Sankofa Creations Spalon

Sankofa Creations Spalon is a holistic beauty and wellness center at 1567 Blanding Blvd in Jacksonville. It operates as a subsidiary of Sankofa Creations, LLC. The salon says its aim is to teach, inspire and build holistic wellness and natural hair skill. It describes itself as award-winning and says it won the 2020 BEST Society Award for Best Salon in Jacksonville, according to its about page. It also calls itself the best natural hair salon in Jacksonville, which is the salon's own description.

Much of the work centers on locs and natural hair. Loc maintenance and styling, loc repair and starter locs are offered, along with natural hair styling and loc grooming on bi-weekly or longer-term plans. Children ages 6 to 12 can book Young Naturals grooming and styling. New clients can start with a 20-minute Advanced Hair Analysis held by Zoom for $25, which helps them choose services before booking.

Most appointments include a shampoo, a conditioner or leave-in treatment, and basic styling, though what is covered varies by service, and some styles carry an added charge. Hair needs to be free of earlier styling when you arrive. If coil twists, braids or loc styles from a previous service are still in the hair, they must be removed before the visit, and the stylist may charge between $50 and $200 for doing so. A standard booking requires a $25 deposit that is non-refundable. Natural extension twists, micro starter locs and custom integration loc bridges require a deposit of $35 to $50. Cancellations must be made at least 24 hours ahead. Cancelling inside that window, not showing up, or arriving more than 15 minutes late incurs a $35 fee. Prices and services can change without notice. The salon is quiet and calm, and clients are asked to bring headphones for phones and tablets.

Treatments go beyond styling. Custom herbal treatments include a hydrating or detoxifying option for the crown. Maintenance visits can add scalp exfoliation, a pH balancing bath or a scalp massage. Coloring includes permanent color, semi or demi color, temporary color glazes and tempered highlights, using products described as non-ammonia and MEA-free. Extensions can be customized for natural hair and locs and adjusted to move between services. Transitioning services are designed to help clients go from relaxed hair to natural hair. Payment is preferred in cash. Visa, Mastercard, Discover and Amex are accepted through Square with a 2.5% service charge. Cash App, Venmo and personal checks are not accepted.

Holistic and focused on teaching natural hair care and wellness. If a client is unhappy with their style during the appointment, it is corrected at the time of service.

A quiet, calm setting that the salon describes as therapeutic.