Salon Essence

Had an appointment at 12. At least 5 other women in the salon talking to the stylist– some waiting to get their hair done, some just being distractions to the stylist so i didn’t know how many were double booked ahead of me.
At 1:30 I finally got some good sense about myself and asked the stylist if I needed to come back another time because he still hadn’t even gotten me to the wash bowl.
At 1:45 I was finally washed.
I did not leave until 5:45. Did I get a weave? No. A virgin relaxer? No. Braids? No. A color and a wash and set on relaxed hair that normally takes no more than 3 hrs. yes. Never again
There were other issues here, but the timing thing alone trumps all.

I’ve been to this salong twice and both times I was extremely satisfied. I have thick, coure natural hair and its very hard to find a salong that knows how to wash, condition, press and style.
Other reviews mention a price difference but mines was the same time every time, 35 maybe $ 40 (something like that). I also go to the same guy every time, Master Bey! OMG he knows what he’s doing and LOVE LOVE LOVE him! This man is very educated as well. ! Definetly looking to go back soon.

This review is based on my experience with Janell at Salon Essence. I have been going to this salon since 2002. I used to have another stylist do my hair but when he left the salon I decided to go with Janell. She is an outstanding hair stylist. If you are looking for someone that understands the meaning of hair care, does not double or triple book people in your time slot and gives great customer service then Janell is your stylist. Give the salon a call and ask specifically for Janell, so is amazing.

I went in asking for a shampoo and a trim. The stylist talked me into a deep condition (which is fine) and a blow out (basically because she didn’t want to cut my curly hair natural). I let her do it, even though heat is not great for my hair. I told her that and she promised she knew what she was doing with hair like mine. It’s 4 days later, and I just got back from the Aveda salon where they advised me on how to repair the IMMENSE damage that she did to my hair. I don’t even know where to start except that it was such a disaster on Saturday morning when I washed it to go natural again, that I cried.
On top of everything else, after she did the blow out, she cut the hair near my face into bangs without asking!!! It’ll be a few months before it stops looking weird. :-(
For all of this I was charged $ 110 (cash only! how annoying), and I was there for almost 6 hours.
All in all an awful experience. I don’t recommend it.

Why did I do it? I think it was the coupon!
I went to Salon Essence despite the negative reviews. My bad. I thought maybe I would get the one good person there. Well, when I walked in… there was complete silence. No hello, no anything. Okay, I found the stylist who was suppose to be doing my hair. I was told to have a seat. I sat for almost 40 minutes before SHE STARTED (she had apparently forgot to schedule herself lunch– and needed to eat).
OK. So I wanted color in my hair. Well, with something like that you really can’t be doing my hair AND someone else’s at the same time. She tried it anyway. So it literally took 5 HOURS to get my hair done. And my hi-​lights looked like low-​lights!
It turned out that my stylist was nice, and the lady who helped wash my hair was nice… but next time I need nice to come quicker and be a little more professional. I RAN out of there when it was (finally) over.

I simply have no words nor the patience to describe the whole experience. Let’s just say I was there for 8 ½ hours (I had a Trubates) because the person doing it «had other things to do.» Not worth the supposed ‘discount.’ Too many other businesses in the District. FYI, the Trubates is under another name
not Salon Essence.

I came here with my friend who was getting married to get our hair done. We called to let them know we were going to be a few minutes late, but were greeted very rudely when we arrived even though we did give them a courtesy call.
One of the ladies was nice, but the other lady kept giving me attitude the whole time we were there. Firstly, she told me she couldn’t style my hair because regulations were that it needed to be shampooed, and i had just washed and straightened my hair the night before on my own because it takes so long so i just wanted a simple updo from the stylist. But i do understand that regulations are regulations, i had just never heard of that before.
So while i am waiting for my friend to get her hair done, i sat at the front of the shop to keep her company for the first half of her session. She was then moved to the back of the shop under the dryer, so i moved along with her. Once she was ready to move back up front to finish up, i was getting ready to move with her and the lady just yelled at me in front of the whole shop telling me to stay in the back and i wasn’t allowed up front, when the whole first half of the morning i was sitting there with no problem.
She just had major attitude with me the whole time there, my friend’s hair turned out really cute, so i can’t comment negatively on the performance of her work but when it comes to customer service that was defenitely thrown out the window.

Let’s just say I don’t plan on coming back here. Although I followed a stylist here this salon is not a high end salon. There is no receptionist to greet you when you walk in, no waiting area and people are just walking in and out like they own the place. I even saw student stylist working on clients which is OK if the client says so, but if I am paying 65 dollars for a blow out you bet I want a professional with experience to do my hair. Also they don’t except credit cards. There are plenty of good salons in DC no need to go here

Ive visited this salon several times in 2009. Most of the time I saw Janelle, she is loud and wears lots of makeup. I am natural and she used to blow my hair out. She was nice the first few times I went. I also came one time and they let a new girl do my hair which sucked, she didnt get it as straight. There is a man who works in there who is loud and flamboyant, and dare I say RUDE! i did not like the environment of the salon but at this point I did not know much about haircare and I liked the finished, silky straight product of my hair when I walked out of the salon, burns and all. I did not know at this time that my hair had been permanently heat damaged. However, the last time i visited Janelle I was suffering breakage and she made me feel even worse by telling me how bad my hair was and how it wouldnt look right. then she put curls in it which made it look even worse! I walked out of there feeling bad about myself and vowing to never return.

I’m embarrassed to say I didn’t heed Tamaro T’s advice. My mom was visiting in August and approached a waitress who apparently had great hair to ask her where I should go, since I just moved to DC this summer. The waitress pointed her toward Salon Essence, noting that the stylist charged $ 35.
I went to the salon, and was happy with my hair, but not blown away. I was charged $ 50; my hair is long, but not long enough for that much of a price differential. I didn’t go back for a few months.
On Monday, I was desperate for a wash/​blowdry/​flatiron, and most salons were closed, so I returned. I was charged $ 70. Not only that, but the stylist is insane and was spouting off about the mental instability of black women as though it were fact (hello — who are your clients???), and discussing how the pyramids help keep the earth in rotation. It was all-​in-​all ridiculous. I am not going back; I’ll definitely wait until Tuesday next time. I wouldn’t recommend the salon to a friend.

I went back to get the same exact service and the price all of a sudden went up almost double. Plus the service wasn’t as good. I know I said I loved this place before… but things change.