Smart Braids in Lexington, KY

If i could i would give 0 stars but i have to leave a star to write a review. I've only been to smart braids two times and both times they would tell me a price and then when i got to the hair salon they would up the price and the first time i went was the first time i ever got braids and my hair started falling out and everything and i thought it was just because it was my first time but i talked to other people and they said it is not at normal and not only that THE WHOLE TIME they were arguing and yelling and they would even stop doing my hair to yell at each other but still very stupidly i decided to give them another chance and go a second time and the second time they were even worse, i walk in the salon and they tell me that it's 250 and mind u on the phone they said it would be 180 but i still sat in the chair and the lady doing my hair was pulling my hair so hard and she literally pulled a big strand of my hair out and they were arguing and yelling as usual and then she was pulling my hair so bad to the point i just got up and left and when me and my dad were going to drive away from the salon some lady comes to our car and tells my to roll my window down and i did and this lady was literally putting her hand on the door handle and put her whole head in the window even after we repeatedly told her to get off the car and back up so we could leave and she still continued to lean on our car and we literally had to tell this woman that we were going to come back in just so that she would get off the car because she refused to listen to us when we said get off and after we told her we would go back in we drove off because lying to her was the only way she would get off the car because she was physically on our car stopping us from leaving. im warning you do. not. go. here

I wouldn't even give this place one start but had to leave a review. I took my daughter here to get box braids about a month ago and swore I would never be back. I sent a pic of what she wanted the day before and was told $180. After we got there, all the women did was fight and argue over what it was my daughter was wanting. When they finally did start braiding it, it was so tight her nose was pulled up to her hairline, and they charged me $220. When it was time for them to come out, I had a whole grocery bag full of HER hair where the tight braids made it break off and fall out. She wanted braids again. The lady that was supposed to braid her hair this time went into labor and couldn't braid it. She insisted she wanted to go back to Smart Braids. My husband took her, and he called me while she was in the chair getting started and said the lady was ripping her hair out and she was about to cry. The lady was mad because she had to brush it out and decided to rip it out by the roots rather than brush it. My daughter wanted to leave. They followed them out of the shop, all loud, saying they would be easy. And all this was after the manager told my husband $250 after she once again quoted me $180. They better be glad it was him that took her and not me!

Appointment or not if they are all doing hair you have to wait they don't care about being un organized. They don't even really communicate with customers at all unless it's showing what you want done to your hair and till it's time to pay, but the entire time they are practically yelling (laughing and talking in their language loudly which most people can't understand). They're just not professional at all NO MASK being worn (only one worker had one on) considering they're working that close to anybody that comes in there they need mask and sense there's workers in there clearly not feeling the best holding in coughs etc. there should be mask worn. They just don't care about the customers AT ALL. I'm sure sense they are basically the main braiding place in Lexington they already know they'll get customers one way or another sense they CAN BRAID i don't think they'll ever care about their bad service. Prices 100+ for anything at this place there's no reason for that price you shouldn't receive more from this place. If you need your hair braided and this is your only option yes go here they will do your hair just don't expect anything more even though you'd want more for your money. Theres no professionalism anywhere in this place.

I had an event that I needed my hair done for and my stylist had canceled on me the day of. I reluctantly called smart braids (knowing that they take same day walk ins) but since i'd gone there before I just knew it wasn't going to end well. I asked for medium sized mid back knotless braids and was charged $250. This is a style I've gotten done countless times and I knew damn well that they were ripping me off ( perhaps because I was desperate to get my hair done or maybe just because they thought I was dumb). The issue with the salon include but are not limited to:
1. extremely tight braids that will more often then not leave you with tension alopecia (kiss your edges goodbye)
2. dirty looking facilities and employees
3. lack of communication (don't bother bringing a reference picture because they'll just end up doing whatever they want and yell at you if you try to correct them)
4. the absolute rudest ladies you'll ever meet, they are constantly speaking ill of customers behind their back's (french is my first language and i speak it fluently, I can 100% guarantee you that if you think they're talking shit about you...THEY ARE.)
5. ridiculous nonsensical prices that they make up as they please (they do mediocre work and charge damn near luxury prices)
To summarize DO NOT COME HERE. You're better off finding an instagram braider or literally just shaving your head bald.

Overall, my experience was very unprofessional, unwelcoming, and poor customer service. The salon is very unorganized and the manager needs to step up and be present at her salon. I texted the manger to set up my appointment days before with a picture of the style, length, and color I want. When I walked in, I was rudely and sarcastically greeted. I told them that I had an appt for burgundy waist length knotless braids. My hair was already thoroughly blowdried but the girls roughly blowdried my hair again. They started my hair with a color that was an off burgundy and I kept saying this isn't the burgundy in the picture and they rudely insisted it was. I don't believe they understand color shades. Most importantly, the workers rushed braiding my hair and did not even braid the hair to the end at all. The salon has 10-12 workers at once that are extremely loud and argue with each other (they do not hide the work drama and will argue in front of you). This made it difficult for me to speak up and be heard, as employees were consistently speaking over and FOR me. If you have a question or concern, 5 of the employees will attack and shut you down. I noticed they did this with another customer who wasn't satisfied with her hair at all. My hair was poorly done, I wasted money, and I will never come to this braiding salon again. I was initially quoted one price when booking my appointment and was then told another price the day of my appointment. I definitely advise you not to if you have another choice.