Braid Haus Detroit was founded in Detroit, Michigan in 2023 by Alisa Smith — entrepreneur, former braiding stylist, and lifelong advocate for Black women and Black American culture. Born from a deep love of community and a clear-eyed frustration with the status quo, Braid Haus is Detroit's premier luxury braiding salon built specifically for the women who have always deserved better.

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Alisa's path to founding Braid Haus began long before the brand did. After years as a professional braiding stylist, she transitioned into residential real estate, building and operating Redd Island Group. But the braiding industry never left her mind. What she witnessed — and what she herself had experienced — was an industry that consistently failed its primary customer: Black women. Despite braiding being a service rooted in Black culture and tradition, the environments, the experience, and the standard of care simply had not risen to meet the women being served.

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THE VISION
Alisa founded Braid Haus Detroit to close that gap — permanently. Drawing on her background in both beauty and business, she set out to create not just a salon, but a full sensory and cultural experience. A space where Black women are not an afterthought but the entire point. Where the quality of the craft, the warmth of the environment, and the professionalism of the service reflect the value of the women who walk through the door.

The brand's foundation rests on the belief that luxury and culture are not mutually exclusive — they are most powerful when they come together. With a signature Afro-luxe aesthetic, a proprietary service methodology called the Braid Haus Method™, and a team of skilled independent stylists specializing in knotless braids, faux locs, twists, feed-ins, sew-ins, and wig installs, Braid Haus Detroit is redefining what excellence in braiding looks like.

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"The only reason the experience and space has not been created for Black women in the braiding industry is because only a Black woman could have created it."
— Alisa Smith, Founder & CEO

OUR COMMITMENT
Braid Haus Detroit is more than a salon — it is a declaration. A declaration that Black women deserve an experience as intentional, elevated, and culturally grounded as they are. With its roots firmly planted in Detroit and its sights set on becoming a nationally recognized brand, Braid Haus Detroit stands as proof that when a Black woman builds for her community, the community receives something the world has never quite seen before.