Essence VIP

A couple years ago Herbert had tried helping me rescue my hair (my own doing) and had really taken care of me and made me feel so welcome. The overall experience was amazing and I want to let them know that I ended up doing a big chop and grew to love myself more than ever!

I did the Olaplex treatment and I was talked through every step and was even given advice on hair care afterwards.

I've been gone for a while, but prices are wayyyy too high. 125 dollars for a perm come on

This is my second visit to this salon with Terez after 6 months to get my hair colored again.. at 18 my first dye on permed hair started to break off & a lot fell out. Now at 35 I wanted to trust the process and knew how to take care of my natural hair.. let me tell you!!!I'm just ecstatic that I was led to her with a bit of google researchWhen I say it was worth every penny!!! Being a single mommy I needed a pamper, to feel good walking out the door & it's exactly what I got.. Calming atmosphere & everyone who worked that day were all great! So many compliments.. Thank you EssenceVip!!! Special special thank you to.. Terez!!

I'll provide both colors

I was visiting Chicago with some friends and went for a long run in the morning (currently training for a marathon). The humidity (I'm from Arizona aka the driest place in the world) and bouncing caused my hair to turn into a extremely matted/tangled DISASTER. After a bottle of conditioner and 2 friends trying to detangle it with little to ZERO progress... we realized we had to go to a salon. I was stressed and scared that we were going to have to cut it... We called Essence and they were able to get me in. Adrianne spent an hour brushing through my matted MESS. She never once suggested we cut it and was patient and made me feel comfortable. The team at Essence is professional, kind and hilarious. I'd trust them with my life lol. Thankful for y'all. I'll see you in October!!

This is late post, but still relevant, nonetheless. I have never liked salons. In the past, I was ALWAYS disappointed with the results every time I went to one. They kept trying to give me "high-end" style whenI am more of Bohemian, laid-back, and sassy. They kept giving me styles that didn't fit my personality.

Back in 2019, when I went to Essence VIP, I was nervous. It was my first time And I am deaf. I had really short hair (I shaved my hair off completely and let it grow an inch before going to them) I told them what I wanted. They listened and communicated well with me. They GAVE ME EXACTLY WHAT I WANTED!!! They made me a platinum blond with texture. I posted pictures. I just love it so much. It was who I was. I got a lot of comments on my hair. The price was steep but WORTH EVERY PENNY OF IT!!!!

I am stuck here in Washington D.C. for my graduate program, but I am coming back soon for my break. I am thinking about going back now I have a longer hair on the top....

I had such a WONDERFUL experience my first time at Essence VIP. Cruz hooked me all the way up! I grew tired of my hair and wanted a change. I wasn't entirely sure where to go to get a big chop but coincidentally I found the salon. I called rather last minute to see if they had any availability and luckily for me they did.

Cruz was such an amazing stylist! The entire experience was wonderful. Throughout the whole process he hyped me up and encouraged me that I made the right choice with my hair cut.

When I tell you this man has vision! I was slightly apprehensive since I've had long hair my whole life. But he truly was able to see the the potential before I did. I walked out of the salon so confident and ready to take on the world.

I'll be returning soon to get it colored. A few clients were in the salon getting color to their hair, and based on what I saw, I know I am in really good hands.

I didn't realize the owner was the same lady who did my hair back when I was just a child. A very experienced team who will nourish your hair as if was their own! I did the silk press with a trim to get rid of my split ends and I couldn't be more satisfied. I will definitely be returning soon.

I had sores in my head after I left. I requested to have my color in the front retouched as it had been six months since I had my color done at my original salon which was at the time that I made my appt booked until Sept. I have never had a stylist wash my hair first to color my hair NEVER especially when bleaching. The color as you see is in splotches because the first time yes the first time the color was put on she didn't cover with foil after application and it wasn't changing also did not part my hair seeing that I only wanted the perimeter of my hair colored so where it should've been parted it bleeds into my hair. I'm so frustrated because I have to have my hair looking discolored like this until I can safely have it retouched. I've read the other reviews of people who say they've been going there for years even people who have similar hair color I don't know if the stylists that work based on those reviews don't work there anymore or what but this right here is not right.

TLDR; Herbert relaxed my hair without my permission. The owner dyed my mom's hair purple/green when she asked for grey. We were never offered refunds.

I have naturally curly hair (see the first two pictures) that was relaxed for about 10 years of my life. In the last nine, I've made a decision to stop relaxing it. I get to the salon and I explain this Herbert. He seemingly understands.

I have to wait a little bit (no biggie) because Herbert had clearly overbooked. There was another woman he was working on at the same time he worked on me. She was getting a relaxer touch up. Hebert goes and mixes her touch up and my scalp wellness (required) and deep conditioners. When he puts it my hair, I immediately recognize the smell of relaxer but assume it has to do with the other client. Anyway, he puts the gunk in my hair and puts me under the dryer for an hour. When I come out, he washes it (again I smell the chemicals). He does a fantastic job of cutting and straightening it. Honestly it was the straightest I've seen my hair.

Flash forward to a week later, I washed my hair for the first time and the relaxer smell is so strong. I get out the shower and notice that my curl texture is gone. I mean to the point where some of my curls are dead straight. I call Herbert and he denies relaxing my hair. He tells me to come in and he'll do an Olaplex treatment. I come in. He does the treatment which takes hours and lies and says "look at those curls coming back". He offers to have me come back every week to do the same treatment free of charge. I decline because 1. The treatment didn't do anything: 2 I'm a lawyer and don't have hours of my life to give away and 3 I don't trust him. The second picture is how my hair looked after he "fixed it"

As for the owner, she dyed my mom's hair and did a horrendous job. It came out purple and green. Instead of offering to fix it, she told my mom she looked good and charged over $300. I wasn't there or I would have fought it.

Needless to say, we haven't gone back. I'm still in disbelief at how bad my hair looks every single day.

So excited to find this salon under yelp's Black owned businesses in Chicago, and they specialize in multicultural hair. I called to schedule a cut and was able to get scheduled within days which was great! My stylist was Terez and she took great care of me and got me in and out so fast because I had a limited window. She exceeded my expectations and everyone was kind and so welcoming. This was the first time I actually got my hair cut while it was curly and I love it! Will definitely be back and highly recommend them!