Loc' it up dreadlock salon in Tampa, FL

My first intial meeting with Mattie was on May 24, 2023 for a consultation to evaluate a new dread loc extensions installation. I brought pictures showing what my desired outcome I wanted which was a smaller size dread. As I was not knowledgeable on the dread process I trusted Mattie expertise advise in this process. She informed me that I should not look to get smaller dreads as they would break my hair off and I should get a medium size. I agreed with her recommendations and told her that I will proceed with having her to do my installation trusting her process. I was advised that the total cost would be $1000 where I paid $500 down to buy the hair that she stated she had to make from human hair. What I received, was a blend of ground broken trimmings mixed with synthetic hair that I know she orderedpremade bundles from online. I was told by Mattie that I would be getting 100% human hair and she would have to make the locs which is why the price I was being charged was so high. The balance amount of 500 would be due after the installation was completed. The installation date was on Sunday, May 28, 2023. When I came into Mattie' shop my hair was healthy and I had full perimter of natural beautiful hair 5 to 6 inches. I had been growing out my hair for over 10 months as I was preparing my length for this dread process. I was very excited to start the process as I explained to her my reasoning for getting dreads as I could no longer ontinue to maintain my natural afro fro due to a recent shoulder and bicep surgery. After several hours into the process, I asked Mattie what was the process she was using to install my dreads. She was so rude and told me it was very unprofessional to share with her clients the exact method she use to fo their hair. She stated that if I wanted to know, I should go search on the website about dreads. Unfortunately, I wish this was the first question I had ask, there is no way possible I would allowed this person to start work on my hair if she would not tell me the method of installing my dreads. As she had already added several dreads in, I didn't want to get up and leave with only having half my hair done. Again, I stress that I put all my faith in this lady to do right by me as this is her profession in which she claims to be the best in Tampa and a teacher in the proper dread installation and maintenance. I didn't know anything about dread installation and the varies processes. She told me that I should have some of the dreads cut off to layer my hair. She cut length off my 6 inch dreads that I just purchased. The process took 7 hours. At the end of the process, I cannot say I was happy with the outcome as my hair didn't resemble anything to the pictures I had showed her. I keep telling myself to trust her process as I assume when I came back in 6 weeks she would palm roll my hair to where my hair would be tighten at the root and it would eventually look better. Before I left, she put before me over $120 in products that' she recommended that I should buy to maintain my hair. The first day when I got home, my hair would constantly itch. This went on for three days until I finally decided to reach out to Mattie and explain the constant itching and the rash I got on my cheeks and the back of my neck. She was very defensive and rude with her response and stated I was the first to ever complain about itching of the hair and a rash . And I flat out asked her what type of hair she put in my head. She confirmed again that it was all human hair. I decided to reach out to multiple hair shops the following week to have them assess if my installation was done correctly. All three echoed the same message that my install was not done correctly. I was also told they didn't know the exact method of how Mattie put in the dreads and that the dreads were not real human hair. They could clearly see that the way she wrapped more hair around my root it was going to break off my hair. My dreads were big and bulky and barely holding on. I developed several bald spots from the irriation of the synthetic hair that had been chemically processed to resemble 4c texture human hair. I knew I could not in good conscience continue on with these dreads in my hair any longer as it was going to continually weaken and damaged my natural hair. And the constant itching and irritation had not subsided. I only had two choices. Get my hair completly cut off or have someone to figure out how to remove these dreads and have them redone the correct way. After getting these assessments, I did reach out to Mattie advise her that she scammed me .(falsification of services). She didn't provide me with the product she stated was real hair and the installation was shoddy work. I told here I want a full refund of $1167.94 which include the $1000 for hair and install and $167.94 for all the maintenance products she recommended. Plus the the $25 for the consultation.

Went there several months ago for my Son's first twist. $140. Came back for locks $250, plus another $50 for products and his night cap. was told it would last longer and only $95 for maintenance. Came back 4-5 weeks later for the second round of maintenance and she said that his hair was too thick to twist again, I specifically asked if it was still $95 and She said yes. When I returned 45 mins (which was the only time my son got out there that fast) she reveals a $295 charge. I may not understand all of the terminology for what's involved in dreadlocks, but I don't understand how 2 months ago it was $250 and now it's $295. I refused to pay that. She did refund my money but I was told I couldn't bring him there anymore. No problem. Each time I've gone in there the price got higher. Also doesn't have respect for appointment time. First time we got there at 1030 am, there was 3 other people in salon, 10 mins in she left to get her lunch, she was gone 45 min. We didn't leave til 2pm. This seemed to be the pattern for the appointments.

I went to this salon to inquire about services for natural hair. The person that met me at the door was very rude and disrespectful. Her behavior towards me made me realize that this is not a salon that I want to acquire services from.

She never shows up on time and overbooks her clients. Started my hair and didn't finish. Had to go somewhere else. Way overpriced. Horrible service.

This stylist is disrespectful and rude. She over books her customers and don't care about your time. I scheduled a deep conditioner and styling and when I got there she was working on one person's hair. She rushed to shampoo and condition my hair and left me there for almost 3 hours while she began working on a 3rd person who came in an hour after I arrived. When she finished that person's hair, she washed out the conditioner and with my hair dripping wet, she then said to me that I have to come back the next day because she is behind with the 1st customer and proceeded to walk me with my hair dropping wet and a towel on my head to the front of the shop to her register. She knew I could not come the following day because I had already made that clear. I asked her to atleast oil and comb my hair and she said not before I paid then charged me $40 for a rushed shampoo and conditioner when I came in for a style. Shameful what was done to me. It was clear to me that I was scammed. I would not recommend anyone go to this shop. Note: each time i told her what i wanted, which was a deep conditioner and style, she kept trying to get me to change it to the higher priced styles that cost hundreds of dollars.