ZENZELE Natural Hair Salon

I’ve been going to Zenzele for over two years now. And she is a great hair stylist that does what she specializes in well. She operates from home, which to me gives a personal touch to the experience. She is also a cool person, even tempered and patient with her clients. She does her best to provide the service the client asks for and the end result has always been a really pretty natural hairstyle very neatly done from what Ive seen and from what Ive gotten. She also gives a great shampoo. Ive gone other places and come out of the shampoo bowl feeling less than clean. Never had that problem with her. Shes thorough.
She also comes from a camp of some of the best natural hairstylists in Atlanta who split up and branched out into a few different businesses a few years back. So she has a history of working with the best. Lock maintenance is one of her specialties and she does an excellent retwist. Definitely recommend especially if you have locs and like a well maintained look. I get lots of compliments on my locs on a regular basis.

I really really wanted this to work out. I did. I’m new to the area and when I saw the positive reviews, I just KNEW I wanted to go here. But I’m not sure where these other reviewers went, but it couldn’t have been the same salon! This place is AWFUL. I’m going to go into detail about what’s wrong with this place.
1) Not friendly or hospitable: Zenzale (or whatever her name was, she was so secretive about it to the point where she asked me to leave the check blank so she could fill it in) was rude and brisk on the phone, and she is like that in person as well. When I arrived, I went to the front door. Instead of greeting me, she cracked the door and said «Hi, go to the other door please.» And slammed it… After walking to the other door, she just opened it with no smile or introduction or anything… just loud shuffling of feet in clogs.
2.) Secretive about location: It might be because this is someone doing hair out of their HOUSE, but when I called a few days after making my appointment to find the address, I got a game of 20 questions before I got an straight answer… and not even really a straight answer. She told me she would text the address to me. Really?
3.) License?: I don’t think this lady actually has a license. It’s not displayed anywhere. The «salon» is actually in an extra room in her house. I’m not one to judge that because I’ve had great service from salons in people’s houses, but she has NO professional equipment. No barbicide, no rolling carts, no roll of shears, no set of combs… just a bunch of orange combs you can get at the Dollar Store and a chair to hold her stuff while she’s doing hair.
4.) Unprofessional: Had to walk around and pick up toys and little kid’s shoes before she actually got started on the hair. After shampooing, just let the excess water drip down my face and shirt before offering me a towel… she didn’t even tie one around my neck to keep the water off my shirt. Just handed me a towel.
4) Doesn’t know what she’s doing: She has natural hair but doesn’t seem to know how to style/​detangle anyone else’s. When I came in, I told her I brought my detangling brush (The Tangle Teezer) to help detangle. She said she would use it, but while washing, used it like a scalp massager and tangled the mess out of my hair… she also used steaming hot water. Not good for hair or scalp in these winter months, especially when I told her before starting that my scalp was dry. Immediately after shampooing, she rubbed my hair down with a towel a way that is a big no-​no for naturals, instead of gently wringing it dry— it’s very obvious that it would tangle the hair. She further tangles it by mussing it with her fingers while I’m in the chair.
Instead of using my detangling brush, or starting from the ends with her wide-​tooth comb and working up, she very literally ripped the comb through my hair, from root to tip. I could hear my hair snapping and breaking. While two strand twisting it, she raked her finger nails through the loose sections, snatching out the tangles as she worked her way down. I’m pretty sure that I’ve lost most of the hair on the floor from this lazy, rough method. My scalp is sore now too.
7.) Doesn’t do as requested: I clearly remember telling her over the phone before the appointment (and in the chair before she started) that I wanted a big, fluffy fro, updo or twist-​out. I told her before-​hand that I didn’t want to keep the twists in because they look scalpy on me and I like big hair. I noticed during all this though that she kept insisting on twists. I thought it was just me.
So after my twists dry I fully expect her to actually style my hair. WRONG! She says «All done!» and takes the cape off. I asked if she planned to take them down, and she offered me several excuses as to why I should leave them in, saying I’d have to get back under the dryer, that leaving them in would make a better set… then she asked if I was going home right after. I HAD PLANS THAT NIGHT. IT WAS MY BIRTHDAY. Plans= cancelled.
I also asked before-​hand if she could show me how much she cut off, and I told her its because some people get scissor happy. She said she would, and showed me on her finger… however, she completely turned me away from the mirror while cutting so I couldn’t see what she was doing.
I’m so disappointed. For the money I paid, I thought I would get such a great experience. Honestly I feel like crying.
The only thing good that came out of this is the awesome smelling products she used in my hair. And also, looking at my hair now it doesn’t look like she got crazy with the cutting.
SAVE YOUR MONEY AND GO TO A REAL SALON

The best natural hair salon in Atlanta. The owner provides timely, professional service with much knowledge and experience.
If you have or want natural hair, you must try Zenzele.

I’ve really enjoyed my experience at this salon. The rates are so competitive and very affordable. Appointments are available everyday but Monday (including Sundays!!!), which is super convenient for me. Both hairstyles that I’ve gotten there — — medium twists all over and tiny twists all over — — were done so beautifully and I’ve received a ton of compliments from everyone! The environment in the salon is also nice and relaxed, with great R&B, reggae or house music playing. And the location is in a really cute residential area. Plus the stylist, Neresh, is a great conversationalist. Overall, I have no complaints and have and would recommend it.