About Us...

   The charismatic and talented Dionne James-Eggleston knows the meaning of hard work, perseverance, discipline and success. Even more importantly, she knows the meaning of tradition. The time honored traditions passed down from matriarch to offspring and beyond. Dionne James comes from a long line of master braiders. Her grandmother, her mother and her aunt are all master braiders. From this wellspring of knowledge, Dionne got her start at the tender age of five in the  art of Hair Braiding.
   In 1992, Dionne, a native of Queens, New York, opened the first exclusive natural hair care center in Richmond, Virginia. Dionne's technical skills for braiding and weaving have been featured in a myriad of prestigeous international hair care magazines including, Braids and Beauty, Shop Talk, Elite Braids and many more. She is most notably recognized for inventing her own techniques: The Cobra Stitch and The Box Stitch.

   Ever since her ambitious beginnings, Dionne has held onto a philosophy that has helped to bring her company international recognition."We always endeavor to create the most innovative  styles, with customer satisfaction as our number one priority,"she says.

    This New York native is a licensed Cosmetologist and  Natural hair care teacher at the Gloria Frances Beauty school in hicksville  New York. Her experience in Braiding and Weaving in the natural hair industry spans over 15 years. Dionne is a graduate of the Hair Design Institute in Brooklyn, New York. She has also studied with world-renowned stylist, Tulani Kinard, of Tulani's Regal Movement, and Marion Council-George of Designer Braids & Trade ,Master Weave specialist Clem Lue Yat and most recently had the honor of working wiith top stylist  from Khamit kinks salon. Dionne plied her skills at the  Harold Melvin Salon before striking out on her own. Careful research of the demographics of her market revealed that Richmond, Virginia as being overlooked in the natural hair care arena. She decided to open up a salon in Richmond, Virginia and thus, the Essence of Braiding & Weaving Salon was born the rest, as they say, is history.

Dionne's braiding techniques have been featured in national trade publications and have won awards at international hair shows. Dionne won first place in the Most Creative Braid Style in 1996, and second place in the World Natural Hair Braid, Lock and Wholistic Beauty competition in 1997.   Her work has been featured in many publications, including, Try it Yourself Hair, Trends, Sophisticate's Black Hair, shop talk, Elite Hair Braids, Silhouette, and Braids World. Dionne has also developed the Soulutions line of hair care products, specifically formulated to promote the upkeep, health and beauty of braids and natural hair. 

   
 Currently  Headquartered in  Westbury New York  Essence of Braiding & Weaving   is an  upscale Salon specializing in a wide range of braid and weave styles: At the Essence of Braiding & Weaving Salon we offer the lace front weave, net weaves,strand by  strand weaves,interlock weaves,treebraiding, Goddess Braids, Micro Braids, Pixie Braids, French Inverted Braids, Pixi Pin Curls, Candy Curls, Bantu Knots, Fishtail Braids, Flat Twist, Locks and Undetectable braid and Cornrow Extensions, Invisible Braids, Tree braids, Senegalese Twist, Silky Locks, Interlock Weaving, Latch Hook Weaving, Silky Corkscrew, African Twist, Kinky Twist, Two-Strand Twist, Nubian Corkscrew, and Cobra Stitch represent the wide array of styles and skilled services offered under one roof.

   Essence of Braiding & Weaving Salon also offers a two day seminar for continuing education. This intensive and thorough training program is designed to educate and instruct aspiring stylists in  different braiding and weaving techniques.