Natural Hair Salon Review โ Kudatot Hair Salon
I am on an- ongoing quest to find a natural hair salon that properly cares for and nurtures my natural hair.
I have had a couple of bad salon experiences, where I have felt judged for the texture coming out of my head and dismissed for requesting that it be handled properly. Since then, I have made it my mission to go through the numbers in my quest for a knowledgeable natural hair salon, so that you do not have to.
Salon Feature โ Hairtural
Kudatot is listed in our Natural Hair Johannesburg Salon Finder, and so I decided to give them a try.
Address: 144 Curzon Rd, Bryanston, Sandton, 2060
Website: Kudatot.com
I will be discussing the following: –
*Pssst, check out another salon review – Natural Hair Salon Review – Hairtural.
1. Booking / Appointment Scheduling
Booking is via appointment and you can either call or WhatsApp them to reserve a date.
Booking was pretty painless, and they answered the phone call promptly. The receptionist gave good old-fashioned service when taking my details, and made sure that we were on the same page in terms of what service they would be offering.
I suspect that you can walk-in as their booking is not as rigid as Hairtural, however the two times I have visited them, all the stylists were busy and so it is advisable to rather call in.
๐บ Score: 2,5/2,5
2. Overall Appearance
The salon itself has a nice, welcoming interior, with a good overall appearance.
It has a relaxing vibe, and is clean, with enough space between the stations for comfortable seating.
Cons: limited parking in front of the salon, but there is ample parking in the shopping centre parking lot.
Score: 4/5
3. Overall Appearance
I got a friendly welcome from the receptionist, who confirmed my details and then introduced me to my hair stylist.
The owner also made a positive impression, engaging with each client and offering genuine compliments. It was refreshing to see someone so invested in both their clients and their business. A bit of light-hearted gossip about the cancelled Janet Jackson concert added to the enjoyable salon experience.
It was a big plus to interact with the owner and see how she cared about the clientโs experience at her salon.
๐บ Score: 5/5
4. Reception
I got a friendly welcome from the receptionist, who confirmed my details and then introduced me to my hair stylist.
The owner also made a positive impression, engaging with each client and offering genuine compliments. It was refreshing to see someone so invested in both their clients and their business. A bit of light-hearted gossip about the cancelled Janet Jackson concert added to the enjoyable salon experience.
It was a big plus to interact with the owner and see how she cared about the clientโs experience at her salon.
๐บย Cons: None
๐บย Score: 5/5
5. Hair Stylist Etiquette
My hair stylist was very friendly, and most importantly, knowledgeable about natural hair. It was also comforting to know that she was the one who had previously styled my hair when I visited a year ago. She also had natural hair, which is always a good sign.
I had washed and deep conditioned my hair the night before, and so I did not have to get my hair washed at the salon. I had come with my hair pre-washed because the previous time I visited them, I had not liked the way my hair was ripped and snagged apart when she encountered knots. Also, at that time, my stylist had applied very little product on my hair, which had not been enough to properly coat my hair strands.
This time, she handled my hair much better, and there was no ripping or tugging. She used a spray bottle and her fingers to work through my hair, detangling carefully before parting into 4 sections. She then applied heat protectant and blow dried my hair in sections. I liked that she didnโt blow dry my hair when it was dry, but rather did so when it was damp.
๐บย Score: 5/5
6. Knowledge of Natural Hair
My hair stylist had good knowledge of natural hair, and this I can assume was mainly due to her own healthy head of natural hair.
I liked that no comb was used to detangle my hair, but her fingers and a spray bottle with water was on hand to manipulate my strands. She also used a tangle teezer to brush my hair, which made the blow drying process that much easier, and faster.
Also the fact that a heat protectant was used on my hair is a definite big plus in my books.
๐บย Score: 5/5
7. Value for Money
I paid R 220 for blow dry only. Considering the care, expertise and tlc that my hair experienced, this was great value for money and hits the affordability mark.
I even left a generous tip for my stylist, as she handled my hair as if she was working on her own healthy afro. It is always great to visit a salon that practices what it preaches.
๐บย Score: 5/5
8. Extra Touch
There was no extra touch or attention given at this salon.
It is always pleasant to have a beauty experience where you can feel the personal signature of the person behind the service. Going over and above what is offered always leaves a good impression.
Offering some refreshment, hair massage or a simple quick hair health diagnosis are just some of the treatments that make a difference. Going the extra mile is a good opportunity for a salon to showcase a little something that makes them different.
๐บย Score: 0/2,5
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9. Waiting Times
As my booking was by appointment, and not a walk-in, there was no waiting time at all.
It was good to walk in at the allocated time and have my hair cared for. It is also worth mentioning that my appointment booking was honoured.
It is not uncommon to have a booking and then still have to wait a few minutes, as the stylists โquicklyโ finishes off with another client.
Cons: None
๐บย Score: 5/5
10. Product Usage
The only product that was used was a heat protectant, and this was done clandestine. She went to a drawer, squirted some onto her hand and applied it on my hair.
As mentioned previously, my last experience I had had very little product used on my hair. While I am not sure of the quantity that would have been needed, it would have been nice to have been walked through what it was that was being used on my hair.
Also most clients with natural hair are more savvy, and so it is worthwhile to discuss / show the products being used. This is also a good opportunity to sell some items that are on the shelf.
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Cons: A bit more information on the product being used, and perhaps more heat protectant could have been used on the hair.
๐บ Score: 3/5
11. Styling Options
The styling options in this salon are typical for a black hair salon. Unlike Hairtural Hair Salon, they do not work exclusively with natural hair. This is common for some salons and I suspect that they do this to bring in more customers / income.
The options available at Kudatot are varied enough to meet most natural hair styling needs. Should you want to blow dry your natural hair, I would definitely recommend this salon.
๐บ Score: 5/5
Review: Hit or Miss?
My experience at Kudatot Hair Salon was a definite big hit for what I got versus what I expected.
My hair was not over-blow dried, nor was it under-blow dried โ but it was simply what I call the Cinderella effect. Just right!
Would I visit it again?
Yes!
I will add it to my little natural hair book of places to blow dry my hair for my yearly length check.
Conclusion & Overall Scoring
Drum roll please.
Kudatot score: 44,5/50 on the Natural Hair Good Practices Afro Scale.
Have you visited Kudatot hair salon? What has your experience been? If not, what are you waiting for, head over and treat your afro to some genuine TLC. You will not regret it, trust me!
Until the next salon review, happy naturaling beautiful ladies!
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