Gertrude Hair Braiding

- 7122 S Vincennes Ave, Chicago, IL 60621

For residents across the Illinois region, specialized hair care, particularly services like protective styling and intricate braiding, are essential components of routine beauty maintenance. Gertrude Hair Braiding, situated at 7122 S Vincennes Ave in Chicago, is a local establishment operating within the hair replacement service category, with a clear practical focus on hair braiding techniques. The salon seeks to provide clients with popular styles, such as Box Braids, while serving the vibrant community of the 60621 area.

As with any service-based business, prospective clients rely heavily on firsthand accounts to gauge the expected experience and quality. The public information available for Gertrude Hair Braiding offers a detailed, though mixed, view of the experience. Customers have noted the stylist's personal demeanor, describing the individual as "sweet," which speaks to a foundational courtesy. However, recent, detailed customer feedback highlights several crucial operational and technical concerns that any Illinois resident considering an appointment should be fully aware of before booking. The experience, as reported by multiple clients, involves issues ranging from the execution of the style to in-salon professionalism and hygiene standards.

Understanding the full context of these reports is necessary for making an informed decision about specialized hair care. This article provides a factual breakdown of the salon’s location, services, and the specific details of the customer experiences available in the public domain, ensuring transparency for the Chicago community.

Gertrude Hair Braiding is located at 7122 S Vincennes Ave, Chicago, IL 60621, USA. This South Side location places the salon in a known, accessible area of the city, serving the immediate community and surrounding Illinois neighborhoods. Being situated on Vincennes Avenue generally offers convenience for travel via local roads and public transport options serving the 60621 ZIP code.

The business operates under a planning policy where appointments are recommended. This standard practice in the beauty industry is typically aimed at ensuring dedicated time for the often lengthy process of braiding and styling, thereby improving efficiency and reducing client wait times. However, the client experiences suggest that while appointments are recommended, actual time management and focus during the service may vary significantly from standard professional expectations. The physical location provides a Restroom as an essential amenity for client comfort during the duration of the styling process. Clients are advised to confirm the current operational hours and scheduling details directly using the provided contact information to ensure the best planning for their visit.

Based on the business name and detailed customer reviews, Gertrude Hair Braiding primarily focuses on services related to protective styling and hair preparation, aligning with its classification within the broader hair replacement service category.

The core services offered and described through client interaction include:

• Hair Braiding: The central service, including popular and specific styles such as Box Braids. Clients have reported issues regarding the execution of part selection (e.g., receiving a side part after requesting a middle part).
• Hair Straightening: A service used as part of the styling or preparation process, where one client reported the hair was straightened as part of their service.
• Hair Combing/Detangling: Preparation services for natural hair. Customer feedback explicitly indicates the application of significant force ("combed it VERY hard"), potentially leading to hair breakage, as the gentle technique (combing from tips to root) was reportedly not utilized.
• Styling Product Application: Involves the use of products, specifically gel, during the braiding process. One client noted the excessive use of gel, raising concerns about potential long-term hair breakage.
• Style Installation: This includes the installation of individual braids, with reports indicating a lack of tension control ("braiding my hair too tight") and poor long-term retention ("lost three to four braids," "braids sliding out first").

These details show a clear offering of foundational braiding and preparatory services, but the execution of these services is the main focus of the available feedback.

The features and highlights of the salon, as derived from the factual public data, present a dual perspective on the service experience:

• Stylist Personality: Clients found the stylist to be personally "sweet," indicating a positive general demeanor.
• Required Planning: Appointments are recommended, providing a basic framework for scheduling.
• On-Site Amenities: A Restroom is provided for client convenience.
• Reported Hygiene Concerns: Multiple client reports explicitly noted poor cleanliness, stating the interior was "dirty inside with hair everywhere and trash all on the floor."
• Reported Professionalism Issues: Concerns were raised regarding the stylist being "on the phone the entire time being loud in my ear" and appearing to rush the service.
• Reported Technical Issues: Feedback consistently mentioned significant technique problems, including braiding "too tight," resulting in "sliding out" and "lost three to four braids," and inappropriate combing methods for natural hair.
• Reported Styling Discrepancy: A customer received a side part when explicitly requesting a middle part for their Box Braids, indicating a failure to meet specific styling requests.
• Reported Pricing/Value Concern: One client was charged $220 for braids that began to fail (sliding out, becoming short in the middle) within one week.

For Illinois clients wishing to contact Gertrude Hair Braiding to inquire about services or schedule an appointment, the following confirmed details are available:

Address: 7122 S Vincennes Ave, Chicago, IL 60621, USA

Phone: (773) 653-0279

Mobile Phone: +1 773-653-0279

When considering Gertrude Hair Braiding, Chicago clients must weigh the necessity of specialized braiding against the clear and consistent factual feedback available from previous customers. The primary service offered is highly specialized and in demand across Illinois. However, the available public data provides extensive and detailed reports of dissatisfaction regarding the core tenets of professional hair care.

The decision to choose this salon must be made with full awareness of the reported issues, including high charges for braids with poor retention, significant concerns regarding braiding tension (tightness) and breakage-inducing techniques for natural hair, and issues with in-salon professionalism and cleanliness. While the salon is positioned to offer essential protective styling, the consistent negative feedback on quality, comfort, and professional conduct reported by clients is a critical factor. Prospective customers are strongly encouraged to contact the salon directly and seek additional, very recent feedback to gauge any improvements or changes in service standards before committing to a costly, time-intensive procedure like specialized hair braiding.

Gertrude Hair Braiding

7122 S Vincennes Ave, Chicago, IL 60621, USA