Beauty journalist Karine Laudort road-tested crochet braids at Ama Hair Salon in North London ahead of the MOBO Awards, seeking a low-tension, camera-ready style that would protect her natural hair while lasting through a long, high-glamour event.
With the MOBO Awards on the horizon, I needed a hairstyle that could withstand long hours, camera flashes and outfit changes, without compromising the health of my natural hair. My personal go-to? Crochet braids: low-tension, versatile, and ideal for maintaining moisture.
I booked in at Ama’s Hair Salon in North London, known for its expertise in Afro and textured hair.
First Impressions: Customer Care Matters
Great hair appointments start with great service and Ama’s Hair Salon delivered just that. I was welcomed by the salon manager, offered a cup of tea, and had my coat taken and stored. It may seem minor, but these details signal a client-first, comfort-focused experience and something not every salon gets right.
Hair Prep: Low Manipulation, Maximum Care
My stylist, Esther (@dominion.esther), approached my hair with a clear focus on hair health and breakage prevention.
She :
• Lightly misted my hair with water
• Sectioned it into four parts
• Detangled using only her fingers (no comb)
This low-manipulation technique is key for retaining length and reducing shedding, especially on natural hair.
Stylist Esther detangles hair without using a comb
Wash Day: Strengthening & Hydration
Esther shampoos Karine’s hair at the backwash
At the basin, Esther used some ‘Black Caviar Total Repair Shampoo’ by Mon Platin Professional, a strengthening formula designed to restore damaged or fragile hair
My hair was:
• Shampooed twice (deep cleanse)
• Thoroughly rinsed
• Treated with a deep conditioning treatment by the same brand
The result? Hair that felt clean, hydrated and fortified, the ideal base for protective styling.
Blow-Dry & Cornrows: The Foundation of Great Crochet Braids
A proper blow-dry is non-negotiable for a seamless crochet install, so I was then handed to another hairstylist who delivered a smooth, stretched finish without excessive heat blow-out. He also used a heat protector before starting to dry my hair.
Next step: getting ready for the blow-dry
Once he was done, I headed back to Esther for the most important step. She then created a precise cornrow base, combining straight-back rows at the front (for a natural hairline finish) and a spiral pattern at the back (for volume distribution and structure)
Once hair is braided down, the install begins
The Install: Crochet Braids with Volume and Movement
For this look, I chose Poppin Twist 20” (pre-fluffed) by Obsession, a popular option for full-bodied, textured crochet styles, which, to be frank, match my natural hair texture.
The texture was a great match for Carine’s own hair
The installation process was:
• Fast
• Tension-free
• Seamless
The initial volume was intentionally full, but I opted for a more tailored finish. Esther customised the look by:
• Cutting and shaping the hair
• Applying mousse and warm water to elongate the texture
• Refining the overall silhouette
The Result: Soft Volume, Red Carpet Ready
This last step elevated the style, and the finished look struck the perfect balance between statement volume and natural movement, exactly what I needed for the MOBOs.
The MOBO Red Carpet
On the day of the awards, I repeated the same routine, water and mousse to stretch the hair. I cut some ends off and was even able to change my parting without revealing too much of my scalp: The hair held beautifully, no heaviness, just defined and camera-ready.
Overall, my experience was seamless from start to finish. So, if you are considering crochet braids, cornrows, box braids, silk press, weaves or simply wash and blow on natural hair in London, Ama’s Hair Salon is definitely the place to go.
Why Ama’s:
• Expert handling of natural hair and other hair textures
• Strong focus on low tension and hair health
• Clean, precise parting and braiding technique
• Customisation at every stage
• Their hairstylists are all very knowledgeable and able to talk you through every step of the way
• Excellent customer service
About Ama’s Hair Salon
26 St Ann’s Road
London
Tottenham N15 6DT
Tel | 020 8809 5155