Salon P is located on Harford Road in the Hamilton-area of Baltimore near a relatively busy…read moreintersection. There is metered parking directly in front of the salon, but if you're okay with walking a bit farther, you can park for free around the corner on the nearby residential street.
The salon is pretty big. The receptionist area is complete with refreshments and products on display for sale. There is a waiting area in the center of the salon with plenty of seating, and the shampoo and beauty stations surround it. The bathroom is clean and located in the back of the salon.
I got my hair done here at the recommendations of multiple people in local neighborhood Facebook group that I am a part of. I asked for recommendations for salons that specialize in African American natural hair, and of all of the recommendations that I received, Salon P was the only to have answered my phone call.
I had been natural for over 7 years, and I wear my hair in a loose natural state. I wash my hair once a week (alternating between shampooing and cowashing every other wash). I have been very hesitant to go into a salon to have my hair cared for because I have found that finding a salon that actually specializes in natural hair can be tough, and as result of this I have resorted to dusting my own ends in between proper cuts. I was due for a cut and I was prepared to have my hair basically chopped off. With my last salon cut my hair ended up being really layered, and I prefer a more uniform, one-length cut.
I arrived for my appointment at 11:45am on a Wednesday, because I wanted to leave ample time to find parking and locate the salon. The salon had about two clients, but I was later informed that the salon is typically busier, but was less busy due to the Holiday season. The owner, Tina, came over to me at 12pm on the dot (I really appreciated the punctuality), and asked me how she could help me. I explained to her that I was natural and that I was hoping to achieve a one-length cut. I also told her that I was hoping to only have my hair washed, blow-dried, and cut, as I save flat-ironing my hair for special occasions. I showed her some pictures of the cut that I wanted and she set to work.
She started by washing my hair and applying a protein treatment. I'm used to washing my hair in sections and gently combing my hair from end to root with a tangle teezer, but because I know that my hair is resilient, I allowed her to brush my hair with a paddle brush and rat-tooth comb, just with the hope that the cut would be the one that I requested.
After blow drying my hair, she cut my hair and then put it into two French braids as I requested. The total came to $45 for a wash, blow dry, and cut. I gave her $10 tip. I thought the price was reasonable, because I've had the same service done at another salon in the area and they charged nearly double what Salon P charged.
After I left the salon, I went to the gym. After the gym I immediately washed my hair with a clarifying shampoo, and followed with a deep conditioner, because I wasn't sure what sulfates were used in the process of having hair done. I'm not completely sure that the salon specializes in natural hair, just because some of the information provided to me about natural hair maintenance conflicted with everything that I know to be true about natural hair, but I'm happy with the cut and I will likely return in the future with washed, detangled, and blow dried hair to have my hair trimmed.
So overall, if you're looking for natural hair salon this might not be it. If you're natural looking for a place to have your hair cut and your hair is resilient (meaning it can withstand rough paddle brushing and rat tooth combing), then this could be a decent option. If you have relaxed hair, I think this salon is very good option!
I rated them three-stars, because my hair reverted to its natural texture after being washed with sulfates and straightened with a blow dryer, and my hair is length that I requested that it be cut to. This rating is obviously subjective, because I have resilient hair. I really would caution against someone with natural hair going to this salon and actually expecting "natural hair care". There was little "care" involved.
