Sako Amy African Hair Braiding

This is a review for their location on 116^th between Park and Madison. Long story short, I would say that they’re overpriced being that they don’t exactly know what they’re doing.
Here’s the long story… I called a couple of days before I went asking if they could do bra-​length, medium Marley twists and how much would it be. I asked if it was Amy that I was speaking to, she said yes, but when I arrived the next day, it was clear that I was just talking to one of the other workers, which would be fine in other cases, but no one knew what they were talking about as far as styles and prices were concerned. I was told that they could do Marley twists and that the hair was included. I was quoted a price of $ 100, which was fine. I get there the next day, and was told that the hair wasn’t included and that they sort of knew how to do Marley twists. I should’ve walked out then and there, but I decided to give them a chance. Of course, when she starts twisting, I quickly realize that she was doing senegalese twists instead of Marley. I stopped her one twist in and told her that I wanted Marley twists, but she told me since I had a lot of hair (which I do) that senegalese twists would be better. It was 11am, and I needed to be out by 4PM, so not wanting to argue, I let her install the senegalese twists. I was debating between the two styles anyway, so I figured it wouldn’t be that bad. 5 hours and 3 different ladies on my head later, i had waist length (even though I originally only wanted bra length) senegalese twists. No one was particularly rough on my edges, but I did find that some twists in the back are a little smaller than the rest. They were done pretty well for the most part, but it’s three weeks later, and I don’t think they’re in the shape to make it to another week.
I should also mention that while I was in the shop, two different women came in for styles — goddess braids and cornrows, and they didn’t even like the finish product. I ended up paying $ 140 for my twists, tip included, — $ 40 more than quoted. They wanted me to give them more than that, but that definitely wasn’t happening. Also, don’t pay any attention to their flyers that they give out hoping to get the additional discount. They don’t accept those… false advertisement, indeed.

I have gotten my hair done here before and it was pretty decent but as far as the owner AMY… VERY RUDE, UNPROFESSIONAL, AND DISRESPECTFUL TO THE CUSTOMERS. Her workers talk too much instead of focusing on the customers that are trying to get there hair done. That hair/​nail salon is suppose to be a place for business not a place for arguments and altercations. I was sitting down getting my nails done in peace. One of the hairstylists was trying to work on this woman’s hair and starting doing braids clearly she didn’t like it so the customer left. The owner AMY got pissed off and irate and started going off to the regular hairstylist Claudette about one of her own workers about it. Watching Amy get into a customer’s face and the hairstylist made me realize she is very UNPROFESSIONAL and DISRESPECTFUL. Let it be known if she would’ve gotten in my face the way she did with those two other women her face would’ve been on the FLOOR!!! Amy never tells the truth about her prices she always lied about it! Everyone else who works there is professional at ALL TIMES! But that hair braiding spot it was very ignorant to see that happened. I am very disgusted to see that happened especially a place that is suppose to be called BUSINESS. NOT it is FAR from a business it is ZOO HOUSE!!! I don’t recommend this place. Only go here if you want your nails and your NATURAL hair done but for BRAIDS NOPE TRY SOMEWHERE ELSE!

This place sucks to say the least. The African braiding section of the shop is the worst! Everyone else at the location does their work well. Amy, the owner lies about the price. She literally makes up flyers to hand out to people and does not abide by them. Also, she will quote you a price then change the price mid-​way through or tries to corner you at the end. They do not pay attention to your stylistic choices. I have witnessed people state they do not want small cornrows and they give them small cornrows and want to charge for the small cornrows. You can specifically tell them what you want with your hair and you will not get what you asked for my any means. The owner has her workers constantly rotating around when people come in, so people won’t leave.
Her workers are rude, let me be more specific, her workers that do hair are RUDE, with the exception of one. They literally talk about people, they start fights with people and are rude with people. They talk on the phone 90% of the time, they are doing your hair. This would be on their cellphones and with each other. They act like they can’t understand and/​or speak English, and refer to Amy all the time in their native tongue. People who come in to sell their items, the «hairdressers» would stop what they are doing to check it out and try it on, especially if it is African garment. I actually witness the hairdresser do a fitting for 1 hour, while the shop had several people in it. This is extremely unprofessional and disrespectful to the clients in the shop. They also have someone there working, that I don’t even thinks make a hourly wage. She hands out flyers, I think they pay her $ 5 a day or a week. I heard her asking for $ 2 for lunch one day, an Amy said no and made a big huff about it. She claimed she paid her the day before, and the lady said yes you gave me $ 5.00. This is hardly anything for a person to live on, the lady really looks unkept so I doubt she is really making any money at all. I felt bad for that lady. A few people give her a tip of $ 1 or $ 2 every once in awhile. But once again, hardly anything to live on.
Back to the «hairdressers,» they are are a disgrace to the term hairdressers. They have a sign in their shop called «I’m a hairdresser not a magician.» They are neither. Amy is an abomination to hairdressers. There is one decent hair braider that does her work, she really needs to leave and do her own thing because everyone else is scum. This place is the worst. You can be specific, Like the other reviewers stated before, I would not go here again if I did go I would have to be EXTREMELY DESPERATE.

Went here once– I have never been back. The lady who initially was going to do my hair seemed to have NEVER done Senegalese twists before, but kept trying to assure me that she knew what she was doing. After about 10 twists (horrible looking twist) I asked her to take them down and offered to pay for the time she had spent – It was ridiculous.
They begged me not to go, and another lady called a different women to come do my hair. She did pretty well, but doesn’t normally work there, sooo…
The shop was spacious, but I witnessed two workers get into two separate altercations with customers. One argument was about the worker having a bad attitude and rudely bumping into a customer. There was also a lot of drama about the owner’s teenage son threatening to come shoot her over some money– the police were called. I think I caught them in a really bad day. #NeverGoingBack

I originally found this place through a friend who had amazing short Senegalese twists done here. Before I used to go to Billy Jean’s in Harlem, which is amazing by the way but too far of a commute for someone that lives in Brooklyn. Anyway, despite the ratings that I saw for her on here, I decided to take a chance and go because of my friend.
Where to begin?! I got there at 11 am and didnt leave until 7 pm. And the drama that between those hours brought me back to the previous reviews! First the woman, who started my hair, stopped after a half hour, told me she was coming back and never returned!!! So I sat there for the first 20 minutes waiting, mind you Amy kept saying «Ohh she will be right back…» and then by a hour, my friend who was with me got irritated and asked her [Amy] where did she go and that it was really unprofessional for her to leave and not come back! Amy, then changed her whistle and said to me that I should not have allowed her to leave and continue my hair! A hour and a half goes by with me sitting in the chair and then Amy starts saying that this was not like the girl to just disappear like that and that something must have happened! Where is the communication between you and your staff that they up and disappear without a word! Amy is not true to her word especially when it comes to her prices! I saw her arguing with customers that have been going there a lot longer about prices and then she would make herself a martyr and say how she is just trying to run a business and that people take advantage of her niceness! It took up to three different women to finish my hair and that was either one working by herself at first to three all at once! Amy in all of this time did not have the courtesy to extend a discount and I already paid her when I first sat in the chair! She told me that the next time that I come she would discount me and had the nerve to take flyers for my friends!
In terms of my hair, which was a long Senegalese twist style, I was not satsified! Although Billy Jean’s was a sweatshop, they delivered quality work and was worth the money! My twists were uneven and sloppy. By week 2, it was frizzy as all hell! Unless, you want to be bs, I wouldn’t suggest this place to my worst enemy!

Despite the previous Unilocaler who said that this place was filthy and cluttered, I found it to be quite the opposite. It was very neat and clean. Walls were painted pink, and they had a TV where they played some very entertaining african movies. I came here for senegalese twists. I called the night before to get a quote, and was told 80 bucks with hair included. Compared to other places I called, that was a steal. However, halfway through getting my hair done, the owner, Amy said that since the length was long, it would be more. She said that any other shop would charge at least 150, which was true… but still I was quoted 80. even when the lady started doing my hair and asked me what length, I told her. whatever 80 bucks gives me. lol. Long story short, the owner charged me 100 bucks which still was much less than other prices I’ve seen, but its just the principal.
As far as the hair, I love it! The braider wasn’t too rough, as was the case when i’ve gotten braids in the past. The only time it felt uncomfortable was around the edges, and she was very apologetic. She told me to hold the top of the braid to ease some of the pain.
Why did I take away two stars? Well, I got there at 10, and didn’t leave until a little after 7. My goodness… thats longer than a full day of work. Sheesh! The lady doing my hair took an hour break to braid another ladies hair which i did not appreciate.
Would I return again? Yes, but not for a longgggg time