Empire Beauty School

Typically I love this place, today not so much. I let them know i had 3 hours to get 7 foils, trim, and flat iron they said no problem.
They didn’t have my first 2 choices for color so I went with red, then the teacher suggested blonde with it okay whatever enjoy your creative freedom. They had to color my hair one side at a time since they student picked the wrong developer, now some of my hair is white instead of blonde. This took forever so I didn’t have any time to get it dried, trimmed, or straightened. I told the student I needed to leave while she was shampooing my hair and she said okay I got back to the chair and it looked decent then she decided to comb it out and give me a giant puff ponytail on the top of my head. Wtf???
This all ended up costing 32 dollars. I think the girl at the front overcharged me. I asked for 7 foils which would have been 12 on top of the other services I wanted, but due to them being extremely slow knowing I needed to leave they billed it as a partial foil which is supposed to be 25 then the girl at the front said shampoo was a additional charge. Seriously??? You can’t put color in your hair without eventually shampooing it, what a scam.
Stick to just getting you hair washed and styled.
I won’t even talk about the horrors I’ve faced trying to get a trim here.

The school is very disorganized. I am writing my review prior to the service. I waited a long time for the service then I was called up and paid and was asked to sit back down to wait for the service. Also, upon arrival I was told the site took credit cards so when I was called to pay the machine was broken and I was asked to go to the bank and get cash. The machine was fixed by the person after I got back from the bank and now people are using the machine. I have no idea how the hair service is because I was still waiting at the time I wrote the review.

If I went to a real salon and they told me they had a graduate from this school I would run! They can’t do hair! Period. Unless u have that real easy hair where all u have to do is wash and blow it out in 5 minutes. I have thick hair. And they can’t do it. They refuse to blow it out correctly as well as wash it correctly. And what’s worst is that’s the technique they are learning from instructors. I came today and had appt with a student who I was told was not there and guess what when I sit down with someone else there she is! I spoke to this student personally last week and she must have forgotten or didn’t care. Unprofessional. And what’s worst is the teacher knew my hair looked like crap because she thought I was in a hurry and didn’t have a lot of time. Uh no, your pupil just can’t do hair. I’ve been here a few times and have never had a good result! This time I vow never to return.

Here’s some background information on my review and experience at Empire: I called DAYS before coming to verify that the students here were able and WILLING to do natural hair. I understand it’s not most stylist’s favorite type of hair to do. They said their students were «advanced» and able to do all types of hair. I, also, asked if they had any natural hair care products. They confirmed that they did.
I arrived at 6:30 p.m. on a Tuesday, as a walk-​in, signed my name, and waited to be called. The customer service coordinator informed me that their credit card machine was down; so, I drove to go get cash. FIRST INCONVENIENCE.
It took almost two hours after my return from the ATM to actually be paired with a stylist. SECOND INCONVENIENCE.
I requested from the stylist, TAKILA, that she use natural hair care products. Her name was not printed on my receipt, as it should have been. I had to ask her supervisor for her name. She stated, «we don’t carry a natural hair care line» with an attitude. I informed her that I was assured prior to coming to empire that there were products to meet my needs. She stated they only had non-​sulfate products. I agreed to proceed with the non sulfate products. She, then, brought out 6 (read that again) different liquids in SIPPY cups (read that again, too). I said, «WAIT A MINUTE what’s in all that?» This is when she really got angry. I mean let’s be real… anyone would want to know what product is going in their hair, especially if they are NOT IN A labeled bottle. (side-​eye). She went down the line of all the products she would be using. Sighhhhhhhh THIRD INCONVENIENCE.
Now y’all know that if you’re doing natural hair, you’ve gotta section it off and comb it out. Ummm This woman attempted to comb my hair, as a WHOLE, as if I had a perm. I requested she section it off and use the comb that I brought from home. Get this… she tells me, «I’m not sectioning out your entire head.» I’m sorry. I was informed you knew how to do natural hair. I was NOT informed that this was YOUR appointment and you were paying. So she runs to her supervisor, Harvey, to complain and ask him to do the work for her. (I kid you not) He actually came back and combed out my hair for her!!!
I, also, requested that Takila braid my hair while wet because blow drying damages my hair. She flat out refused to NOT blow dry my hair. She stated it would be easier for her. She had an attitude my entire appointment. FOURTH INCONVENIENCE
I also paid for a gel manicure. The materials for the gel manicure were locked away by the office staff. So, I’ve gotta go back to that God-​Forsaken place and claim my manicure.
Harvey was the only decent person working in there. He offered me an apology and another svc for all my inconveniences.
A stylist should never:
1. Pull/​Snap/​Snatch a client’s hair.
2. Question what the client wants.
3. Insist that the client get other services, If they are not interested.
4. Have an attitude while the client’s hair is in their care.
5. Flat out refuse/​ignore a request or question of a client. All my questions and requests were reasonable when getting your hair done. I paid for a service and I wanted it done professionally, not the way the stylist wanted to do it.
I will NEVER recommend this location. EVER.

I know you can’t expect a whole lot when you get your hair done at a beauty school so I always set my expectations accordingly, but this experience was the worst by far. I’ve been to the Cherry Hill, NJ location and it was great! professionalism, quick and courteous. Unfortunately, the Kennesaw location — not so much.
First of all, I had to wait for 2hrs before someone even touched me. One girl was there so long she just decided to leave. Just about everyone that was there already when I arrived had to be waiting for at least an hour. Someone at the front desk said there’s longer waits on Tues and Thurs because a lot of the students are in class or something those days so they have less ppl on the floor. — ok, understandable. I duly noted to never return on those days.
I had a curly twist-​out at the time that I had done with gel and some other products that made it really set in my hair. After i pay upfront –The 2 girls at the front desk proceed to tell me that I have to have my hair detangled before it’s washed with a comb. I understand the thought process, but I let them know I couldn’t do that because my hair had gel in it and that would break my hair off. Even so, these chics are still trying to convince me that’s their process-​a whole other story smh
I don’t know how they assign their clients to students because it seemed like the students got to pick and choose who or what they wanted to do. Not sure if this is customary at beauty schools or not, but i think a couple of ppl rejected me before someone volunteered to do my hair.
That someone was Shakeena or Nikia. My ticket says Nikia, but I swore they kept calling her Shakeena at the salon. Anyway, When I sat in the chair she told me not to worry– she’d make it worth the wait. — -SIKE! that was a joke. While she was very pleasant and attentive at first, as time passed she started rushing thru my hair.
She did not thoroughly wash my hair. My scalp wasn’t clean. When I scratched it there was residue under my nails-​this is my clean hair/​scalp test. Instead of blowing my hair dry she sat me under a hairdryer and that’s normal. Not for a beauty school-​but they do this at professional salons a lot when you have natural or thick hair.
However, she did not comb it thru beforehand, which is imperative because I have thick, natural and fairly long hair. And you are not supposed to let the hair dry completely under the hooded dryer according to my past experience at salons. This resulted in my roots still damp and the rest bone-​dry. So, she did a quick run thru with the blow dryer which left my scalp STILL damp in spots.
Regardless of the fact that my scalp was still damp she proceeds to flat iron my hair anyway. I mention that my hair is probably still wet since I’m hearing it sizzle EVERYTIME she touches the root with the flat iron, but she insists that’s not the issue and then eventually says «well it is still a little wet here in this section» and proceeds to blow dry that part. So, visualize half my hair is curled and she’s blowdrying another section of hair. smh. Then she mentions she feels some film or product or something on my hair while she’s flat ironing it.- UH DUH! maybe perhaps because you didn’t freakin wash my hair properly!!! This right here is the kicker though –The whole time this girl’s flat ironing my hair and is not passing through it not even once with a comb-​just sectioning and flat ironing! ugh! Once I realize what she’s doing I bring it to her attention and she insists that my hair is fine. At this point I am pissed and just ready for her to get it over with so I can get the hell out of there.
While she’s so obviously rushing thru my hair she mentions the fact that she has 2 sew-​ins waiting for her that she’s running late for (outside of school). WTH! My feeling is — not my problem! If you didn’t have time to do my hair then you shouldn’t have volunteered. So, at the end of the day I waited 2 hours just to have this chic rush thru my hair and do a ½ a#@ job! And when she was done she had a nerve to ask if I liked it and said and I quote «This was the best rush job I ever did.» Even if you’re just in school, you should still take pride in your work. You never know who could be a potential long term client.
I did see a few other clients walk out with their hair looking decent and I’m sure all the students aren’t terrible, but it didn’t appear that an instructor was watching over her at all during any step in the process. I guess they all left as the day was coming to a close. The «tone at the top» sets the bar for the students. So I guess the leaders here are a little too lax.
My recommendation is if you don’t live too far I’d say go to Esani instead. I would have rather driven an hour to Esani than have endured this chic at Empire. It costs a little more, but it’s worth it. I definitely got what I paid for at Empire yesterday! In hindsight i wish I would’ve just left the minute she refused to comb my hair.

I think a lot of schools can learn from empire. The last time I went, it was a disaster because the guy was nervous and had no clue. I really felt bad for him. Sometimes there’s a bad apple in the mix, however, when it comes to a blow dry and flat iron… it’s pretty consistent. The student who did my hair, Alex, did a wonderful job. I think she was the best by far. And her professionalism is better than any master stylists I’ve gone to. She gave me product suggestions, tips on how to grow my hair, and gave me a really good cut. Even though she graduates in 3 weeks, I got her number for when she starts working in a salon. A lot of the girls did a great job!!!

Attending to empire school was the biggest mistake in my life!!!
As soon as you get there everybody say: welcome to empire! ! (yea yea so friendly)
They dont do anything but saying that you didnt clock in… you didnt clock out… you didnt pass that shit… just to make you stay in school longer than you supposed to be so they can get more money!!!

Both my fiancé and I went in for haircuts. It’s a great deal considering we both got haircuts for the price it usually costs for just him to have his done at a regular ‘Clips’ type place. We both had a great experience. Brittany Donovan was my Student Stylist and my fiancé had Chris Smith. They both did phenomenal jobs and went above and beyond our expectations. We will definitely be going back. When you go I advise that you aren’t on any time restraints. We were in there for two hours. I didn’t mind because we had the whole day and it was relaxation time for me. These guys are still learning so they aren’t as quick-​handed as a professional would be but they are extremely talented. For the price it is well worth it. I recommend it to everyone!

It really is a gamble and one that I won’t participate in again! The first time I went it was beautiful!!! I was fortunate enough to have a stylist who only needed a few hours before she was finished with the course. I really wish I had gotten her name. I thought that was the standard for the school, I would not have thought the school would have let people work on real people if they were not ready.
The 2^nd and the last time I will ever go I had someone who still had a year to go, who does not deserve to be called a stylist, she could not make a move without asking the so called supv and after the two of them cut my hair I looked a hot mess, very uneven on both sides (2 inches when I measured it at home) because they had their own touch and the way they pulled it before they cut it was different. I really could have done it better myself and I will in the future. They will never see me again! I’m not going to be another guinea pig for a student who really should still be playing with dolls because she is not ready for the real thing. She could not even wash hair good. I did not even feel her fingers in my hair. I think she was scared of my type of hair. I was concerned initially when I saw her because we were different races but I gave her a chance. I should not have, she was not at all familiar with my type of hair.

So like I said I was going to go back to get color done. Chile yes! *snap* Darius was my student stylist and he whipped this mane of mine. He used a technique that he had just learned the day prior and it turned out great! I have gotten a lot of compliments on the color. I will continue to keep going back when I can.

It is a gamble, I know. People are SO picky about who is ‘qualified’ to touch their mane. Put me in the category of folks who firmly believe that it is just hair, if I do not like it, I am free to wash it out & start over again. I know just as many folks who have paid a lot to get their hair done as I know that did not pay much at all. So, I have NO problem with going to a school to have my hair done.
If you go during the week, it is a LOT more like a school. One client, one student, getting it done. If you get there in a timely fashion, you will typically be assigned right away & will only be there for as long as it takes to get your hair done. The teachers are constantly roaming, offering advice, gentle enouragement & stepping in when necessary. The teacher who assigns will usually match you with a person who has the skillset to get the job done, carefully watching if they need help.
There was a recent increase in prices that I have yet to see. The conditioner is no longer included in the basic $ 5 wash with style. So, it will cost you $ 8. Still not breaking the bank.
If you go on Saturday AM, it is much more like being in a salon. The students only come if they need the hours or have nothing better to do. This is usually the better talent, but you might have about 2 – 4 other folks being worked by the same student. I have waited hours for someone to do my hair. The teachers are still attentive, though. What can get annoying on Saturday is that you can arrive shortly after 9 when they open & the teacher at the counter tells you they are already full. But, students could come in later, but she discouraged you from waiting. Another person comes a while later & are welcomed to stay.
I wish they would implement a system to text you when someone is almost ready for you so you do not. lose your Saturday waiting in an area not suited for the volume.
If I had a daughter, this would be her spot for hair, no point in stressing myself to do hair when I can give her bells & whistles for $ 5!
When they take you back, they go ahead & take your payment so it is not a scramble at the end. Frustrating because if I am uneasy about the skill of the person, I will sometimes switch what I want them to do. But, refreshing in comparison to the way it is handled in the Perimeter location — if it gets late, they just come & tell you ‘gimme yo money, its time for us to go’.
Several of the other hairschools have gone up exponentially over the years, I have seen them all do it. This is one of the last that is still school prices.