A newcomer’s guide to Charlotte’s most recommended black hair salons
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It’s been two years since I left my post-war Harlem apartment for the Carolinas; a transition that required my leaving behind metro cards and 125th Street nostalgia. More important, I bid farewell to my beloved hair salon.
For context: For black girls like me who grew up under the dryer on Saturday mornings listening to their mothers gossip between hot combs and hot oil treatments, departing from a long-time hair stylist was the equivalent to playing Russian roulette. Not just anyone would do.
Black hair is a relationship of both challenge and self-expression, inundated with rituals that reach from the kitchen stove to YouTube tutorials, and now across the aisles of Target where products catering to kinks and curls have become mainstream staples.
Selecting a proper “hair whisperer” carries the same level of importance as choosing the right doctor or dentist. The stylist is required to perform more than a service. They are both therapist and image consultant, managing the fragility of our egos and evolving us every step of the way into our womanhood.
It took me a full year before I took the risk to sit in someone’s chair. And now, the relationship I share with Jasmine Nicole is sacred. She knows my life, my struggles of dating in the city, where I shop for organic vegetables, and how often I set out to rule the world one day. I’m keeping her.
For those entrusting the Queen City with your new beginnings, it always helps to have a great network of people to help direct you to stylists that slay.
In an effort to help you get closer to your very own sacred hair whisperer, we surveyed a chic group of Charlotte young professionals to deliver a list of salon recommendations or all types of black hair. Try your hand at their top picks for high quality local salons with a penchant for taming tresses.
Styles by Lisa of Beverly Hills
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Location: South Charlotte, 4208 South Blvd; (704) 202-8817
Connect: Website | Book | Facebook
Specialties: Natural hair, extensions, cuts and color
Price Point: $$
Personal recommendation: “My stylist Jasmine is a rockstar. The staff is always courteous and friendly, and the salons are well designed. They also use a collection of high end products and you even earn points towards discounted services when you come in.”
Revolution Ego
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Location: Uptown, 312 N Myers St #115; (704) 951-7386
Connect: Website | Book | Facebook | Instagram
Specialties: Natural hair, cuts, color, treatments
Price Point: $$$
Recommended by: Davida Jackson, Digital Marketer
Inside scoop: “Revolution Ego hands down has the best natural stylists around.”
Trois Salon
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Location: South End, 1427 South Blvd Suite 104; (704) 900-7852
Connect: Website | Facebook | Instagram
Specialties: Natural hair, cuts, color
Price Point: $
Recommended by: Chrysten Crockett
Inside scoop: “My stylist Neiko was honestly a God send. I’ve always had long natural hair which is naturally curly and also very fine. With my texture hair it breaks very easily so I have always been careful about particular styles and processed used to tame my hair. Because of terrible experiences and scissor happy stylists I’ve always just stuck with the stylist I’ve trusted for years back home… in Cleveland, Ohio.
Neiko didn’t even put a finger in my head until she had a conversation with me and made me feel comfortable. She asked me exactly what I wanted to do and she gave me options on how to achieve my wants. She showed me and explained to me everything she was doing while styling my hair and made sure I could see the mirror the whole time. I’ve been going to her for about 6 months now and already my hair is thicker, longer and healthier. I recommended her to my best friend and now she’s her stylist too!”
Studio Pynk Suites
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Location: South Charlotte, 9640 South Tryon Street, Suite B; (704) 901-5924
Connect: Website | Facebook | Instagram
Specialties: cuts, color, extensions, blowouts
Price point: $
Recommended by: Enovia Bedford, Regional Manager at Funding Post
Inside scoop: “Lea is a talented stylist that never disappoints. She has a sweet disposition and I always walk out satisfied. I also love the salon. It feels like a family every time I walk in. They also host lots of events like vision-boarding and meet-and-greets.”
Stylist: Takiyah Rená
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Location: South Charlotte, Organic Hair Boutique, 5300 Old Pineville Road #116; (704) 713-9569
Connect: Book | Facebook | Instagram
Specialties: Natural hair, cuts, color, extensions, crochet hair
Price point: $
Recommended by: Kourtney Scott, Style entrepreneur at EZ Styles apparel and jewelry
Inside scoop: “My stylist Takiyah is awesome with natural hair. She is the one who encouraged me [to go natural] and I’ve been going to her since I moved to Charlotte in 2013.”
Xander Salon
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Location: Ballantyne, 11914 Elm Lane, Suite #150; (704) 900-7372
Specialties: Multicultural, all hair types, cuts, color, spa services
Price point: $$$
Recommended by: Andrea Holmes Simmons, Sales manager
Inside scoop: “Xander Salon in Ballantyne is a hidden gem! Owner Carol Alexander has been in the hair game for well over 20+ years and she still kills it keeping current with the latest trends!!! My personal stylist BJ Cherry is a beast who specializes in all hair types and keeps me on point!! Oh, and I can’t forget my girl Denise Griffin who keeps my eyebrows on FLEEK and my skin flawless with her organic facials!!!! Check ’em out.”
Tracy Riggs Salon
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Location: Ballantyne, 14815 Ballantyne Village Way Suite #25 (inside Salon Lofts)
Connect: Website | Book | Facebook
Specialties: natural hair, cuts, color, blowouts
Price point: $$$
Recommended by: Chelia S.
Inside scoop: “I walked in with a vision in my head and some pics of a haircut that I found online and [Tracy] made it happen. I had been to her salon before at another location, but Tracy had never actually done my hair. Still I would not have trusted anyone else to do something so drastic to my hair. She was very efficient and professional. I wasn’t double-booked and was in/out in a very reasonable amount of time. She is very knowledgeable and while styling my hair told me what products she was using, how to style/maintain my hair. It was a great experience.”
Bold Hair
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Location: Near the Arboretum, 8035 Providence Road (located in Sola Salon Studios)
Price Point: $$
Specialties: Natural hair, cuts, color
Recommended by: Kristal High Taylor, Editor in chief of Politic365
Inside scoop: “Chrissy Pate is the owner and fab for days. She’s natural, as are most of her clients, and she can do hair every which way you can imagine. Very focused on promoting hair (and spiritual health). She’s a sweetie!”
Cover image via the Tracy Riggs Salon Facebook page