Today we’d like to introduce you to Echo Weatherly
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My name is Echo, and I have been braiding for over 18 years. Originally from California, I relocated to Georgia in 2012. I used to offer all styles as a mobile braider, but over time, I lost my passion for braiding due to the constant changes in trends and burnout. When I decided to return to taking clients full-time, I knew I wanted to focus only on services that I truly enjoyed offering.
I noticed a high demand for braiddown services, yet few stylists outside of African braiding shops were focusing on this as a standalone service. Not many stylists are willing to provide just a braiddown, but that’s where we come in! Here at The Braiddown Bar, we understand the assignment. Many stylists don’t take the time to match braid size to hair density, but we know that braiddowns aren’t one-size-fits-all. Let me get you right! You pick the braid pattern suited to your desired DIY style, and I’ll handle the braiddown.
The inspiration behind The Braiddown Bar is to cater to DIY clients who just need help getting the foundation right. We all know that every wig install, sew-in, and crochet style requires a flat and correctly executed braiddown to look flawless. Once that’s in place, the rest will fall perfectly. Many of us can crochet our own hair, apply our own glueless wigs, or sew in our own bundles (or have a friend or sister who can). However, not everyone can braid. Now, there’s a place where clients can depend on for a solid braiddown: The Braiddown Bar.
In addition to braiddowns, we offer the “Part and Start” service, where we begin clients’ knotless braids, and “Leave Out, Left Out” sew-ins. We’ve been perfecting this niche for two years, and soon, we’ll be expanding by teaching our techniques and franchising our services.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not at all. Starting a niche that didn’t exist was a slow grind. In the first year, I relied on offering knotless braids because people weren’t looking for something they assumed didn’t exist. By the grace of God, I went viral just when I was beginning to consider pursuing something else.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We are located in Morrow, GA, inside Forever Beauty Salon Suites. We cater to clients who style their own hair but don’t know how to braid. Our focus is on providing an exceptional customer service experience and making adjustments based on client feedback. We’re known for the quality and versatility of our braiddowns, as well as our affordable pricing.
One of our unique offerings is an add-on called “Braids & Worship,” which is free and allows clients to listen to gospel music during their appointment, enjoy aromatherapy, and conclude with prayer. There isn’t another salon that provides DIY services like ours, as most prefer to showcase finished looks for marketing purposes. But I market around saving clients both time and money.
When people find me, they’re excited because doing your own hair can be a struggle. We’re a safe space, and my clients know we operate with integrity, as I am a woman of God.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I have social anxiety and am not very comfortable with socializing, but I enjoy connecting with my audience through content creation. I believe strongly in being considerate and fair, so I make it a point to treat my clients the way I’d want to be treated. For example, we offer a 15-minute grace period for appointments. If a client is more than 15–20 minutes late, there’s a $20 late fee. However, if I’m running more than 15 minutes behind, I provide a $20 discount. I haven’t heard of other stylists in ATL offering this type of policy.
This revision smooths out the flow while keeping your original points intact. Let me know if there’s anything more you’d like adjusted!
Pricing:
- Temporary Braiddown $45 (10-12 braids )
- Classic Braiddown $60 (14-16 braids )
- Small braiddown $80 (22 braids )
- Sew-in Range $170-200 (Leave out left out)
- Crochet $125
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Thebraiddownbar.com
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/thebraiddownbar
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebraiddownbar
- Other: https://Tiktok.com/@thebraiddownBar
