A.S. African Hair Braiding shop

- 1521 W 87th St, Chicago, IL 60620

For many residents of Illinois, particularly within the diverse communities of Chicago, finding a skilled and reliable **African hair braiding shop** is a necessity, not a luxury. A.S. African Hair Braiding shop, located on the South Side of Chicago, stands as a specialized **hair salon and beauty salon** dedicated to this intricate and culturally significant form of hairstyling. The shop’s primary focus is providing expert braiding services, along with general hairstyling and the application of **hair extensions**. This specialization confirms its role as a key resource for individuals seeking authentic and complex protective styles in the Illinois region.

The experience at A.S. African Hair Braiding shop, however, presents a deeply polarized reality based on customer feedback, a factual element that prospective Illinois clients should consider when booking. On one hand, the salon is celebrated by loyal patrons who enthusiastically commend the quality of the finished product, stating they "love every each one of the braiders work" and that the jobs are "amazing" with **fair pricing**. This positive view highlights the high technical skill and aesthetic appeal of the braiding work achieved by the staff.

Conversely, the shop has also been associated with severe reports of unprofessionalism and serious service issues. One highly concerning account details an **11-hour wait time**, and alarmingly, a report of hot water being spilled on a client while dipping braids, resulting in a claim of third-degree burns. This review also cited an "extremely unprofessional" response from the staff, including allegedly being locked in the shop after complaining. This sharp contrast in experiences underscores that while the technical result—the appearance of the braids—may be excellent, the customer service, time management, and safety protocols have been described in factual, public reviews as being dangerously lacking and "horrible." A fully informed Illinois consumer must weigh the proven skill level against the reported concerns about professional conduct and lengthy service times.

A.S. African Hair Braiding shop is situated at **1521 W 87th St, Chicago, IL 60620, USA**. This address places the salon in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood, a central and accessible part of Chicago’s South Side. W 87th Street is a main thoroughfare, making the location easily reachable for clients traveling from various parts of the city and its surrounding Illinois suburbs.

The salon's location, directly on a well-known street, offers straightforward access. While specific details on parking or proximity to public transportation are not provided in the basic information, its position on a major city street generally implies good accessibility via CTA buses that service the 87th Street corridor. This accessibility is important for clients, as the services offered, such as full head braiding and extensions, are lengthy appointments requiring convenient travel options. For the comfort of clients during these long service periods, the salon provides an essential amenity: a **Restroom**. This basic provision is a necessary component for appointments that can, according to client feedback, extend far beyond typical salon visit times. The ease of locating the shop on a main street is a minor convenience that assists new and returning Illinois customers.

As a specialized hair and beauty salon, the service menu at A.S. African Hair Braiding shop is highly concentrated on traditional and contemporary styling that involves hair manipulation and added hair.

Core services offered include:

• **African Hair Braiding:** This is the shop's signature and primary offering, encompassing a vast array of protective hairstyles. This category typically includes, but is not limited to:
  • Box Braids (various sizes and lengths)
  • Knotless Braids
  • Cornrows (including feed-in and custom designs)
  • Twists (Senegalese, Marley, Havana, etc.)
  • Goddess/Bohemian Braids
• **Hair Braiding:** The general term for the application and maintenance of braided styles.
• **Hairstyling:** This service covers general hair preparation, sectioning, and finishing for the braided styles. It may also include simple styles not involving extensions.
• **Hair Extensions:** The addition of synthetic or human hair to create length, volume, or specific styles. This is a crucial element for most popular braiding styles like box braids and twists. The shop's ability to seamlessly incorporate extensions is central to its overall quality of work.

The standout features and highlights of A.S. African Hair Braiding shop are almost entirely performance-based, yet balanced by severe operational and professional challenges:

• **Technical Excellence in Braiding:** Loyal customers consistently praise the braiders' work, confirming that the **hair braiding** quality is "amazing" and that the finished look is **great**. This is the key positive attribute that drives return business.
• **Fair and Competitive Pricing:** The customer feedback specifically notes that the shop "do not overcharge," suggesting that the price point is **just right** and competitive for the labor-intensive services provided in the Chicago market.
• **Dedicated Specialization:** The shop's singular focus on **African Hair braiding**, **Hairstyling**, and **Hair extensions** means the staff has specialized, concentrated expertise in these protective styles.
• **Service Time Variability (Factual Concern):** The reported **11-hour service time** is a factual customer complaint that must be noted as a potential feature of the experience, indicating highly unpredictable and potentially extremely long appointments.
• **Customer Safety and Professionalism Concerns (Factual Concern):** The reports of the hot water injury and the allegation of being locked in the shop after complaining are serious, factual claims that highlight potential and severe risks regarding **customer safety** and **professional conduct**.

To connect with A.S. African Hair Braiding shop for inquiries regarding braiding styles, pricing, or to attempt to schedule an appointment, Illinois residents can use the following contact information:
Address: 1521 W 87th St, Chicago, IL 60620, USA
Phone: (773) 943-9253
Prospective clients are strongly encouraged to call the provided number well in advance, and, based on customer reports, should attempt to receive a clear, upfront estimate of the service duration.

For the Illinois client, deciding whether or not to visit A.S. African Hair Braiding shop comes down to a calculated risk-reward analysis. **What is worth choosing** about this particular beauty salon is the confirmed **high-quality output** of the **African Hair braiding** itself and the promise of a **fair price**. Customers who focus solely on the final aesthetic result, and who have the time and patience to withstand the reported lengthy waits, may find the final product to be exactly what they desire. The staff's technical skill in creating protective styles with **hair extensions** is undeniable, drawing continuous praise from loyal customers.

However, the decision must be tempered by the severe and alarming claims made in public reviews. The potential for **11-hour appointments** and the explicit reports of **unsafe practices and unprofessional conduct** must be acknowledged as a factual part of the salon’s customer service record. Therefore, while the braiding skill is a major draw for the Chicago community, a client choosing this shop is knowingly trading the certainty of a great-looking finished style against the documented risk of a severely negative service experience. An informed Illinois consumer should proceed with cautious optimism, prioritizing clear communication and being prepared for significant service delays.

A.S. African Hair Braiding shop

1521 W 87th St, Chicago, IL 60620, USA