I don't typically leave negative reviews unless I genuinely feel the experience warrants one…read more
This review is a serious warning to anyone with African-American hair, African kinky hair, coily hair, or highly textured curly hair: please think twice before booking services here. Based on my experience, this salon clearly does not have the knowledge, technique, or experience necessary to properly work with these hair textures.
I booked two appointments for my daughters at Blo Blow Dry Bar in Sugar Land, Texas for basic wash-and-blowout services. Before booking, I clearly noted in the appointment comments that my daughters have African kinky/coily hair textures.
Prior to the appointment, the salon called and asked whether I could come earlier because they were unsure if the stylists would be able to complete the service within the scheduled timeframe due to my daughters' hair texture. Although I explained that I work until 5 PM, I still rearranged my schedule and came earlier so they could assess my daughters' hair beforehand.
When we arrived, I again specifically asked whether the stylists had experience working with African textured hair. One stylist even asked to touch my daughter's hair to feel the texture before beginning. After examining their hair, I was told they may need to charge additional fees for extended styling time, including flat ironing and curling. I clarified multiple times that I was NOT requesting styling, curls, or flat ironing because my daughters were getting braids a couple of days later. I only requested a simple wash-and-blow-dry service.
The stylist then reassured me that, since we only needed wash-and-blow-dry services, extended timing likely would not be necessary.
I arrived at approximately 5:05 PM. My first daughter was taken back around 5:15 PM, and my second daughter approximately 10-15 minutes later. Both services were completed within less than 45 minutes before the discussion about additional charges came up.
At no point was I clearly informed that additional charges would definitely apply. I was only told they would "let me know" if extra time became necessary.
After the appointments were completed, I was unexpectedly charged an additional $15 per child for "extended blow drying." The final results absolutely did not reflect the price charged. For approximately $70 per child for a basic wash-and-blow-dry service that lasted barely 45 minutes, I expected significantly better results and far more experience handling textured hair.
What made the experience even more disappointing was how uncomfortable and demeaning the overall interaction felt. We regularly visit other salons, including Cherry Blow Dry Bar, and have never experienced this level of discomfort or lack of professionalism regarding our hair texture. At one point, after seeing the final results, I genuinely asked the stylist whether she was proud of the work completed because the outcome did not reflect the pricing, the added fees, or the level of service we were promised.
See attached photos of what approximately $70 per child looked like after a basic wash-and-blow-dry appointment. The photos speak for themselves. I also have time-stamped iPhone photos confirming both my visit and the condition of my daughters' hair immediately after the service, before anyone attempts to dispute that we were there.
My issue is not simply the additional charge. It is the lack of transparency, the disappointing results, and the feeling that my concerns were not taken seriously despite communicating everything clearly upfront before the appointment.
If a salon is not experienced with textured African hair, it is completely acceptable to say so honestly before accepting appointments, charging families additional fees, and delivering subpar results. Customers deserve transparency, professionalism, honesty, and respectful treatment.
