole summer! We had such a good time…read moretalking together and she was the sweetest when taking care of my hair. When I tell you that I left the appointment feeling like a new individual it is so true... I haven't seen my hair so smooth and glossy until today! Can't wait to be back :))

Irina is such a perfectionist and really takes her time with every section, but somehow the whole…read moreappointment is so calming that I feel like I'm mediating. She understands thick and fine Asian hair incredibly well and knows how to shape mine so it goes from ratty and generally unkempt to polished (and so much lighter). It can be surprisingly hard to find someone to do this kind of haircut (long fine hair) in the East Bay, but Irina really listens to the look you're going for. Her recommendations are always specific to your hair type, and I leave feeling less like I always have bedhead and more like I could be an art gallery girl in west village (iykyk).

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Lili Hair Salon

4.1(182 reviews)

0.6 mi•Downtown Berkeley

Excellent blow dry and color each time. Irene and staff are very helpful and talented.read more

She was so nice and often asked if the length of the cut was what I wanted…read more Price is definitely better than most places and she welcomes walks in.

New hours

Haircut by Jen

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Hair before

La Petite Hair Salon

4.5(223 reviews)

1.5 mi

I'd been in Berkeley for three weeks straight, about two weeks past my last haircut, and the…read moresituation was becoming untenable. I was not scheduled to return to LA for several more weeks. We were having an 87-degree day in West Berkeley, which -- for those unfamiliar -- is hot for West Berkeley, a neighborhood where the default setting is breezy and cloudy and lovely and sixty-three degrees, the kind of microclimate that lets you own one jacket and never think about it. Eighty-seven degrees in West Berkeley is an event. Eighty-seven degrees with hair that's two weeks past due is a crisis. I have Asian hair. I've written about this before. It is coarse and thick and grows outward like a porcupine asserting its personal space, and my coping mechanism in Los Angeles was to throw $85 at a hipster barbershop every three weeks to make it stop. This worked in the way that all expensive coping mechanisms work -- reliably, but at a cost that quietly compounds until one day you do the annual math and feel ill. 2026 being what it is, and a dollar these days being asked to do about a dollar forty's worth of work, I needed a new tack. I asked an AI assistant for a good cheap haircut in Berkeley and got several suggestions, which I then searched on Yelp -- yes, the very Yelp you are looking at, imagine that -- for reviews. One thing I noticed about La Petite was that people mentioned Asian women cutting hair there, and the photos confirmed it. I had a thought, the kind of thought that sounds reductive when you say it out loud but is grounded in lived experience: Asian women probably know how to deal with hair like mine. This is not a stereotype. This is pattern recognition developed over decades of watching non-Asian barbers stare at my head with the quiet bewilderment of someone asked to solve a math problem in a language they don't speak. No shade intended, just facts. So I gave La Petite a go. You watch closely when someone new is cutting your hair. You can't help it. You're tracking every snip in the mirror, reading their hands the way you'd read a stranger's driving in the first five minutes of a road trip -- are we safe here, does this person know what they're doing, should I have said something three turns ago. About halfway through, I watched her take volume out of my hair in a way that hadn't been done in years -- not just trimming the length but actually understanding the architecture of thick Asian hair, where the bulk lives, how it falls, how it will eventually grow out, where it needs to be thinned so it lies flat instead of projecting horizontally from your skull like it's staging a protest. She knew. I knew she knew. I had my new stylist. Twenty-eight dollars. Twenty-eight dollars, and I walked out with the best haircut I've had in longer than I'd like to admit. That's $57 left over from what I was paying in LA -- enough to buy groceries, or three martinis at happy hour, or a pizza at June's, or whatever you buy when you realize you've been dramatically overpaying for a basic human service because you confused a cool neighborhood and exposed brick with competence. La Petite has neither exposed brick nor a cocktail menu. What it has is someone who looked at my difficult hair and knew exactly what to do with it, which is the only thing that has ever mattered and the only thing I'm paying for from now on.

I went to get a haircut Friday afternoon for a special occasion and showed them exactly what I…read morewanted: a classic Ben Affleck Bruce Wayne-style haircut with regular-sized sideburns, just like the character. They asked me if I was graduating, and I said no, I was meeting my fiancée's mom the next day. Five minutes before the haircut was finished, the stylist took a big chunk off my right sideburn. She cut it too high, which ruined the whole haircut, especially since my face shape doesn't suit short sideburns. I told her I didn't like it. I didn't overreact or yell, I was just uncomfortable. The hairdresser said, "Too bad!" and tried to dismiss the issue. I told her again that she should have asked me about the length. She then took it personally and told her boss that I was making things up so I wouldn't pay, saying, "They do this so they don't pay." What do you mean by "they"? Not only did I feel dismissed and treated unprofessionally, but also disrespected. I was upset after the whole situation, but even then I was willing to pay and didn't want to leave without paying because I didn't want to prove her point. Plus, it's not that expensive. At the end, the stylist said she had 40 years of experience. Well, after this, it feels like you wasted 40 years and somehow skipped the basics of customer service. Not coming back, even after being offered a free haircut. I would rather pay three times what I paid today for a standard service where you're treated with basic courtesy.

Quick trim with long layers and slight face framing

La Petite Hair Salon - A photo of me later on in the day after I got a haircut at La Petite in 2016. I show this photo to all the stylists I go to as a reference.

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A photo of me later on in the day after I got a haircut at La Petite in 2016. I show this photo to all the stylists I go to as a reference.

Fox and Belle Salon

4.9(241 reviews)

1.8 mi•West Berkeley

Fox and Belle has quickly become my go-to hair salon, Reena always gives me such a gorgeous…read morehaircut, she has an eye for what will look best & really understands the craft. I've been coming here for a couple of years now & have always left feeling really happy with my hair, everyone seems really knowledgeable and on top of that they are also such friendly & sweet people.

I made an appointment with Cristi and am very glad I did so! She was very careful about how to go…read moreabout coloring my hair as I had already had highlights done. I really appreciated that she took the time to separate the strands of hair that were already bleached, so as to not damage them further. Overall, I am super happy with the results!

New mom hair included Highlights, Root Shadow, Gloss toner with Vichida and Maritza

Blonde Highlights, Root Shadow, Gloss toner with Lynn

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Bronde Highlights, Root Shadow, Gloss toner with Linda

Vika Beauty Salon

4.6(227 reviews)

0.9 mi•West Berkeley

I walked in this week with very healthy hair and left with extreme heat damage, fried ends and…read morechunky uneven yellow highlights. When I stand in the sun, my hair is actually transparent. Virginia, you refunded my payment (thank you) and I wasn't sure whether to write this. I loved the haircuts I got from you before. But you cannot experiment on people's hair like this. And after this I do not think you should be coloring people's hair at all. I asked you directly before we started if you had knowledge and experience with blonde highlights and you said multiple times yes, and that you definitely could make it happen. But it turned out you had no idea how to do blonde bleach, let alone balayage. Once you rinsed out the bleach and saw how bad it looked, you didn't stop what you were doing to share what had happened. Instead of showing me the results, you applied a super-hot curling wand to give me a big hairstyle so I wouldn't notice the highlights. The wand on the new bleach left it with intense heat damage. The hair is falling out as I write this and my whole head stinks of burnt hair. This did not need to happen - you could have simply told me the truth, that you have no idea what you're doing with blonde highlights, and I would have been able to find someone who does, and my hair would still be healthy right now. Please let me be the last person this happens to.

I came to Vika Beauty Salon to get the haircut that I didn't get at the last place I went to…read more Virginia referenced my inspo pic a few times and asked questions along the way to ensure she was getting me exactly what I asked for. I have paid far more for lesser quality cuts. She is friendly, detailed, and efficient. I mentioned to her the other reviews that suggest booking far in advance but she said that it only gets busy around the holidays. I was able to get a booking within a week in mid-January. Leave a voicemail and she will get back to you in a timely manner.

Tonsure

Virginia is a master stylist.

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Keter Salon - 4th&U

4.5(716 reviews)

1.9 mi•West Berkeley

Alex is a great stylist! Alex was very knowledgable and my haircut turned out beautiful! I can't…read morewait to go back for the next cut with Alex again!

This is the BEST salon I've ever been to. Nick is a miracle worker. I've never had better haircuts…read morein my entire life than the six months I lived in Berkeley. I've also never been a regular hair-cut getter, but Nick changed all of that. I got three haircuts in six months and every time it got better. He would cut my hair in such a way that it dried with perfect texture and layering, without any additional heat tools. I brought several friends to see Nick as well, and he did a fantastic job with each of their hair types and textures as well. Cannot recommend him enough!!!

Huge makeover from long to short

After 1 year we cut 7inches of and gave our client a fresh new look!

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Bespoke graduation from our junior stylist Jess

Edge Hair Salon

4.2(369 reviews)

1.0 mi•Telegraph Ave

If you go to edge hair salon, ask for Anna! She is the most experienced stylist and the only one…read morethere that knows how to perm coarse, short Asian hair. I've been going to Anna for almost two years now and have gone through so many different hairstyles. I feel happy and confident after each time. She is also such a joy and delight to talk with. On top of all this, the price is so affordable for the quality of haircut and experience. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do! Thank you Anna!

I just saw Anna for a perm (my first perm ever) and had a fantastic experience. Anna was so kind…read moreand communicated well throughout the process. The results were perfect, I will definitely be back.

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Wood Salon

4.6(492 reviews)

1.0 mi•Elmwood

Locally owned & operated

Family-owned & operated

Emma is incredible! She completely rescued my badly damaged hair and gave me the most amazing…read morebalayage. She listened perfectly to what I wanted and executed it flawlessly. Highly recommend her if you want a stylist who genuinely cares and has amazing skill!

Went to Annika yesterday for a long overdue trim and she did amazinggg work!! Absolutely love it.read more

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Shear Perfection Hair Salon Berkeley

4.9(74 reviews)

1.1 mi•Telegraph Ave

Ja is amazing! I went as a first time walk-in and she was able to fit me in her schedule (and I…read moreleft within a half hour). I had been looking for a spot that knows how to cut Asian hair (I have stubbornly straight, thick hair) as I was looking to get a textured mod cut, and I scored! Ja delivered what I asked for and I left feeling really satisfied with my new chop. If you're looking for a locally owned, affordable, sweet and friendly salon, Shear Perfection is it : )! Thank you, Ja!

She is an amazing hairstylist with so much experience. I walked in and almost immediately got sat…read moredown. She executed my haircut perfectly. She's a great conversationalist. Super affordable - especially if you're a student. Fun fact: she has painted all of the artwork in her studio!

Photo of my brand new haircut, after shower, no styling

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Lhasa Hair Salon

4.3(203 reviews)

1.2 mi•Downtown Berkeley

Had a wonderful experience at Lhasa! I got a dry cut by Biyan(?) (did not know spelling) for $35…read more She was very careful and attentive to the details during the cut and made sure I liked the length and layering. It was a very relaxing experience and I would go again if I need a cut. Very reasonable pricing too Made an appointment online but they take walkins (there could be be a 20 min wait though). They have two chairs.

This is my go to hair spot. Love that it's minority women owned, and also that I can call any day…read moreand usually they can squeeze me in. The price is very reasonable and they do a good job. It's no thrills - so don't expect a hair wash/head massage, or a beverage while you are there.

Waiting for haircut

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Getting my hair cut!

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Zoe F.

12

0

4 years ago

I came to have my hair braided for three weeks in the desert with a vague vision (and partial photo) of a braided-mohawk. Not only was Fatou unbelievably fast (it took an hour and half and that was with trying some different styles) and meticulous, but I have never received so many compliments on what turned out to be a unique design. I've never felt better and the braids remained tight and smooth for quite a long time. I highly recommend her services, her artistry, and her incredible skills! read more

Qiana R.

0

9

3

6 years ago

The staff is nice, very friendly and clean. They get right to work and work very fast. I love that they work as a family and help each other. read more

Le Balafon African Braiding Salon - hair - Updated October 2026

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Miss Medina did an amazing job braiding my daughter's hair! The braids were tight, neat, looked…read morebeautiful, and lasted really well. After dealing with lice multiple times this school year, we really needed a way to keep my daughter's hair pulled back and manageable without the daily fights over brushing, tangles, and knots. A friend suggested having it professionally braided, and it has been such a game changer for us. Her hair stays neat and out of the way, mornings are so much easier, and we haven't had another lice issue since. I highly recommend Miss Medina if you're looking for someone who does beautiful, long-lasting braids. We will absolutely be back!

I found Take It Down Braids on a fluke. I called and they were able to fit me in last minute…read more This is a small African shop run by what I believe is mother and daughter. They are sweet women. It took about 4 hours to get my hair down (1 person) and they only charged me about $80 so I ended up paying $100 in total with tip. The only thing I can honestly say I didn't like about the shop is the chair. They weren't very comfortable at all to me (neck and back). They needs chairs that can sit lower while they sit higher or chairs that support the neck. That and that it was very hot in there. I kept having to ask them to open the door so we could get some air. Lastly, I think they should offered water and even a few snacks (for purchase or for free) options for their customers. You want to give people an experience and have them want to return and tell all of their friends. Overall it was a good experience and I will return, next time a little more prepared.

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The people that work in this salon are so nice and helpful. I went to get my hai done and the…read morestylist provided me with some styles and it turned out great.

I went to GlamSity to get a sew in as part of a Mayvenn hair promotion. I was paired up with…read moreMonique who was exceptionally kind and responsive with setting an appointment. The problem I had was the job she did on my hair. The braids were extremely loose and not laid down correctly. The technique she used to braid my hair didn't have a pattern and looked and felt like she just sewed the braid to one side of my head. Yes one side. This caused the weave to look super lumpy and crooked. Although I didnt pay for this sew in because it promotion from Mayvenn hair where if you buy 3 bundles you get to get paired with a hairstylist to do a sew in, I feel as though the company should closely choose their stylist because the job i received wasn't from someone who had 7+ years in braiding experience. It was terrible and had to take it out the next day. She also didn't leave enough hair out around the crown of my head so the tracks were extremely visible aside from my whole head looking lumpy. I would never go back even if it was free a second time. Let alone pay 250$ which is Monique's sew in price.

Head Trips Salon

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Vibes nice and L Boogie is Will see about her soon I'm way overdue and she always got me right…read more... All love Ras T

Adom Hair Braiding

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adore my hair! Yaa is a great stylist, she listens to what you want and delivers! I was nervous…read morebecause I hadn't had crochet before but my nerves lifted as soon as I saw how beautiful my hair came out. I went with human hair for the install. Her prices are competitive and worth it in my opinion! I look forward to my next style!

Very loving, very comforting environment i love how my hair came out (which I knew Yaa would do as…read morethat).

Akwaba braids by Mamou

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I wish I could rate the quality of the work, the vibe, or the service, but I was never served! I…read morebooked a braid takedown appointment and no one showed up for my appointment. I don't know if they need to fix their booking site (also unclear if it's Booksy or Vagaro but I found and booked them through Booksy). I had an appointment scheduled for 10 AM and it's now 10:25 AM and the salon door is still closed. I should've known when I called multiple times and never got a call back, but I know how the aunties can be, so I figured I would just show up to my confirmed appointment time and be fine. Nope, no show to my appointment. Very disappointing.

My daughter got her hair braided here on Monday, and unfortunately, we were both very disappointed…read morewith the outcome. A full week before the appointment, I submitted a photo of the exact style we wanted to ensure there was no confusion. The style she received looked nothing like the reference photo. Not only was my daughter unhappy, but I also reached out to express our concerns. Rather than being met with any accountability or effort to fix the situation, I was simply told to spend more money with them. It became clear that the priority wasn't customer satisfaction, but profit. This experience is exactly why it's difficult to support some small businesses--when quality and service take a backseat to making money. I genuinely tried to resolve this issue respectfully, but given the response and the poor results, I will not be returning or recommending this salon to others.

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I've really been struggling with my hair and trying to find new things to do with it and Manty has…read morebeen a dream. I honestly wanted to gatekeep and not share this review with anyone but that's not fair to her. She is really excellent - - provides great service, listens to your request. and her shop always has a calming vibe.

Studio 99 Weaves

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I HAD MY HAIR N FOR ABOUT 4 HOURS AND HAD TO TAKE IT OUT!!!! 2 OF THOSE HOURS I WAS DRIVING. I LET…read moreTHE LADY (OWNER) KNOW RIGHT AWAY ABOUT THE ISSUE. SHE TOLD ME TO GO W A RATTAIL COME AND RRY TO LOOSE. IT. UMMM HOW. I TRIED AND STILL NOTHING. I SHOWED HER PICTURES IF HOW MY SKIN WAS PULLING AND TURNING WHITE AND YOU CAN C THE FOLLICLES BEING PULLED. HAD TO TAKE IT OUT RIGHT AWAY. Sucks, because i gave her 250 and hair was over 400 . So I'm was out of 700 plus with gas, parking ticket and service. I have 4 kids and that could have def been given to them.. i only requested 125 back. She said ok then the games started. My time is more valuable than 125 so I just blocked her eventually and told her God bless and moved on w life. Life is too short! Chop it up as a loss and a lesson! She seems to be a nice person, however nice isn't going to fix the fact that I went there and my hair was way too tight. I don't live in the area, I'm 2hrs away so I couldn't go back to have it redone. I told her right away upon getting home that my hair was way too tight and I tried to modify it and cut parts that are tight out. Still did not work. I think she started rushing towards the end as another client showed up and did not realize how tight she was doing my hair. My hair was so tight I started throwing up. I called Er and spoke to a colleague there as I'm n the med field and she told me it's imperative to take it down if I don't get relief after trying to cut a few. I called her again she and she said she will redo it if I come back. Mind you my bday was the next day and my daughter's bday was the day after so I couldn't. I gave her a great tip bc she took me last min and seemed genuine at first so I was like u know what I'll just get half of what I paid back. She said to call her on face time to show her I took it down and so I did just as she asked. She didn't answer. I then texted her and she said oh I left my phone at shop. So I told her now bc I was using someone else's phone I no longer have access to ft but I can send pictures. I could have even showed her a picture of me and wrote a date on it. She didn't want that. I showed her a picture the night I took it down of my hair and the frontal completely lifted out. So fast forward she tells me no she's not going to do it and she needs a ft mind u I had already tried calling her at the exact time she told me to. I told her it's cool I'm not guna go back and fourth with you God bless and I left it alone. I do not need to lie about taking my hair down!!! It kind of had a wiggish look but I was happy that she was accommodating and agreed to do it. Now I 100% regret it. I got a parking ticket as she talked and showed me pictures the full first 1 and some mins before actually even doing my hair. So overall I wouldn't return. The service was ok but overall it's a No for me. Business is business and that's OK. Hope everything works out w how she handles hers! OVERALL THE ISSUE WAS MY HAIR WAS WAYYYY TO TIGHT. NO WAY ANYONE COULS HAVE DEALT WITH IT BEING THAT TIGHT. I GET MY HAIR SEWN IN BY SOMEONE ELSE AND NEVER EVER HAD THIS ISSUE Cons. Wiggish look of the sew in Rushed towards the end as another client came in Hair wayyy to tight Pros Nice Came in as a same day appointment within 1.5hr

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