I am sorry to write a negative review, especially for a local Black and woman owned business! I had originally made an appointment online to get my daughter's hair braided on Friday August 7th. A scheduling conflict came up so I called the salon on Thursday and had a nice conversation with a worker (owner? bad on me for not getting the name) and we were able to reschedule to Monday the 10th at 3:15pm. My daughter was SO excited! We arrived at the salon a little before 3:15pm, and no one was there, shop was closed and locked. After 10 minutes, I called the same number I had used on Thursday (shop number) and left a message. We ended up waiting for 30 minutes, I called one more time and no one came. My daughter was absolutely devastated as she had been waiting to get braids for a while. No return phone call or follow up from this shop. I can understand if it was just human error and they had forgotten to write down or reschedule the appointment...but ignoring multiple calls without following up to apologize or clarify what had happened was disappointing and unprofessional. Unfortunately can not recommend. read more

it has been a few weeks thinking about this and i've come to the conclusion that victoria put knots in multiple braids along my hairline / fine baby hairs on purpose. i just lost almost 3 complete strands along my hairline that the braids were attached to. I looked in the mirror very closely at these pieces and it was some kind of pattern (not 3 strands, almost impossible to take out without damaging and some of the hairs i could only untangle by gently pulling them up through this knot she created which is exactly why i know of was it was intentional.) i don't know if this is her method but i have never noticed it this bad before and it caused me to lose even more hair in these sensitive areas that i just expressed the sensitivity of these areas to her at my appointment in May 2025. She shows absolutely no care. Probably bitter because she couldn't manipulate me into paying her 400 dollars for her BS inconsistent work. I have 2 of the strands with knots in them and i plan on having someone else look at them closely because it truly looks like she knotted up my hair on purpose and I may see what I can do financially about this. I am sure there are other great braiders here, but Victoria has been off putting multiple times, and has shown me little to no care when it comes to my hair or hair care. I've never struggled to take my braids out like this, she did something different, something intentional that completely damaged the most sensitive area of my hair. My hair used to thrive after braids. My original review: I ask for the same thing every time I go and am met with confusing uncomfortable conversations surrounding price. For years the prices on the website were either inaccurate or not honored by this particular braider but I never argued. I was ignored when I reached out to the phone number provided, with questions regarding this. In 2025, I had an appointment in May and an appointment in December. I asked for the same braid service and braid size. My braids in May were great, the braids I got last month (Dec 2025), not so much. Barely lasted two weeks and I have type 4 hair. A braid fell out, 2 weeks in. She gave me bigger braids and parts. I don't expect perfect consistency but at the same time, the price is largely based on size. read more

Rika did a great job with my mermaid braids! We talked about all the different options before she started braiding, and I had some pictures of what I was looking for. Rika told me exactly what to expect, and then delivered. Couldn't be happier! read more

The Braid Bar - Mermaid braids - Hair Salons Near Me - Oakland, California

Rika is amazing another great experience. Love my hair and again she was efficient and fast. read more

The Braid Bar - Hair Salons Near Me - Oakland, California

I was super impressed with how fast & skillful Rika wove 1 bundle of hair into my super baby fine hair. she gave me tips on how to keep caring for my hair & ideas I can try next time to have a full & long look despite my natural hair being small. thank you! I felt well taken care of! glad I found her! read more

The Braid Bar - Hair Salons Near Me - Oakland, California

A family friend recommended The Braid Bar for both my older daughter's first braids. I love the efficiency of booking an appointment online and I had many questions that they were happy to answer via text. We arrived and our braiders were prompt and walked us through the pricing and style before getting started. After, both my daughters LOVED their hair! Rika one of the owners made us feel right at home and the entire vibe was perfect, including a comfy couch to wait on and small fridge for complimentary water. What a great first experience! We love Braid Bar!!! read more

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I have been a customer for 5 years and now that I've chosen to move on from her service the owner is refusing to return my wigs and prepayment! Please don't make the same mistake I did. She would make the service more expensive depending on who the client was. I just don't want anyone else to get cheated and lied to. And she would change appointment dates and times with me with no notice or regard for my schedule. And when her work started to deteriorate I decided to move forward with another stylist. She doesn't have any business sense so watch out! I regret ever working with her. I was cheated and retaliated against. She has no respect for the client and certainly none for the money they spend. Look for hidden charges and personal threats and attacks should you decide to get your hair and braids done elsewhere or request she return your product or money for prepaid services. read more

Damn right The Braid Bar is as good as it gets! And not only because it is Local and black owned! But, also because: The Bar is a Beautiful, professional shop with multiple chairs and inviting interior, (there's tons of candy). The most impressive aspect of the Braid Bar is that there are plenty of stylists, assistants and booths. They have their own well-stocked beauty supply within the salon; that carries rare hair colors and hot new accessories - that I adore because I love having braids and playing up my styles. There doesn't seem to be any unnecessarily long waits and no shortage of hands like some traditional shops. Finally, I've actually never had my done here but I have the pleasure of being friends with Ricky, who works at the shop. He always does a beautiful job on my hair during our private sessions, and is very gentle and has so many years of knowledge. read more

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I have been coming to the braid bar since 2016, and I have never been disappointed with my braids or my services. The professionalism is outstanding. Rika is amazing at what she does as a black business owner in the Bay Area and continues to serve her clients even through COVID. I will continue to patron here and I recommend The Braid Bar. I receive so many compliments from people when I wear my braids and that is all thanks to The Braid Bar. Thank you Rika! Thank you Victoria for doing my knot less braids , I love them read more

Love my hair per usual ! Rika is amazing ! She works with clients with Alopecia ! Requested private appointment and salon was able to accommodate! read more

I can't believe I didn't leave a review last time I was here. The Braid Bar is my new fave hair salon. The stylists are sweet and treat you like friends. I had fun talking with Star as she braided up my hair. She's a braiding expert and fast too! Favorite topics were Housewives and Coachella. It's a comfy salon with floor length mirrors in front of you to watch the whole process. Their theme is purple which is done very nicely. They moved to this new location in Berkeley a year ago but seem to have fixed up the place just fine. Rika did my hair and it came out wonderfully. I love getting sew ins and she knows how to make it look natural and beautiful. Also had fun conversations with her, which puts you at ease knowing your stylist isn't a stiff robot with their hands in your hair. Awesome place, looking forward to booking my next appointment soon like as in tomorrow! read more

The Braid Bar - Hair Salons Near Me - Oakland, California

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Great customer service. Brought my girl in for a new style and they hooked her up. Very nice and professional. Plus her hair is

I had passed by this place numerous of times and admired the posters outside their salon. After reading the Yelp reviews, I made an appointment paid the fee and was so excited about my hair getting braided. Pros: clean environment, relaxed (dimly lit), good movies, staff and customers chilled Cons: I purchased the hair at their salon. 1) they had no 1b and the hair was cheap 2) the initial stylist that was to braid my hair was not available and another was assigned Once the stylist finished my hair, and I was able to see my hair in the mirror; I was speechless. It was not what I envisioned, nor was the style I requested. I got to colors and it just didn't work the way it was arranged. I just wanted out - my hair was a hot mess. Oh wow, I should have kept passing this place by. Needless to say, I just wore my braids in a bun, soon after took it down. Remember KeKe on Webster Ave, anyone know where she is? read more

3.5 stars. Because I couldn't get what I originally wanted. I don't think they do jumbo braids, although they say they do. My style despite it not being what I wanted, turned out nice. Just smaller than I planned originally. I've been here a few times over the years. The issue I tend to have, but still keep the hope ha, is that the communication between scheduling and the braider is never clear. I wanted a specific style. I shared a photo of what I wanted when requesting an appointment to make sure a braider could do that design. If not, I would have found another braid shop. As I wanted that design. But they booked me, which to me meant they could do the jumbo braid style. I wanted the large separated out jumbo braids down your back. The day of my appointment I get there and my braider asks if I'm getting singles. Which I knew then she hadn't talked to anyone about my style. I wasn't sure if they called them singles, so I showed her the same photos I sent when making my appointment. My braider seemed confused. I tried explaining the best I could, but I'm not a braider. It was clear she didn't know how to do what I wanted, not to her fault. The person I asked and who booked me should have made sure the braider could do the design. I decided to just let her do large braids, but they were not jumbo like I wanted. Because I didn't want her trying a style she doesnt usually do. I have never been able to get the size braids or twists I ask for. I thought asking specifically this time and sending photos would help. But not so much. They tend to braid small here, or want you to go smaller. Not sure if jumbo braids hurt their hands. But then be honest with customers and say you don't do jumbo styles. As a returning customer it was a bit disappointing that I couldn't honestly be told they don't do jumbo braids. I would have went else where for them and then return here whenever I wanted regular sized individuals. So advice. If you have your heart set on a braid style. I'd try to speak to someone in person maybe to consult and make sure they book a braider that can do the style you are seeking. Best! read more

This was by far the worst hair braiding experience I've ever had. There were several issues but these were the main ones--first, the person who did my knotless braids doesn't do the method all other braiders have used. She basically did a tiny braid of my own hair and then added extensions rather than feeding in the extensions from the beginning. This meant she pulled my hair very tight even though I asked several times for her to not make them so tight. It's been five days and my head is still sore and I'm considering just taking the braids out. Second, the hair braider tried to tell me the price was $150 more than what was stated on the website and what I had confirmed when I called. I eventually had her call the manager who agreed to the lower price, but this was after much arguing and my asking how to get my deposit back. Third, after reading the reviews I made an appointment with one person (the owner) but my appointment was with someone else. I was never alerted that there would be this switch. While I understand that there was a family emergency I wish I'd been told. Fourth, the person who braided my hair basically argued whenever I pointed something out. My hair was different lengths when she was done braiding and she kept insisting it was the same. Then she finally agreed it was different but said most people don't have the braids in front of their shoulders so she was measuring the length just from the back. She was generally unpleasant and was irritated because the appointment ran longer than she had expected it to. This was in part because while I'd been told I could purchase hair there and had confirmed this a few days prior, they did not have the hair. I had to Uber to/from a beauty supply store to purchase the hair. While I don't like writing negative reviews because I can appreciate that it's challenging running a small business, I think people should know when a business treats customers this way. As is, I'm out hundreds of dollars for a style that is painful, isn't truly knotless, and that I now have to remove because I don't want my hair to break. There was also the overall attitude of the person who braided my hair. While again I can appreciate that she was frustrated, there was no reason to take out this frustration on me. read more

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful! Victoria did knot less braids for my 13-yr old daughter today. She was fast and her braids are perfect. She was also friendly as was the shop owner. Thank you, Braid Bar! read more

Service was fast, efficient, and amazing! I asked for boho knotless braids and I brought the hair that was needed. Unfortunately the human hair bundles I purchased were bad quality but my braider was able to improvise. My appointment was pushed back but Nikky is an amazing braider and she accomplished everything I was looking for. I was also concerned about the tension on my natural hair and Nikky took great steps to make sure she did not braid my hair too tight. I also appreciate the amazing customer service and the instructions for braid care. Overall I had an amazing experience and will def be a returning client! read more

More braids more braids more braids! Back with Vivian! Today we go pink and platinum. read more

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I can't really recommend the Braid Bar. I used to visit every few months to get my hair done and loved it, but since my current braider is busy with school and my birthday's coming up I had to find an alternative. Since I previously had good experiences there I decided to go back and right off the bat, the stylist was 30 minutes late. I confirmed my appointment a bit late because my phone had broken the morning prior, so I could be understanding of that. HOWEVER, once I got in the chair and showed her the hair I brought she called it cheap, plastic and that it was better fit for a child's style (for reference the hair I brought was: Sensationnel African Collection in Blue/Lavendar) Even though I had seven packs of hair she insisted that it wasn't enough, (I usually only six packs and brought the seventh as a precaution) and honestly was just rough with my head. When she "ran out of hair" (which, given how much she was putting in each braid isn't a surprise) she said I could walk to their other location and purchase the same brand, even though at the start of the appointment she called the hair "cheap" and "plastic looking." She got done around four and honestly, I'm not satisfied with this. I get jumbo braids/twists all the time and they look uniform. Right now, my twists have varying widths and various lengths. There's one in particular in the front that is just longer than the rest and I don't understand WHY. I also don't understand why when I told her I wanted a part, she made it so stated. Usually I get lots of compliments on how my hair looks, I've had multiple people quietly comment that it looks like my hair was done by a child or by a friend at a sleepover. I pay my normal braider $100 for braids that are cleaner, better looking and actually styled the way I've asked. Maybe it was just a one-time thing, but it's enough to make me say maybe you should look for alternatives before making an appointment here. read more

I've been to the Braid Bar twice already and today was my third day. I'm not sure why it took me so long to post a review, but I finally am now! Love the Braid Bar, Everytime I go in to get my hair done, I come out looking fly! I've gotten Senegalese twists by Vivian, goddess braids by Ashley, and today a full sew in with a closure and everytime it's been reasonably priced for a 5 star job done. Rika (the owner) did my full sew in with a closure and I couldn't be happier. She is so sweet and easy to talk to! Furthermore, whatever problems you have whether it be price, a certain look, or scheduling she's more than willing to help. My sew in turned out very sleek/neat, not too tight, very flat braids and very pretty. She definitely did a job well done! I will definitely be back for more when I get the chance. Please give her and her stylists at the Braid Bar a chance and you won't be disappointed! read more

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I went here recently when I could not get in with my usual braider....... I get my hair braided 3-5 times a year, so this was not my first rodeo. I was able to set the appointment up via text. I had to pay $25 in advance for a deposit and send proof. Ok. They sent pics of prices and width, and I sent pictures of the look I wanted. I thought we were on the same page. Day of, I show up a few minutes early. The braider was 15 late. No discount provided, although under their policy, if a customer is late the customer is charged. strike 1. Then after she did a row of braids my braider left to get food....... Not ok when she was already late to start. strike 2 around 2 her afternoon appointment showed up. If she had just gone to say hi, I will get to you when I finish, no problem. She greeted the other person, and spent about 20 minutes showing an assistant how to prep hair for the other customer. strike 3 Also, the braids shown to me for prices were NOT the same ones sent to me over text. The price was SIGNIFICANTLY higher than what had been discussed before. But, they KNOW at that point, you've prepped your hair, scheduled around it, and you're stuck. Also, it was incredibly loud inside the shop. My hair looks cute, but I won't be returning. It was more trouble than it was worth. read more

This is the best braid I ever got in my LIFEE. I love Vivian she was so sweet girl when I told you she is fast she was so fast!!! You couldn't see her fingers because of how fast she was braiding lol. It took her 4 hours to do medium knotless braids that are down my back with highlights idk how she did it but she is soooo neat and sweet and perfectionist loved her. If they were cheaper I'd be here every month but they are worth the price cus quality is A1 read more

The Braid Bar - Medium knotless only 4 hours - Hair Salons Near Me - Oakland, California

I absolutely LOVE this shop, I'm not a long time customer YET. I've only been going to them since June of last year. I'm always greeted with professionally, all the stylist are informative and helpful. Victoria has magic hands she's who i have normally gone too. However I had the pleasure of meeting and having Rika do my hair OMG!!!! She's AMAZING too!!! Ricky is amazing too If anyone is looking to get your hair done it's worth going to them. I know some of you may have questions regarding pricing, first let me just say they will let you know how much it will cost PRIOR to you saying in the chair. Secondly you should keep in mind you get what you pay for, I love quality and trust me my braids stayed good during this pandemic Finally let's help our black own business read more

The Braid Bar - Rika did these braids today I'm love the blend of black and burgundy - Hair Salons Near Me - Oakland, California

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Just left the braid bar from getting my daughter a deep condition blow out and trim. When I first went online to set up the appointment I had to do a $30 deposit. It stated that the total cost would be $85 so I had in my mind I only owed 55 more. The stylist that did my daughters hair. Her name was Nikki. She was not friendly at all barely spoke Any words to my daughter as well as she had her own daughter there in the shop who was all in my face the whole time touching my phone. Once my daughter was done, she informed me that the cost was a total of $95 which was $10 more than what my appointment stated. Definitely feel like I got taken advantage of with the cost that she charged me not to mention how unfriendly she was. I will not be going back here at all. It sucks because I wanted to come back and get my daughter braids. Definitely don't recommend Nikky. And for the cost of all the services that we're done I feel like it was definitely overcharged. I paid $100 total just for a deep condition and trim! No style. read more

Rika is the first Braider that my diva 10 year old had loved and now she will only let Rika touch her hair. She's great with kids and makes you feel very comfortable. They have all the hair there in the shop along with hair care products. I'd recommend this shop to anyone that wants healthy hair. read more

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Lest start off with was very nice, polite, and professional. I had the pleasure of having the owner (Rika) doing my hair. My braids came out exactly how I envisioned them. They provided the hair, which is a plus, and had many color options. I highly recommend The Braid Bar. read more

I booked a stylist for singles I've heard good things about the braiders there. Everything came out fantastic just as I anticipated. Nice and friendly atmosphere & also they have a beauty supply on other side. Would recommend to anyone looking for professional braids read more

I can't say enough good things about my experience at The Braid Bar yesterday. Vivian braided my hair, and I absolutely love it. I have a sensitive scalp and a pretty low pain threshold, so I was nervous about getting braids. Vivian was super gentle, and my scalp doesn't hurt at all. Rika, the owner, is super sweet and knowledgeable. She answered all of the questions I had during our consultation (and I had A LOT of questions). She recommended what size braids to get based on my hair, and she was quick to respond when I had questions via text. The atmosphere in the salon is super chill, yet professional. All the women that work there are incredibly nice, and I felt very comfortable. Which is weird for me, because I'm usually socially awkward. So if I say I felt comfortable, that's huge! Oh and I forgot to mention how fast my hair was braided. I've had friends tell me that it takes anywhere from 8 to 10 hours to get braids. Mine were done in 5 hours. And I got tiny waist length braids. I'm telling you, Vivian has magic hands! I am already planning my next braided style, and am looming forward to going back! read more

The Braid Bar - Braids for days!!!! - Hair Salons Near Me - Oakland, California

Well...some of the reviews were on point..first about price of hair not your usual choice amounts based on size...the smaller the more expensive. Secondly fast does not mean good..it just means quick. My hair was twisted unevenly (really thick then really thin) grade of hair was not good for twist( shouldve brought my own) I knew it was going to be worthless because the person doing my hair dipped it twice and it still was really stiff..she couldn't pull it back into a ponytail. I paid 280 for twists i refused to look at. Wasn't going to write review but 2 and half weeks later i am taking this mess out.. Wasted money read more

Not sure what Sara or Rhonda below are talking about. Sounds like they were having a bad day (or dealing with some personal issues) as this is the best braiding salon in the Bay Area by far... and I've experienced service from MANY braiding salons. I constantly am changing my hair from the style to the color to the length. After years and years of hair altercation processes (extensions [sew ins, u-tip glue ins, micro loop, tape-ins], wigs, hair straightening treatments (Brazilian blowouts, keratin treatments), color processing, etc... I decided to go with something different. I've had a compulsion to get a full set of braids for awhile and I finally decided to pull the trigger. I talked to the owner Rika yesterday, who took his time to discuss different options and fit me in her schedule. Let me tell you, Rika is a hair GODDESS. After a full consultation, we decided on the style, length, part style, and every other detail to ensure we were on the page. It seems nowadays hair stylists have a tendency not to listen and do what THEY want, but not Rika. She was patient, listened, and replicated the exact image I had in mind. Not to mention, Braid Bar has a large selection of hair and she took her time to color match my hair perfectly. The Braid Bar is officially my new hair spot. From the customer service to the talent, they are all around the perfect salon. THANK YOU Rika & The Braid Bar for hooking it up. You will be seeing a lot of me ;) read more

The Braid Bar - So many different braid/twist styles and sizes on showcase! - Hair Salons Near Me - Oakland, California

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The stylists here are talented and braid well. However, I have to say the service here is much to be desired, especially for what they charge. I started coming here, because the reviews said that they have excellent customer service and are professional. The first few times that was true. If I made an appointment for 8 am. We started at 8 am. However, I showed up for my appointment today at 8:10- for and 8 am appointment. I was running late and I texted them. No response. I get to the studio, stand outside for 20 minutes before the stylist arrived. When I texted them, while I was standing at the door, I was told that the stylist was getting food and would be on her way shortly. After prepping the hair that I brought, she then said that she needed eat her food. An hour and 20 minutes into my appointment time is the first time my hair is being touched. I communicated this exact post to the owner via text- no response. They confirm the appointments the day before your appointment time through text. They ask that you confirm or cancel through this communication. I was at work when this text came in and did not see it and couldn't send a response. They then proceeded to text me incessantly to confirm the appointment- I made the appointment! Of course I want it! I eventually texted them back when I was free, but I don't expect to be harassed by a business the day before I am about to drop over $300. I could continue with this review, but why? In summary, come to this business if you want your hair hooked up. However, if you expect anything different then your around the corner-shop-foolishness as it pertains to professionalism- don't. read more

I'm sorry but this place is slow and unprofessional. They are always 10 minutes or more late to start your hair. & not because they're finishing up on someone else but because they started late with them as well. Yes they do have great braiding skills, and the braids look good but they lack professionalism. I've been here 3 times and held back writing a negative review but at this point the same shit happens every time I go in. Plus they charge x3 the price for singles compared to other shops. Go here if you want to look cute but at a cost for your time and energy. It's extremely frustrating to have to wait 10+ minutes for your braider to even arrive. (Happened to me twice). read more

I am really excited about this shop! Rika was so great to communicate with, I was able to message her multiple times on facebook and send her pics of the type of style that I wanted and she answered all my questions. When I got to the shop I only had to wait a few minutes which is rare for hairstylists lol. She had demo braids and twists in a glass case that we could use to discuss pricing based on size. She really took her time and listened to what I wanted! For the longest time I have been saying I don't want a lot of hair added in doing my braids and twists but people just keep putting too much hair and braids and my head ends up looking crazy full. Well Rika really executed what I wanted! And she was able to do it quickly for a fair price. The shop itself was very clean and beautifully decorated with a tv she was happy to give me the remote for. Everyone was professional and friendly. I noticed they do makeup and have a weavologist that does hair color and cuts as well. Very cool place. I will definitely be back and tell my friends who are tired of lazy or ghetto work in someone's living room :) read more

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My experience wasn't bad or amazing either. I decided to get crochet braids from here since they had such great reviews and their braids looked great. My appointment was at 8am and my braider didnt come until 8:06(but they never gave me the 10 dollars off if you're braider comes late, but its not that deep). My braider was pauline and she was nice. My only issue is that this was the first time I ever got crochet braids so I didnt know how many packs of hair to get(i got 5) I didnt realize until after I left the salon that a huge chunk of my rows in the back didnt have any locs on them- which is fine until I texted them that day(about 30 minutes later) to ask if it was possible to come back and have her finish. I haven't gotten a response since then and it's been almost a week. Tl;dr If you do choose to go here keep in mind the "25" dollar deposit is more like 26.50 due to paypal processing fees and you will only get 25 taken off of your style. Also keep in mind that if you dont have enough hair, they will either not finish it for you or in the very least wont suggest for you to come back later to get it finished. Lastly, I suppose the whole "if your stylist is late, get 10 dollars off" doesnt really work either. -Update- I have tried calling the shop and texting them back and have yet to get any response. Honestly, you could find a better place to do your hair and keep up with customer service. The purple in the photos is my actial hair -Another Update- Rika reached out to me(a month after my appointment) and apologized for everything that happened and offered $50 off my next appointment. Too bad its kind of too late and im moving out of country in a week :/ i still appreciate it though. read more

They do an amazing job here! They are very expensive but worth the money because your braids will last a long time! They didnt do my braids to tight like most braiders do and customer service was great! They were well organized and the salon was welcoming and comfortable with nice seatings and a big tv to watch while you get your hair done! read more

The Braid Bar - Triangle parted braids - Hair Salons Near Me - Oakland, California

The ladies who work at The Braid Bar are so sweet and friendly it makes for a truly enjoyable experience. I've been having my hair done by Ms. Vivian for several months now and I actually look forward to going. She is hands down one of the kindest people I've met and will go out of her way to make sure I'm happy. She works diligently and will even work through her break if I'm in a time crunch. Her craftsmenship in braiding is phenomenal and she is clearly dedicated to her work and her clients. I have come up from Los Angeles twice now to have my hair done by Ms. Vivian because it's literally like visiting a cool aunt. Not only do I feel beautiful after but I feel loved! Each gal at The Braid Bar has their specialty. Having seen them work I would recommend any of them for your haircare needs. read more

The Braid Bar - My hair freshly done by Ms. Vivian for my big photoshoot. I told her exactly how I wanted it and she delivered and more! - Hair Salons Near Me - Oakland, California

Gotta give my girl Rika a shoutout. She is incredible. I am super tender headed, and every time I go to any salon for braids, I end up having to take the out because they are too tight. Rika not only was careful with my tender head, she checked in on me periodically and did an incredible job. I've never received so many compliments in my life. She was fast, professional and is one hell of a stylist. read more

The Braid Bar - Braids by Rika - Hair Salons Near Me - Oakland, California

I was looking forward to my appt at The Braid Bar. I received a referral from a stylist and I followed them on IG for a few months before I scheduled the appointment. Here's my review; POSITIVE: The salon is very clean, everyone is professional, and they seem to work well together. Not once did I observe staff sitting around doing nothing. Presentation and professionalism are on point at this salon. The owner, Rika was extremely responsive and accommodating when I had an issue. CHALLENGES: I made my appointment for single box braids. When I first arrived I asked my braider if I could get cornrows in the front and the rest in singles and I showed her a photo. She promptly replied that she didn't "do cornrows". The braider in the chair next to her said she could do the cornrows, but my braider said that they all had their own appointments and that would throw them off schedule. Although I wasn't happy with the response I went along with it, not wanting to a Petty Betty. Next, I chose the size of my box braids. I wanted them a bit thicker because although my hair is short, it's also thick, especially around my crown and I didn't want the braids to be bulky. She said they needed to be smaller since my hair is short so they would last longer. Plus, of course the smaller ones cost more. Good for her on the upsell, but the braids turned out too bulky as I predicted. I called the salon after I got home and explained my situation to Rika. She was VERY gracious and made an appointment for me to come back 4 days later to get the front redone in cornrows and she would do it herself. Being that my scalp was still pretty sore 3 days later, I cancelled the appointment and just dealt with the bulky braids. So, bottom line would I go back? Yes. But to a different braider in the shop. I observed Rika and Pauline's work and I would go back to either one of them. read more

The Braid Bar just added a new client to their list and that client is me! Oh my goodness! I am so pleased with my new hair style, I am beside myself. Rika did an awesome job. I am the queen of wearing weaves, but decided to try a unit. The hair grade is superior. Absolutely superior! Rika's installation and suggestions for the unit, went above and beyond. I am so happy I Can't stand it I have received and continue to receive so many compliments. I really need to stop staring at myself in the mirror. The salon itself is clean, beautiful, welcoming and inviting. Everyone is so professional and nice. Rika's is just so lovely and knows her stuff. I am so happy to have this FABULOUS salon as part of my beauty repertoire! Thank you Braid Bar!!! Val read more

Vivian was amazing! When I arrived, she was friendly and was able to answer all of my questions. Not only was she fast (finished my whole head in 5 1/2 hours) but she checked up on me periodically to make sure that I was comfortable and that she wasn't braiding my hair too tight. The only issue I had was with booking my appt. through Booksy. I was confirmed for an appt. at 9 am but was contacted by another person at the shop and was informed it was a mistake. My appointment was changed to 3 pm instead. The good news? There was a cancellation, and I was able to come in earlier. #winning I received so many compliments on my braids. I will definitely be patronizing the Braid Bar for my hair needs. read more