Swella Braid Bar Charlotte

Swella Braid Bar was started by two women who wanted to save time on their own braiding appointments. The business describes its mission as combining luxury, innovation and culture in a relaxed braiding experience, and it operates salons in Atlanta (John Wesley Dobbs Avenue), Decatur (the Salon Lofts building on Blackmon Drive) and Charlotte, North Carolina.

Each braiding station has high-speed Wi-Fi, refreshments and a laptop tray, so clients can settle in for a long session. Stylists run three quality checks during every installation, and clients are invited to share feedback at those checkpoints. Small fixes can be made in the salon before the appointment ends. The business says it has more than 1,000 customers.

Cornrows come in natural hair, boho and added-hair versions, sized by stitch count (4-8, 9-13 and 14-22). Tribal braids are offered in Style 2 and Style 3, in standard and boho versions, and French curl braids come in medium and large. Listed regular prices start at $76 for natural hair cornrows in the 4-8 size and $161 for jumbo knotless braids. Braiding hair is included in the price, with an option to upgrade to hypoallergenic or 100% human hair. Custom hair mixes cost an additional fee and can be added after booking by texting the salon. A shampoo and blow-dry upgrade is listed at $14. The Swella Standard is an all-in-one service that can include a scalp cleanse and blowout to prepare hair for braiding; at the Decatur location it is offered at select locations only.

Booking policies are straightforward. The deposit is non-refundable and applies to the ticket at checkout. Appointments cancelled with at least 48 hours notice carry no fee, while later cancellations are charged 50% of the reserved service price. Payment is cashless and accepts debit, credit and Apple Pay. Natural hair needs to be at least 4 inches long to be braided, and braids are not installed over locs. Braids can be placed on any part of the head that has at least 4 inches of hair, at no price difference. Braid lengths include shoulder, back and waist. The salon does not offer mobile services and does not create designs that differ from the ones shown on its booking site. Customers who bring their own braiding hair should bring it the business day before the appointment.

The business says its mission is to combine luxury, innovation and culture in a relaxed braiding experience, with quality checks built into every installation.

The space is described as relaxing, inclusive and welcoming.