NEW BEDFORD — Elaine “Ejah” Henry, the spirited owner of Plumbhunneez, a beauty salon specializing in natural hair services including locs, braids and silk presses, has a journey rooted in ...

To find the braiders on this list, we polled dozens of New Yorkers with braids ... a barbershop–slash–hair salon that offers crisp lineups, well-blended fades, and exceptionally neat braids.

She has suffered occupational injuries at least three times over the course of her 18-year hair-braiding career in New York City. These injuries include back, neck, shoulder, and knee pain.