An Atlanta resident took to TikTok to voice her frustration with a local hair braider. In the clip, TikTok user Matching My Mommy, who goes by Shaun, recounted a disappointing experience that nearly brought her to tears.
Shaun had scheduled an early-morning appointment with the braider, but she says she wasn’t aware the appointment had been canceled right as she was about to reach the salon. She went live on social media at 7:40 a.m. to vent her dissatisfaction, since the stylist had vanished after Shaun questioned the cancellation.
Shaun expressed her shock at what she described as a high level of unprofessionalism she says she encounters with Atlanta braiders and stylists. She had booked the appointment a week in advance and even received an automated confirmation. However, while selecting the hair she would need for the service, she noticed on the stylist’s website a note stating that the stylist’s business phone is turned off on Sundays. Shaun grew concerned, since she said her appointment was scheduled for 8 a.m. on Sunday, May 21.
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Despite her worries, the stylist assured Shaun that the appointment was confirmed and that she would be informed “in advance” if any changes occurred. Shaun had planned to attend several significant personal events the next morning, including her nephew’s graduation and her daughter’s ceremony.
“Are you kidding me!” she exclaimed. “It is the morning of, 30 minutes before the appointment, and that’s when you decide to cancel on me?”
Shaun is one of several women who have complained about hairstylists taking excessive liberties and behaving unprofessionally with their clients.
Influencer Ayanafite also shared a video on social media, listing five major things she refuses to accept from hairstylists. Her clip went viral on Twitter, attracting 2.6 million views.
Ayanafite said she hates when stylists take photos or videos of her hair and post them without consent. She clarified that she did not agree to be a model and didn’t receive any compensation or request to be one.
“I did not sign up to be your model,” said Ayanafite, who has more than 14,000 followers on TikTok.
Another major issue for Ayanafite is stylists arriving late for appointments. She argued that if she is expected to be punctual, stylists should be as well. Ayanafite shared her frustration about being charged late fees while stylists can run hours behind schedule without facing consequences.
Shaun also mentioned instances where stylists arrived two hours late without repercussions, while she faced fines or cancellations for being late by a short amount of time. She questioned why clients aren’t granted the same courtesy as professionals.
“If I can’t be late, neither can you,” the TikToker stated, explaining that it is unreasonable for her to be hit with a hefty late fee while her stylist, who could easily be running two hours behind, bears no penalty.
Ayanafite criticized stylists who eat while working on clients’ hair, labeling it “disgusting.” She also complained about inflated fees, especially when stylists itemize each service, causing the total to soar. Ayanafite pointed out that home-based stylists engage in the same price-gouging practices.
“That’s no disrespect to anybody,” Ayanafite insisted. “But I’m not paying you six, seven hundred dollars for a sew-in for you to do it in your [house].”
Shaun also recounted how stylists have shown up two hours later than scheduled without issue, noting that she has been hit with a $50 late fee or had her appointment canceled for arriving a few minutes late.
“I understand that my lateness can affect the next client … but as professionals, why don’t you extend the same courtesy to your clients?” asked the mother of four.
Even more troubling, according to Shaun, she recently paid a hairstylist an additional $70 “crying fee” because her 1-year-old became upset during a $40 hairstyle session.
While the videos drew mixed reactions—some viewers offered sympathy, others defended the stylists—some stylists addressed the conversations by outlining the challenges they face. They emphasized the costs they must cover, the need to turn a profit, and the unrealistic expectations of clients seeking affordable services.
One stylist who responded to the posts underscored the burden of high booth rent and the necessity to charge reasonable prices to cover expenses. She dismissed the idea of offering services for $50 to $100, declaring that it’s no longer feasible in 2023.
“Ima keep asking y’all … .if my booth rent $300-375 a week. WHY would I charge u $80-100 for a install? Do yall know how ignorant yall sound fr? It’s the complete equivalent to you working yo min wage job and only got enough to pay certain bills!” @shaneseeeeeeee wrote on Twitter. “Dis aint 2012 no mo ain’t nobody finna be doing nobody hair for no $50-100.”
The hairdresser behind this exchange maintained that she was among the minority of skilled stylists who price their work fairly based on expertise. She shared a screenshot of her services, spotlighting a flip-over sew-in priced at $230. The package includes washing, blow-drying, an optional trim, deep conditioning, and styling with detailed layers tailored to the client’s preferences.
For this stylist, the add-ons are color, crimps, and pin curls, for example, leaving those who complain with a resource for a more affordable option.
