Fiddleheads Salon

This was my first time going to a hair salon in DC. The reason why I generally don’t go is because I am generally disappointed.
I was looking for a style that would go with my face shape and was hoping to have someone giving me an answer at Fiddleheads. I had a 10-​min consultation with Vicky who basically explained that she would cut and show me how to care for my hair… Ok… Waste of time but I was excited to come back and see what she would actually do.
To be honest, she did a really good job at washing and cutting my hair. It was basic but well done. She does know about curls. The products were not the best for my hair but it did not harm it. I was just expecting something much better given the reviews that I read before going. Fiddleheads is a very good salon for styling techniques but to me they are not stylists.

I went to Vicky in October and she did an excellent job! She was kind and friendly and was very supportive of curly hair. I say this because so many stylist that I go to act like having curly hair is such a burden. I left and felt so great. My hair didn’t love the Deva products but that is okay. I have the shape that I needed to make my wash and gos seamless.

I made an appointment for a blowout for 6pm. I had to leave work early to make it there on time. I got there, checked in, and then… sat. At 6:20 I politely asked the receptionist when they were going to start on my hair. She gave me a dirty look and said «I’m not sure, maybe 20 more minutes?» I didn’t get seated in the chair until 6:45. Hair looked OK but this place does not respect their clients’ time and I won’t be back.

I booked an appointment a month in advanced because I wanted to make sure I could make the appointment with someone familiar with African natural hair. To make the appointment, don’t bother calling. The recording will even tell you to go online to book. Unfortunately, there are no prices listed on the site. I had to call while making the appointment to get quotes. Once you’re ready to put in credit card info, it tells you the prices for everything in your «cart», which were not the quoted prices I received via phone. What’s more, I asked the woman on the phone if I was going to be charged the full amount immediately, and she said I would.
Now the day of my appointment comes and I saw I was running late. Before my appointment time, I called twice (to make sure the number in the email was correct, I also googled it) and left a voicemail stating I would be 30 minutes late and to please call me so I knew the message was received. I got to the neighborhood, walked in, and saw a woman sitting in from the computer next to the phone. She asked if I was there for a consultation and I told her I had an appointment. She asked for my name, then told me Wangui had left for the night about 10 minutes before I got there in order to pick up her son.
I told her I had called and left a message. She told me there was no receptionist, that she had only been sitting there for a few minutes, and saw there were a few voicemails but hadn’t checked them. I asked her if I would have gotten there 30 minutes earlier, on time, if Wangui would have had time to do my hair. The woman said with my appointment it would have taken an hour to do and Wangui tried to wait 20 minutes, but then had to leave.
No courtesy call, never checked the message I left, and in reality wasn’t going to be able to provide the service for me regardless of what time I would have arrived. Huge waste of gas, time, and money for services that were never rendered. I have never heard of a salon charging just to make the appointment before even doing anything. Absolutely ridiculous.

It was my first visit to Fiddleheads. I decided to go after reading reviews and seeing pictures on Unilocal.I was a bit nervous at first but after talking through the process and showing pictures of what I wanted with Vicki, I was excited to get started. She did an amazing dry cut before the wash. I could’ve walked out loving what she did but I still had the color and wash ahead of me. She picked the ideal highlights for my hair and skin tone (first highlights I’ve ever had!). Then she knew how much product to put in my hair to make the curls work with my hair texture. I was very impressed. I couldn’t stop taking photos and sending them to my sister and husband before getting home. I will be back for my next trim in a few month. Thank you, Vicki! (See my pictures on their Unilocal page).

Listen to me when I tell you this, I am thoroughly impressed! Thoroughly. I was a little scared because I have never had a big cut. Well, that’s a lie, when I wanted to annoy my father in junior high, I cut my hair something vicious. But as an adult, nope, never wanted to cut it. I have some of the thickest hair and I came in looking like a cross between Frederick Douglass and Chaka Khan with a little Al Sharpton in the front. My hair was thick, long and ridiculous. I was convinced I was going to need a big chop but I didn’t. I did lose about 7 inches, that I’m a little shell shocked about, but it looks healthier and my curls are popping ya’ll! Wangui did the damn thing! She gave me real beneficial advice and didn’t try to sell me anything or convince me I needed to buy aisle 8 at CVS where all of the natural hair products reside. Trust me, If you want a fresh start and an expert cut on your natural hair, go so Wangui!
I’m very pleased with me Deva Cut!

I was visiting out of Town and wanted a nice blowout while I was in DC. I called to verify if they specialized in curly hair and could they do a blow out. They stated yes and it would 30 minutes. I was early and it was clear they were tightly booked. The stylist struggled with my hair and my blow out was frizzy and flat. When I asked the stylist to please give me more volume and smooth out the frizz she stated time was up. She stated I should have mentioned my hair was very curly! I was not asked any questions about my hair. I regularly get a blow out at a Dry Bar and Primp and Blow in my state with no issues. I was given a discount but not options to fix my hair. The other customer behind me was more important then my hair. I would not recommend!

Edit: ok it took a few weeks but I like the color!
— — — — — — — — –
My hair cut looks great. I had to give up length but my hair is soft and healthy
I do not like my color.
(I will come back and raise the rating if I come around to this color.)
I look nothing like my inspiration pic and of all the blondes in the world, I do not think this is very flattering. I was excited to try blonde. I usually color my hair myself from a box and the fact that people think that is what I did lets me know this was a very expensive mistake. Even her supervisor asked if she was going to give me highlights or anything. It needs something. a few things maybe.
I really like Vicky and I do like the cut. The color was such a shock. If I can get used to it, I will increase the rating. But most likely I will darken my hair soon.

Michelle did a fantastic job with my hair. Every stylist I’ve had is too afraid to give me layers because I have so much hair. She took charge and knew what to do. If you have coarse-​ish 3a/​Botticelli curls, she is the one to see. One star off because the salon needs an upgrade, some fresh paint, clean up the counters. It makes a poor first impression but it’s worth staying and getting the service.

I’m currently transitioning from relaxed to natural hair. I had no idea what to do with it, but Vicky was awesome in helping me figure it out. She was quick, thorough, and gave me a great deva cut and style. She also walked me through what to do at home and what products to use. I’ll definitely return.
I’ll also note that the feel of the salon is really laid back. I went into to see Beth for a consultation prior to doing anything to my hair and she was also extremely helpful. Overall, it was a really good experience.

(I went in May, the date of the Scandal finale (lol). Sorry for the delayed review. I’m busy living life :-). I want to start by saying, my experience was generally pleasant and everyone was nice. I was offered water or coffee when I came in, and no one was rude. I’d rather give facts for this review rather than emotion so I’ll just list them below:
Pros:
~knowledgeable about curls
~took time to go over routines that might be beneficial for my hair type
~My hair was very moisturized/​conditioned well, and my cut was super cute (she explained why it had to be cut, even though my ultimate goal is length. Made sense so I was satisfied with it)
~apologized about running behind schedule (it happens, so I appreciated the apology, even though I was late for my next event)
~Everyone was friendly and spoke, and smiled.
Cons:
~I had to shampoo my hair the next day, because it was still dirty and itchy (as I tried to point out while I was there, but didn’t really have additional time to have it shampooed again)
~ I had to come up with some sort of style for my hair, and execute it myself in the chair. I’ve never had to do that in a salon before. It was a bit frustrating because I felt like I was doing someone else’s job, and still paying them to do it lol. Perhaps they should add styling to their set of services as well (Pinning hair back in creative ways, or a partial updo, etc). It just sat there, on top of my head. Needed a shape, so I grabbed the bobby pins I had, and began pinning pieces back until I had a look I could live with.
~I paid 85 $ (plus tip which basically comes to 100) and still had to re-​wash my hair the next day :-/​because it was itching. I could see the dirt under my nails after scratching while in the chair.
I think I would go to this salon in the future, but will definitely make sure shampoo is thorough, and that I have nothing to do after the appt, so time won’t be an issue.

My Deva Cut appointment was with Vicky and she was awesome! She listened to my hair «issues» (I have two completely different textures and no shape or style) and she knew exactly how to proceed with cutting it. I enjoyed talking to her — she has a great personality, very knowledgeable about curly hair and kept me informed every step of the way. I didn’t mind that the combination of styling products were a little heavy because my hair is super thick. My curls were well moisturized and still looked good the next morning after a little spritzing. I would definitely recommend Vicky to anyone wanting to try a Deva Cut.

I had my hair cut by Beth. She did a good job on the Deva cut, however, I felt rushed the whole time, in addition to being sat in a chair where the previous customer’s hair was still all over the floor.
My hair wash was painful! There was a lot of tugging and pulling, not to mention the neck rest on the hair wash station was horrible.
I was put under the hair-​dryer and about half way through, Beth came to check on it and forgot to put the blow dryer back in. I waited 10 minutes, thinking maybe she was going to do something different, but no, she just forgot.
The salon is in need of a deep clean, there is a lot of dust and hair on the base boards and electrical outlets. I came out $ 90 dollars poorer, for an ok hair cut, an awful wash and dry, in a less than clean environment.

I just had the BEST deva cut by Vickie! She was so sweet and kind. She made me feel comfortable as soon as she greeted me. She knows how to work textured hair and gave my hair the best shape it has ever had! She was patient and careful to cut each curl, one by one. I was very impressed with her technique and how gentle she was with my hair! She even finger detangled my hair without out tugging or yanking out my hair! One of the best salon experiences I’ve ever had! I’ve finally found my go-​to salon in DC!

I will start this by saying I don’t like the standard Deva diffused, product-​heavy look – it’s too poodle-​y. I usually do not leave the salon loving my hair. BUT. After I wash it and style it my way, I always love it. I kind of wish I could just get the haircut and not the diffusing, but I don’t think they let you do that.
I’ve had a few of the stylists at Fiddleheads but I love Vicky. She is so fun to chat with and just somehow «gets» my hair. Pretty sure I’ve been to all the curly hair places in DC and she’s the best for me.
They stay open late-​ish a few days a week, which is great.

Went to this salon after reading reviews on Unilocal.My poor little twa was suffering from heat damage and it no longer felt healthy not to mention looked uneven. I was able to get a next day appt with Vicky. She’s so sweet. She suggested a shape which was exactly what I wanted and executed it brilliantly. I watched her cut each curl like she was cutting a sculpture lol it’s a lot shorter because so much of it was damaged and I wanted to start fresh with healthy hair. I’ll be back here for my next cut!

This is not a review about the quality of the hair cut since Fiddleheads has the proud honor of been the first hair salon I have ever walked out of, that’s right I left and didn’t let them touch my hair. Let me begin by saying that I have been a loyal customer of another salon on U street but both of my regular stylists were out and my hair needed a trim. In desperation I saw the reviews for Fiddleheads and made an appointment.
When I arrived I was greeted by garbage on the landing by the door of the 17^th street location. This is not outside of the building but INSIDE the building, one very large garbage bag and what appeared to be the recycling area of the salon. That was just gross. Once I checked in I was told that my stylist was running «slightly» late. I understand running a little late, but about 15 minutes into waiting I realized the person I made an appointment with was nowhere near close to done with the person she was working on. This is the same salon that in their website states «If you arrive more than 15 minutes after your appointment time, you may be asked to reschedule and will be charged for the full service originally scheduled.» Figuring that I would have to wait at least 15 to 20 more minutes I was just not feeling this any longer.
Cleanliness, I will openly admit I am very picky about the cleanliness of hair salons. I want the place to be free of dust and look clean. Well there was dust and dirt all over the sitting area. To me this is a sign that the place does not get the maintenance that is required. There were a bunch of lights or candles by the windows that looked like they had not been cleaned since the first Obama administration. A bit terrifying to think what is behind closed doors.
At that point I just couldn’t do it. I had to leave. Timeliness and cleanliness are huge for me when it comes to dropping $ 75-​$ 100 on my hair.

I’m Caucasian with a Scottish/​Irish/​English background and that kind of curl and texture. I have wanted my hair long my entire life. I’m 58 and still trying to grow it completely out. Since I was at the usual point of «lose my mind or cut my hair off,» I decided instead to try the Deva method one more time and get a consult at FIddleheads I had been there a couple of years back and couldn’t seem to make it work when I got home. I vowed this time would be different.
Beth booked me a consult with Vicky, and Vicky explained it all to me. I made an appointment for a cut the next day. While Beth was making the appointment for the cut, I asked about putting in a little extra time. For one, my hair is extremely thick, and for two, this was still sort of a teaching moment, She said no, 1 hour was enough.
It wasn’t. Some guy came in wanting a hair cut and talked with Vicky during my shampoo (omg srsly must you); before I knew it I was sitting with a sopping wet mop of hair under one of the stationary cone dryers, and Vicky was cutting someone else’s hair. I sat as long as I could stand it but it’s hot in there. When I took myself out from under it, Vicky came over and started working with my hair and teaching me how to style it a bit, but that left her customer whose hair was being cut sitting there with her hair sectioned off …
So the thing is, they do great work, but it’s not a luxe salon experience. The $ 75 price tag for the cut is fair because you’re paying for specialized expertise — you’re not paying for anyone to particularly pamper you. Consequently here I am with 3^rd day hair and I’m not sure what I’m supposed to be doing right now. See, this is why people quit the method.
I would give it 4+ if I could, don’t get me wrong. For Curly Girls, this is where it’s at. Just make sure you get all the instruction you need, no matter how many people get worked in to your appointment.

I walked into my consultation at Fiddleheads on a hot Thursday night a mission. I met Vicky, sat down in the styling chair, and pulled down my shoulder length curls. Then I told her I wanted to chop it all off. For curly haired girls, this is rare. Almost pathological.
Vicky, needless to say, was… concerned.
I showed her a photo of a similar cut I had back in my edgy undergrad days, and she was transformed. Giddy. She wanted to cut it on the spot. I stuck to my weekend appointment, lest I make a huge mistake and show up bald to work the next day.
On Saturday, Vicky had shears in hand and a smile from ear to ear. I heard a bit of a Joker-​like laugh as she chopped, but her enthusiasm was endearing. All the gals in the salon were into it too. I walked away with a badass cut and headed next door to CVS to get short-​hair product. I styled at home and realized I left too much length on top. I called back and Vicky squeezed me in same-​day and trimmed to perfection.
I feel like a brand new me, and it’s thanks to Vicky. Unfortunately my budget can’t handle $ 70 trims every 3 weeks, so I alternate cuts with other salons. I could dock a star for that, but they’ve got to pay Dupont rent. I get it, and my curly revolution was worth every penny. Thank you Fiddleheads and THANK YOU VICKY!

What a great gem for curly-​haired-​girls! I just wish I would’ve found this spot sooner in my life.
After deciding to go to another random place to get my curls chopped (rather unsuccessfully, I might add), I knew I had to go somewhere to get a fix, and quick! We were coming up on Valentine’s day and my long-​distance boyfriend was visiting, and I didn’t want him to see my uneven locks! I called to make an appointment and they were able to get my in the very next day — thank goodness! However, that very next day also happened to be a snow-​day so they had to cancel everything. I wrote back and explained my situation, and the owner was able to reschedule me for within 24 hours (aka: before my bf arrived).
After I found the spot on the 3^rd floor, I took a seat and waited for my turn. They were running about 10 minutes late, but I could tell it was because they were taking care of every customer very well. Michelle cut, washed, and dried my hair like a complete pro. She was full of energy, life, and was easy to talk to. I usually don’t bring a picture of what I wanted my cut to be like, but I did this time and she look one glance and knew exactly how to go. I was super impressed — she kept checking in to make sure it was how I liked it and even did a bit of maintenance in the back when I asked for a more straight-​line cut across my back (as opposed to coming to a «V» shape). I really enjoyed the personal attention and the complete empathy for dealing with curls my whole life!
Checking out was super easy, and they emailed me my receipt (and let you add tip onto your credit card). The cut ran me $ 75 which is a bit more than I would normally spend, but it was so worth it. The owner even gave me a chocolate on my way out and said «Happy Valentine’s Day»! :) Yes, it was, they definitely saved it!