NappStar

I love my hair! I called on Thursday for a weekend appointment. The scheduler was able to book me for Saturday with Felicia. She was professional and quick. My comb coils turned out fabulous! The salon décor was relaxing and very clean. I plan to make this my primary hair salon.

My appointment was prompt. There was no waiting, the stylist was personable and engaging. The conversation was thorough about what I wanted and advised me about the time that it would take for her to achieve that look… I was pleasantly surprised that the time overlap and constraints that befall MOST salons does not exist here. NAPPSTAR is clean, tastefull and organized. There is quiet considerate tone that is used when speaking to the client and each other… I really appreciated the professionalism and zen like atmosphere…
Shawna was an excellent stylist and definitely a great addition to the NappStar team

It has been 4 months and 3 visits– I am satisfied and excited when I enter and leave Nappstar. They are patient, not only make appointments but honor them, and professional. I enjoy the creativity the stylist display in their work. Even when I have my doubts on the style… It looks better than I imagined lol.
*this swanky spot is pricey

I may come and update this in a few days if the shock has worn off or if I’ve changed my mind and like my hair by then. But as of right now… I really don’t think I like my hair, because it’s not what I wanted.
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That was yesterday, ⁸⁄₁₅. The day I visited was ⁸⁄₁₄. Today is 8/​16, Sunday.
I went to the salon for a trim. A trim. A TRIM. (And a steam treatment and two large twists for a French braid sort of effect). I came in with bra strap length natural hair (stretched). I have photos that show what my hair looked like before. I have been natural my entire life, and I have basically had shoulder length to mid-​back length natural hair since I was in the second grade, no less than STRETCHED 10 – 20 inches of hair all over my head since then.
Short story: They BIG* CHOPPED me.
Long story: So what’s a big chop, you may ask? A big chop is when black women cut off most if not all of their previous hair length as a step in transitioning to natural hair from (typically) a relaxer. There are other reasons people big chop, e.g., bad color/​highlight job, just woke up and felt like doing it, etc.
After my initial, successful visit, I decided that maybe I could trust them with giving me a trim. How foolish I was, in retrospect. I asked for the three services mentioned above, but the steamer was broken and I was offered a deep condition. Okay. I got an email confirming my appointment, and it said I was down for «loc retwist, conditioning treatment, and 2 – 6 large flat twists», 3 separate people for each step. I called to correct, they said they understood trim, condition, twists.
Got there on time, hair in a bun on top of my head, a go-​to style for me. I took my hair down and fluffed it out as soon as I sat in the chair. She (the woman who would basically shear me, I’ll call her The Cutter) started off fine: wanted to trim it first. Then something odd happened: she squirted water on my hair and started to blow it out, but not all the way. After a while Cutter asks if I was okay with losing «this much hair» and she held up about 2 – 2.5 inches at the longest point. A big trim, but still, a trim. I told her, yes: if it must be done, it must be done: hadn’t been in a salon in 3 years. When she was done, it looked and felt great.
Off to wash and condition. Had a nice little nap under the dryer for the deep condition. From here forward I thought about the 3pm facial I’d scheduled at Columbia Mall… I hate being late. Back in chair for the style… or so I thought. Cutter came back, started to blow dry my hair. I was okay with that, last time they dried it prior to twisting. But then Cutter snipped in a few places: I was still okay with this, because maybe she missed a spot or 2. But no, she cut more. And more. And more. And more. I’m frozen. At one point she said «I’m not cutting you bald, I’m just…» She didn’t complete her sentence. Every minute or so, she’d comb out the hair root to tip, and cut more hair. I knew what she was doing: she was trying to make my hair a graduated length in back, and she was removing any curling in the root to do it. The problem with this approach is that when it shrinks, it will be even shorter than the blown out version I was seeing in the mirror. The other problem with this approach is I didn’t ask for a cut: I asked for a TRIM. I sat, in shock, watching my newly trimmed but still plentiful shoulder length hair become more compact, shorter. Just before she stopped she asked «how do you usually wear your hair?» At this point, my heart sank: I knew she must have taken a lot off: It was too late in the process to just then be asking that. Wish it were asked before scissors or blow dryers ever made an appearance. But at this point I was in SERIOUS denial. I thought: Maybe it’s not that short, Maybe I can still pull it back into the bun I had it in when I walked in here; Don’t worry about it until you take the twists down, surely she didn’t take off as much as it looks in the mirror… she asked me if I was okay; I said «yeah» w/​false confidence.
The Stylist put my hair in two large twists: I can tell she is struggling. Not the struggle of «oh, so much thick hair» like last time, but «hair is too short to grasp» struggle. I asked her during the first twist not to set my hair with setting lotion, because I was going hiking and the smell is too strong for being out in the wilderness. When the second twist was done, she went for setting lotion again. I reminded her again to skip it. And at this point I was ready to go. I had been there for 3 hours already, and I had that facial. I walked out at something like 3:15. I had to reschedule the facial and went home. Hiked Saturday, hair was in twists and out of mind. Take down last night though had me seriously concerned.
Washed today… and I am mortified: STRETCHED, the longest part (front) is 9 inches; shortest (back) is 5. No idea how to style this at all. Sending an SOS…
*Little chop for some. BIG chop for me. :’(

This is my second time here. The ladies are always so friendly and know their natural hair. I think I will be coming back more often. I have never had a bad experience at all with them. Today I came in to my hair deep conditioned. Now I am under the dryer and will be done in 15 minutes. It also did not take them a long time to get started on my hair. So my timing here was wonderful. Will totally recommend them to other natural divas in the area.

This review is long over due. Let me say that I love love love this salon!!! My stylist is Melissa and let me say that she is top notch to say the least. She never overbooks, you’re seen pretty much as soon as you arrive in the salon.
And speaking of salon, their (Melissa and Annette — owners) salon is AWESOME! Their chic décor is lovely and always always immaculate! Everyone (from staff to clients) are friendly. The salon has a nice vibe and the music piping through the salon is appropriate for the clients.
Now back to my stylist Melissa and sometimes Shauna are fabulous! I NEVER leave the salon disappointed. I ALWAYS get compliments on my locs after they do my hair… like soon after… in the parking lot of their salon. My hair is long thick and healthy and they maintain it very well. I cheated on them twice and I’ve regretted it every time. I end up confessing that I cheated and we laugh about it — I even showed the jacked up due I got when I cheated — no bueno!
I also have to say that I’m a germaphobe so I love the fact that the shop is very clean and when they drop any of the tools/​instruments they’re using they do not put it back in your hair they get Clean one.
I love love love this shop!
And kudos to these young Sisters who own this shop!!!
Melissa and Annette job well done.

First time to a new shop in 15 years. Melissa made me feel comfortable and she is very talented. I love my hair and will definitely go back.

I love the environment and atmosphere. I go there once a month to get my hair retwisted. They give excellent advice on how to care for my hair. Great conversations and professionalism. I’m definently going to take my daughter there.

I had the most amazing experience from Shaunna.
From her therapeutic shampoo to the amazing retwist. I usually keep my styles in for a couple days, but I kept hers in for 2.5 weeks it was just so pretty. She was very entertaining and energetic. Unlike other stylists I have encountered. My experience was awesome from start to finish. The salon is very cute and bright.

Random: the owners remind me of Floetry.
Cute shop: check
Good wash: check
Updo that looked exactly like the photo and lasted two weeks: check check
Good prices, nice stylists, comfortable atmosphere: check, check, check.
My locs are beautiful, I’m not even going to try to be modest. I’ve had them 5 years and I haven’t been to a salon in 4 because 1) I’m in school full-​time and 2) I don’t really trust too many people with my locs. I maintain them myself and I am a straight up minimalist: I wash w/​some dilute shampoo and twist with olive oil.
It was a real treat to finally have someone do my hair. I had a bunch of interviews scheduled and I really wanted a nice, polished look. They really hooked me up and I like their techniques and products. If I end up in the area, I would consider going regularly for maintenance. That, for me, is saying a lot.

I’m pleased again with the time management, professionalism, and outcome of my style… It’s very close to the picture… Very laid back… Definitely customer focused… When using the Unilocal Special you have to mention it with appointment reservation to be redeemed in advance… Definitely not a problem with that I didn’t know and because I love everything about this place I’ll be back…

After following NappStar on social media for two years I couldn’t think of any other place to go to start my locs. My experience was EVERYTHING. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, the staff is friendly and courteous and Meilssa is the best! I’ve been back twice since I got them started and I have yet to be disappointed.

Definitely a blessing to have a natural hair salon of this caliber in my town. My first experience here was enjoyable. It had been far too long since my last professional loc maintenance appointment and I longed for a deep-​cleaning shampoo & cute loc updo. First, my standards for loc care are way way high to the sky. I’ve had the pleasure of being groomed by one of the best so I wasn’t sure what to expect but I knew exactly what a wanted. Unfortunately, the shampoo job was completely botched so much so my stylist, cute as a button, Annette, had to squirt seabreeze on my scalp to absorb buildup not cleared up during the shampoo. Boo! She assured me this is not a regular happenstance and advised me to be more vocal next time I’m getting shampoo’d if it does «feel» right. Hmm I’m not confrontational at all and I guess I just like the job done right the first time bc I had chimed in while the shampoo girl worked on me. I don’t know what the problem was. Anyway moving right along, everything else was excellent! I love the bubblegum pink decorum, the high tech dryers and cozy chairs. I loved everyone’s friendly demeanor (seriously this is a plus, I’ve been in salons where NO one smiled, not the case here) and the style books, they really do have a lot to offer in terms of style diversity at NappStar. I loved it here and cannot wait to go back, unfortunately for awkward me, I have to request a different shampooer on my next go-​round but so be it, loc appointments are not cheap!

This place never disappoints. I am a faithful bi-​weekly customer! There is no need for a long review.

Melissa and her sister are the best when it comes to natural hair. I’ve been to many other stylists that claim they know natural hair but Melissa would put them to shame. I can always tell the difference when she does my hair. The locs hold longer, it looks neat and sharp, and I get so many compliments. They are professional, clean environment and always do a knock out job on my hair. I don’t care how far I have to drive to see these girls or how much I have to pay (I think their prices are great and you get what you pay for). If you have to catch a Greyhound from out of town, believe me when I say it’s worth it at any distance. They have the background training and it shows in their work. It’s great to see young women with such a drive and a full understanding that keeping your customers happy is all the advertisement you need in this tough economy. I wish I could have employees with such great work ethics working for me in the two business I own. Ladies, please keep doing what you do, keep stacking, and let the haters keep hating (they have a PhD in that profession).

Melissa’s awesome and very friendly. I mostly come to Nappstar for my color. But they also do an awesome job on styling and maintenance. And I love their new location. Very nice setting. I haven’t been to the other lady but that’s only because I think she only works out of their NY location.
However, they’re a little pricey. So that’s why I usually only come here when I want my color redone. But if you have locs, this is a great place.

I live in woodbridge, Va and they are definitely worth the over an hour drive! The best natural hair salon in the area!

Out of all the natural hair salons I’ve been to I love this one the most!!! I recommend them to anyone who’s looking for a natural hair salon!!!