About Braida
Celebrating the Beauty of Afro & Caribbean Hair
Braida is the UK's marketplace for Afro & Caribbean beauty — braiders, locticians, MUAs, nail techs, lash artists, gele artists, barbers and tailors. Every professional is DBS-checked, insured, and community-verified. Every payment is held in escrow until you're satisfied. And our AI technology — HairPrint™, MatchScore™, and AI Try-On — makes finding the right match easier than ever.
Our Mission
Why We Exist
To build the UK's most trusted marketplace for Afro & Caribbean beauty — where clients always find someone who truly understands their hair, and where talented professionals are celebrated, fairly paid, and protected. No dodgy deposits. No stylists who don't get 4C hair. No second-guessing.
Our Vision
Where We're Going
A future where Afro & Caribbean beauty is celebrated, not overlooked. Where innovation and cultural understanding work hand in hand to set new standards of care and excellence. Where every texture is understood, every professional is valued, and every client leaves their appointment feeling extraordinary.
The Challenge
The Problem We Solve
Deposits Taken, No Show
Too many people in our community have paid deposits upfront — only to be ghosted when the stylist doesn't show. On Braida, all payments are held in escrow until the service is delivered. You get your money back if anything goes wrong, no arguments.
No Real Quality Assurance
Anyone can claim expertise online. On Braida, every professional completes a 13-step verification — government ID, DBS certificate, public liability insurance, professional qualifications, practical skills test photos, UK references, and a signed operational agreement — before accepting a single booking.
Generic Platforms Fall Short
Most booking apps treat all hair the same. Braida is built specifically for Afro and Caribbean textures — with HairPrint™ profiling, MatchScore™ AI matching, and a professional community that understands curl patterns, shrinkage, protective styling, and cultural technique.
Our Innovation
Proprietary Technology Built for Afro Hair
We have developed five proprietary technologies specifically designed to understand, match, and serve the unique needs of Afro & Caribbean hair — from first impression to post-appointment.
HairPrint™
Your personal hair profile. Tell us your curl pattern (3A–4C+), porosity, density, scalp sensitivities, allergies, and style preferences — and we use it to surface the right treatments and match you with professionals who specialise in your exact texture.
MatchScore™
Smart stylist matching that goes beyond star ratings. Our AI analyses your HairPrint profile against each stylist's proven expertise, service history, and completion rate to show you a personalised compatibility score — so you book with confidence, not guesswork.
AI Try-On™
See yourself in a new hairstyle before you commit. Upload a selfie and our AI generates three realistic style previews — identity-preserving, Fitzpatrick skin-tone aware, and powered by OpenAI's latest image model. Three free sessions, then pay-per-session or subscribe monthly.
FaceScan™
Privacy-first face and hair analysis. Image processing happens entirely on your device — no raw photo ever leaves your phone. Only an irreversible feature vector reaches our servers, which we use to enhance your HairPrint recommendations. Your image is never stored.
ProInsight™
AI-powered business intelligence for professionals. See what styles are trending in your area, when demand peaks across the week, and how your pricing compares to the market — so you can grow your business with data, not guesswork.
Trust & Safety
Your Safety Is Our Priority
Every aspect of Braida is designed to protect both clients and professionals. From verified identities to secure payments, trust is built into every interaction.
DBS-checked & insured
Every professional completes a 13-step verification: government ID, DBS certificate, public liability insurance, professional qualifications, skills test photos, UK references, and a signed operational agreement.
Payment held until delivered
Your money stays with Braida — not the stylist — until your appointment is done. No chasing deposits. No nasty surprises.
48-hour dispute protection
Not satisfied? Raise a concern within 48 hours of your appointment. Our team reviews it, contacts both parties, and resolves it — fully on your side.
Your data, your rights
All personal data is encrypted at rest and transmitted over HTTPS. You can export or permanently delete your data at any time under UK GDPR — no hoops, no delays.
Join the Braida Community
Whether you're looking for a stylist who understands your hair or you're a professional ready to grow your business — Braida is where you belong.