Aisha Hair Braiding

I never leave reviews but I just HAD to this time. This shop is awesome! I needed to get my Marley/​Havana twists last minute and asap before Blizzard Jonas hit DC. So I called Aisha at 11am on Thursday 1÷21÷16 and asked if she could take me that same day after I got off work… which meant around 6pm. She immediately accommodated me. I arrived at the shop and it was spotless. Aisha was busy with a customer, but greeted me and immediately identified me from calling earlier. Meda and Pascaline started on my hair within 5 minutes of my arrival. They were pleasant– cheery dispositions– and very welcoming. They checked on me periodically to make sure I was comfortable. Although they spoke in French/​Creole, I never got the impression that they were talking negatively about me or the other customers. It was more like playful banter and friendly gossip with each other. Trust me, as a NJ/​NY/​Boston/​Philly frequent doobi/​braid shop frequenter I know the difference. The ladies finished my long twists in record time, but still remained patient, minded detail and yielded a beautiful end result. I love them and these twists are life hunny! They worked quickly but I didn’t feel like they were rushing through so they could leave– and they finished after closing time. Aisha and her staff were all extremely polite. I don’t wear braids too often because I respect my edges lol, But while I’m growing out this taper cut from hell I will continue to go back to Aisha’s shop and I will sing their praises to the mountain tops. Need braids– this place is it!!! A+++

Hair do:
My hair looks amazing! I got exactly what I asked for, the stylist listened to me and most importantly my hair is beyond neat!!! I couldn’t be happier and it’s been my best experience in an African Braiding salon ever … Nothing negative to say. Everyone keeps asking where /​who did my hair.
Service and professionalism:
I’ve never been to a African braiding shop where the women weren’t abrasive/​loud /​rude /​lacking customer service & paying more attention to the African movie on the TV than to you — most I’ve been to were generally terrible and nasty … Until today. Wont he do it!!! Thanks black Jesus! (I found this place via Unilocal– so I decided to add to the positives). Even if I hate how my hair turns out I can honestly say they were polite & allowed me to sufficiently explain how I wanted my hair to look at the end of the day. The owner even made suggestions regarding how I could execute it better (I got a non traditional style). The owner Aisha, is nice /​polite and communicates well in English — in general. While sitting here I saw a client express that she didn’t like something about her hair — the owner Aisha asked her client that she was working on to excuse her for a few mins — NOT JUST WALK AWAY –she went over and tried to fix the young woman’s hair — and later delegated to someone to try a few more styles to fix the Issue– the girl left happy. Point being — there was no attitude and rudeness or talking about the woman in a bad way in French. Plus — I’ve already been here 3 or 4 hours and they haven’t hit me up for money either lol. I saw 2 clients who said «oh I didn’t know it was cash only» (first timers who obviously don’t know about the African braiding shop life lol) and Aisha said no problem, and pointed them to two ATM machines. She also didn’t ask to hold their ID/​first born or blood sample while they went to procure the money. Anyway — there are a lot of crappy African braiding shops all around DC — choose wisely. (For example– Unless you’re at deaths door — because your anxiety attack about to kill you, because your hair ain’t diddddd — NEVER go to that African hair braiding spot over on H street NE– right after you pass the CVS– run if you can — don’t even walk)… Only con HERE — while I drive and it was convenient — it’s not exactly close to a metro — so you’ll have to take the metro to Petwort/​Tacoma park or silver spring and then metro bus over here — cab or über.
Bathroom was clean enough and the women cleaned up after each customer so no mountain of hair.
Tip– this young woman in here (I think her name is «Maurice «or «Marice» — she’s petite and skinny and looks child labor employee young– lol I’m sure she’s of age lol lol) did the most neat/​pretty small braids/​plaits I have EVER seen –‘like box braids /​plaits… But the small ones. They were unreal neat and long and pretty. So use her if u can. I’ll update when im done — re how my hair turned out.
Honestly we spend so much time writing bad reviews on businesses I thought I would spend some time doing a good one— like every person I saw in the salon had NEAT nicely done braids! I have to say some looked TIGHT as hell — edges will die —but communication is key… I told my stylist Maryse (she’s super nice, listens to exactly what you want and professional — request her!!!) that I came there with my edges and I wanted to leave with them.
(On my cell — please forgive grammatical errors & run on sentences). Good luck & may the hair gods be with you

Very good service. Professional style and quality braids. While I called before hand to ensure there was someone available to do cornrows before I arrived, once I arrived, the ladies there told me the lady was on her way. I was the only customer there so the available ladies took care of me. There was the usual French side conversations that I honestly didn’t care about. Overall I’m satisfied with the end result and price I had to pay.

This was my second time going to Aisha’s I arrived early in the morning and had to wait for Aisha to arrive. But once she got there she started working immediately, she did one woman’s hair in front of me even though she was a walk in and her hair style only took about 30 minutes.
When she started on my hair I told her what I wanted and she suggested several different hair styles that would fit my hair line better, but once I told her what I wanted, she set to work on giving me exactly what I asked for. I found Aisha, strong and positive even when she had to stop to direct another braider on how to proceed.
She is friendly and professional and I love, love, love my hairstyle. I definitely will be returning again. The price was decent and from the time I sat in her chair until I left was under three hours which worked great for me.
Job well done!

They are quick and friendly, but I could have done without the crying, and children stepping on my uggs. My daughter and I went one Saturday to get box braids done, they are decent, but not really what I asked for. Overall, I will return, but next time be a little more verbal in what I want.

DO NOT TRUST AISHA HAIR BRAIDING! By far the worst experience of any braiding studio in the district. I called in advance of my appointment scheduled for Saturday at 1PM. I spoke Aisha, the owner of the shop and inquired about getting two simple french braids. My hair was previously styled in a tapered cut, and I was well aware that the shorter length of my hair in the back might make the job a little more difficult. I advised Aisha of this and she told me to come on in! I arrived with my hair freshly washed and prepped. She took one look at me and said…“No.” Confused, I reminded her about our conversation a few days earlier. Again, I wanted two french braids, a style that most children can do with ease. I asked her if there was some other style she was willing to do. At this point, she told me that my hair was too short and that no one in the salon could help me. She was abrasive, loud, and rude. She would not even get off the phone to fully engage with me. I had no choice but to leave, embarrassed and frantic over where I would get my hair done for the upcoming work week. Luckily, I looked up other braiding shops in the area and found the African Hair Braiding Center. Amy did a fantastic job in about 20 minutes. She had NO difficulty braiding my hair and it looks great! I cannot speak to the quality of Aisha’s work, but I think that most people value customer service and good manners generally. If you are looking for a comfortable experience with kind and honest braiders, I would highly recommend the African Hair Braiding Center (202) 723‑7336.

Went here on 8÷9÷15 around 8:20 waited about 25 mins for a braider to arrive to do my hair. Aisha the owner was there working on a client. My braider showed up and twisted my hair giving me perfect medium sized Senegalese twists! She did not take a break she worked the entire 8 hours on my hair. I am happy with her services and the quality of my twists! She was very nice and made sure I was comfortable. Aisha was a little rude and she is very demanding and when u explain to her how you want your hair she sometimes offers suggestions that doesn’t fit what you want. I showed a pic of what I wanted and got exactly that. The other braiders were doing great jobs as well! Some took 30 min breaks throughout! One braider had her kids there and the little boy was bad as hell! I wanted to give him an ass whooping he was spitting on his sister he played with scissors, razors, and lighters he was climbing up on things he was a mess and the mom hardly said anything to him! Okay other than that my experience was great and I love my hair.

I don’t often get my hair braided. I am a hair braiding novice. But as my wash, blow dry straight routine was starting to leave my hair stressed s break was in order and I wanted a professional look, that would allow me to workout and be a protective style.
I picked out a picture and went to another stylist that wasn’t Aisha. My experience was night and day Aisha’s was more professional, very clean, didn’t waste your time sitting on coaches and the techniques led to better results. Also they were cheaper. That’s right cheaper.
I removed one star for the inconvenience of being a cash only business. But the results were magnificent.
On my second trip, I called I. Advanced agreed on a price. I came in the price changes dramatically. My next call is to DCRA.