Delaware

Share your experience with a natural or curly salon by providing the following:

-Name of Salon and location (city, and contact)
-Name of stylist
-Experience (the good and the bad)
-If you'd recommend to a friend

I have been to New Boundaries on Rte 13. The hairstylist there, Jen is very nice. Her shop is going through a renovation at the moment because she just moved not long ago to a larger spot. She does a lot of locs and natural heads. Their hair seems pretty healthy and thriving. She may also do relaxers too, though I've never seen it. Most of the salons in the area do both. I have seen her do straightening on natural hair. Most of the styles that I've gotten there take her less than an hour to do (although since I walk in a lot, I am there for a long time-shouldn't be that way with an appointment). Except for the very last time I was there and she wasn't, her prices have seemed reasonable to me. The last time there was an assistant that just looked up a price on a sheet and didn't take into account that I got less done than was on the sheet. For a style that took Jen about a half hour to do (if that), about fifteen to twenty mins under a hood and about another fifteen minutes for the assistant to finish the styling, I paid 70+. And the style lasted about two to three days. Sheesh. I'd rather use my money toward my own products and do my own hair for free most times. Bottom line, I don't like going under hot helmets so I don't go very often. I'd recommend it if the person is okay with heat. I do think the prices are going up though. This is the website although I don't see a lot that is reflective of the actual salon. I've never seen any caucasian women there, lol!

http://www.newboundariesinc.com/Salon/home.php

pros: friendly stylist, normally reasonable price, decent styles (some I've really flipped over in a good way)-I always look good when I leave

cons: still working on the salon itself, may be drastically upping the price for services now

There is another salon that I haven't tried yet that seems a little more upscale and a lot pricier. I want to visit someday. But I don't think that they've figured out that we're in the middle of a recession yet. It's called Zelda's. I walked in and the ladies that were working there had phenomenal natural hairstyles! But I had just had my hair done at the time so I didn't make an appointment. Except for the caucasians (again, I didn't see any when I visited, lol), they're site is more reflective of their salon. They are also a spa.

http://www.zeldashairandspa.com/

pros: looks great, has a spa segment so maybe hair can air dry before styling which is much healthier, you can get some well-known brand name items there to take home rather than ordering online

cons: prices are pretty high for even just basic styles like twists or braids w/o extensions I can do on myself at home...discourages me from going because I don't like getting taken

I remember when I was relaxed the high prices were due to the chemicals. I'm not sure what the reason is now that I'm natural! Reasonable to me is $25 an hour for natural hair (for the time the stylist is working on the hair. Possibly $5 extra if heat setting is needed for taking up a chair. But that's about it for me. I guess I'm too old school. Any more than that and I just feel ripped off. I'm sure most big cities require more dinero. But I live in lil ole D-Ware. Sorry, as long as I can get decent results at home, it ain't gonna happen. It's just greed to charge someone $75 for a head of natural cornrows w/o extensions. I really don't remember their price scale. But I don't think that's too far off.

Thanks for the information! I thought about ordering Miss Jessie's Hair Pudding. Zelda's and New Boundaries are on my list of salons to visit.

There's also a salon called Alexander Myles. I've have two appointments scheduled but always ahd to reschedule and never found the time to make it in. But they carry Jane Carter and Mizani products. One of the stylist said they were going to begin selling Miss Jessies. She also seemed very familiar and helpful with my questions about moisturizing my natural hair (although it was not an appointment.) I hope to make in one of their chairs one day. Im always too busy...


Location: 1033 N Lincoln St, Wilmington, DE 19805

http://thealexandermylessalon.com/

I've gone to Zelda's before, and Neicy has done my hair. She did my big chop. I had ONE bad experience with her, and that was in 2008, but it's just as relevent today. Back when I was relaxed, she let a newbie/trainee rinse the relaxer out. I was definitely overprocessing, but didn't have the knowledge back then to say something. Needless to say, all my progress under her was wiped out.

I haven't been to the other ladies at Zelda's, but it is a very friendly salon. My oldest daughter gets her locs tightened there.

Now, my AlexanderMyles experience was less than satisfactory, but it was my fault. They do the Mizani products for natural coils. I stopped by after work to make an appointment and check the place out (first visit). It was a lovely salon with nice staff. The Manager said she could do my texturizer herself. I was like, yeah!

My miistakes:

1. I let someone convince me to be a walk-in, and for a chemical treatment with a stranger no less!
2. I went in with stretched hair. My hair is normally pen-spring coily.
3. I went in for a texturizer thinking it would "un-coil" my 4b/c hair somewhat. That was ignorance on my part.
4. My hair is 4a in some spots - so those spots got 'straighter' than others during the processing.

My hair turned out a sad looking disappointment with no texturized curl clumping at-all
It looked like a Lionel Ritchie afro-mullet. I asked her to cut that mullet off.

The bright spot was that the Manager was kind and sympathetic, and acknowledging my hurt didn't charge me for the process. I think she also believed it should've come out looking better than it did.
She wrote me a few days later and offered to take another look at it.

HTH

p.s. If you live in the Riverside Hospital area, the Pretty Woman salon on Miller Road (across street from Home Depot) sold KCCC & KCKT.

If you live by UofD, Newark Natural foods carries a lot of Jane Carter and Aubrey Organics products

If you live by Christiana Hospital, Elements beauty supply on Churchman's road carries KCCC/KT, and will soon carry Miss Jessies and Mixed Chicks.

Make sure you call Pretty Woman and Elements to make sure they have it in stock before you make the trip.

HTH

Thetruthisoutthere wrote:I've gone to Zelda's before, and Neicy has done my hair. She did my big chop. I had ONE bad experience with her, and that was in 2009, but it's just as relevent today. Back when I was relaxed, she let a newbie/trainee rinse the relaxer out. I was definitely overprocessing, but didn't have the knowledge back then to say something. Needless to say, all my progress under her was wiped out.

I haven't been to the other ladies at Zelda's, but it is a very friendly salon. My oldest daughter gets her locs tightened by Neicy.

Now, my AlexanderMyles experience was less than satisfactory, but it was my fault. They do the Mizani products for natural coils. I stopped by after work to make an appointment and check the place out (first visit). It was a lovely salon with nice staff. The Manager said she could do my texturizer herself. I was like, yeah!

My miistakes:

1. I let someone convince me to be a walk-in, and for a chemical treatment with a stranger no less!
2. I went in with stretched hair. My hair is normally pen-spring coily.
3. I went in for a texturizer thinking it would "un-coil" my 4b/c hair somewhat. That was ignorance on my part.
4. My hair is 4a in some spots - so those spots got 'straighter' than others during the processing.

My hair turned out a sad looking disappointment with no texturized curl clumping at-all
It looked like a Lionel Ritchie afro-mullet. I asked her to cut that mullet off.

The bright spot was that the Manager was kind and sympathetic, and acknowledging my hurt didn't charge me for the process. I think she also believed it should've come out looking better than it did.
She wrote me a few days later and offered to take another look at it.

HTH

LOL @ the Lionel Ritchie afro-mullet...LOL. I'm sure you weren't laughing then, but hopefully you can see the humor in that comment...I can't stop laughing

I go to school in Chester and usually ride to DE for the tax free shopping Do any of the Target stores carry Miss Jessie's, Shea Moisture, Jane Carter, etc? The only Target that has them in Philly is in Cheltenham and on City Ave, but to get them tax-free is even better!

I haven't checked this week, but you can call.

The new Target store in Christiana mall opens in October - I'm hoping they'll have a better variety than the Brandywine one. On a suggestion from another poster, I contacted their customer service about it.

I got my Sheamoisture during a visit to Missouri, and in Dover (on the way to the shore).

Brandywine Hundred Target finally has the products. They're on the end cap of the aisle.

Miss Jessie's
SheaMoisture
Cantu
Curls
Jane Carter

I went to Royal Hair Design in Smyrna, DE and had my BC in November 2010 by stylist Tiajuana and the experience was good. The salon is located on Glenwood Avenue behind the new Verizon store in the small mall. At the salon they also do press N curls (stylist Pat), kids' hair (stylist Caroline) or quick weaves or sew in weaves and Kym is the head stylist. The number is 302-653-3637 & address is 129 East Glenwood Ave. Smyrna, DE 19977. They honor your appointment time and the price is right.

I'm glad I found this post--I'm between Philadelphia and Delaware. Glad to know there are options!

I'm originally from Chester and I used to go to Zelda's in DE when I had locs. My stylist's name was Ms. Sandy. She is an excellent stylist with plenty of ideas. I hope this helps!