How to get your hair done in Nairobi
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There are three main ways to get your hair braided or styled in Nairobi. You can visit a salon, you can go to Kenyatta Market, or you can have a braider come to you. Each one suits a different kind of day. This guide explains how each works, what it costs, and how to choose.
Option 1: Go to a salon
A salon has a fixed address, chairs, basins and usually a few stylists working at once. It is a good choice if you want washing, treatment and styling done in one place, or if you like a particular stylist and want to see her regularly.
The trade off is that you travel there and wait your turn. For long styles, that can mean most of a day away from home, plus the drive in Nairobi traffic each way.
Option 2: Go to Kenyatta Market
Kenyatta Market is Nairobi's best known hub for braiding. Many braiders work from stalls there, side by side, and you can walk in without an appointment. Prices are usually agreed in person, with the braider you choose.
It is busy, so go early. Before you sit down, agree the style, the size of the braids, the length, and the total price, including whether hair extensions are part of it. That way there are no surprises halfway through.
We have spent years with the women who work there. You can read their stories on our braider stories page.
Option 3: Have a braider come to you
Mobile or at-home braiding means the braider travels to you with her tools and does your hair at your home, hotel or Airbnb. It suits long styles you would rather sit through on your own sofa, parents who cannot leave small children, people working from home, and visitors without a car.
Braiding Nairobi is one way to do this, and to be clear, it is our service. Vetted braiders and nail artists come to you, and you see the price before you book. You can read how it works on our mobile salon page.
How much do braids cost in Nairobi?
It depends on the style, size and length, and on whether hair extensions are included. The figures below are Braiding Nairobi's own starting prices for at-home appointments. We do not quote prices for salons or the market, because those are agreed in person.
| Service | Starting price | Typical duration |
|---|---|---|
| Knotless Braids | From KES 2,100 | 5-7 hours |
| Box Braids | From KES 2,100 | 4-6 hours |
| Boho Knotless / Goddess Braids | From KES 2,500 | 5-7 hours |
| French Curl Braids | From KES 3,000 | 4-5 hours |
| Fulani Braids | From KES 3,500 | 5-6 hours |
| Twists | From KES 2,500 | 3-7 hours |
| Faux Locs | From KES 3,000 | 5-7 hours |
| Ghanaian Lines | From KES 2,000 | 2-3 hours |
Transport is quoted up front based on your area. You can see every style and its starting price on our styles page.
How long does it take?
Most braiding appointments take between 3 and 8 hours, depending on the style, size, and length. Smaller braids and longer hair sit at the upper end. Jumbo box braids and shorter styles sit at the lower end.
Tips before you book
- Bring or send a photo of the style you want.
- Say how long your hair is now, and whether you want extensions included.
- Ask for the total, including hair and transport.
- Ask how payment works, and when you pay.
- Book longer styles for a morning, so you are not finishing late at night.
If you are visiting Nairobi
If you are staying in a hotel or an Airbnb, a braider can come to you there, so you do not need to find your way across the city or wait in a busy market.
You can book over WhatsApp (+254 741 470 784) before you land. Send your dates, the style and where you are staying, and we will match you with a braider. If you do not have M-Pesa, you can pay by card.
Why who you book with matters
When I spent time in Kenyatta Market, I met braiders with years of skill who were losing clients to whoever had the biggest following online. Braiding Nairobi exists so that those women can reach clients directly and be paid fairly for their work. You can read our story and the press coverage of what we do.
Want a braider to come to you?
Message us on WhatsApp with the style and where you are, or browse the braiders and nail artists first.