1 /5 C Cierra (Alex): My Honest Experience with Kea at Natural Shades of Beauty Salon
TL;DR:
I booked an 8-hour appointment at Natural Shades of Beauty with Kea, who was late, dismissive, and rough. She ignored my requests, forced a style I didn’t like, and left my hair with product buildup. Even after I expressed my dissatisfaction, I was still charged $155. CashApp also flagged her as a potential scammer. I would not return or recommend this salon.
FULL REVIEW:
On February 19, 2025, I had an appointment at Natural Shades of Beauty Salon with Kea for a takedown and natural boho braids. Unfortunately, this was the worst experience I’ve had at a salon.
1. Poor Time Management & Unprofessionalism
• Kea was an hour late to my 10 am appointment.
• She worked on other clients while working on me, causing my 4.5-hour appointment to take 8 hours.
• At 1:30 PM (over 3 hours in), she asked if she could work on another client while I waited.
2. My Requests Were Ignored
• I stated in my booking notes and verbally that I wanted a natural, non-tight style, that I’m tender-headed, and that I don’t like braids on my neck—Kea ignored all of this.
• When I told her I didn’t like how the braids looked, she kept telling me to “trust the process” rather than addressing my concerns.
• I felt insecure throughout the appointment but was repeatedly reassured that the style would look good once finished.
3. Rough & Painful Handling
• Kea pulled and yanked my hair aggressively, causing my glasses to hit my nose bridge twice.
• Even though I flinched and reminded her I was tender-headed, she never adjusted her technique.
• Before I left, she sprayed my hair with oil without warning, getting oil dots all over my glasses—which made driving home in the rain and dark difficult.
4. The Final Style Was Not What I Expected
• The parts were uneven, the braids were stiff and cakey, and my hair felt dirty and heavy (photos attached).
• When I saw my hair, I immediately disliked it and told Kea.
• I felt so uncomfortable that I asked if they had a bonnet I could buy just to cover my hair before leaving.
• When I took the braids out, I found clumps of product buildup that took extra effort to remove.
5. Payment & Refund Concerns
• Even after I expressed dissatisfaction, they still charged me $140 (I paid $155 via CashApp).
• CashApp flagged Kea’s account as a potential scam, making refunds difficult.
• As of Feb 23. 2025, Kea has declined my refund request on Cashapp even though I immediately expressed my dissatisfaction and had to remove the style completely.
6. Concerning Comments
• Throughout the appointment, Kea made multiple remarks about my hair texture and asked why I was insecure about my natural hair.
• She also asked if my mom was white, which felt out of place.
• After reading other reviews, I noticed similar complaints from past customers.
Final Thoughts
• This salon does not prioritize clients’ preferences or comfort.
• Kea was rough, dismissive, and did not take my feedback seriously.
• I would not recommend this stylist or this salon. Stay far away and take your money elsewhere.
