Established in 2015 Braid Bar Ldn was originally launched under the name Mimi’s Children’s Salon with the mission of supporting parents in managing and maintaining their children’s hair. In the early years the salon primarily catered to children, creating a trusted space for healthy hair care and beautiful styles.

As the demand for braided hairstyles rapidly increased in 2016, the business evolved from a child focused salon into a destination for clients of all ages seeking high quality braiding and protective styling services. During this period founder Shayna balanced running the growing business alongside a full time career in Real Estate offering appointments during evenings and weekends.

Following the birth of her youngest child in 2018, Shayna made the life changing decision to leave her corporate 9–5 career and commit to building Braid Bar Ldn full time. What began as a passion project quickly transformed into one of London’s growing luxury braid and hair care brands.

In 2021, Braid Bar Ldn expanded from operating at home into its first studio space in Beckenham. Just one year later in November 2022, the business opened the doors to its current salon in Shortlands Bromley marking another major milestone in the company’s journey.

Today, Braid Bar Ldn offers an extensive range of services including braids, hair treatments, ponytails, natural hair care, and protective styling. Braid Bar have collaborated with globally recognised companies including Nike, Gymshark, Kick Game, and Ruka Hair further establishing itself as a respected name within the beauty and fashion industries.

Founder Shayna Dawes was proudly awarded Entrepreneur of the Year 2024, recognising her impact, innovation, and dedication to the hair and beauty industry. Her work has also attracted an impressive celebrity clientele, including Lauryn Hill, Tems, and Shallipopi.

Braid Bar is deeply passionate about giving back and helping the next generation of braiders grow within the industry. Through training programmes, mentorship, and online courses, she is committed to raising the standard of professionalism, technique, customer experience and hair care education within the braiding industry. Not only to build a successful brand, but also to inspire, educate, and empower aspiring hairstylists to create long-lasting careers and businesses of their own.

As Braid Bar Ldn continues to grow, our vision remains the same: to create a leading hub for luxury braiding, healthy hair care, creativity, education, and exceptional client experiences. We’re incredibly grateful to every client who has supported our journey so far — and we can’t wait to welcome you into the salon.