01
Starter locs
Comb coils, two-strands or interlocks, sized to your density.
$180
Chapter 01 — Avondale, Birmingham, AL
Natural hair house · Avondale, Birmingham
Locs, braids & a little fire.
Starter locs, protective styles and garnet-red color on natural hair, told one chapter at a time in a brick house in Avondale.
Chapter one
Every head of hair is a story.
Nkechi Barnes opened Carnelian House in 2015 in a red-brick house on Third Avenue with two chairs and a reputation for locs that grew in perfectly even.
Ten years on, six stylists start locs, braid crowns and paint coils in wine, copper and garnet, without ever sacrificing the health of the hair underneath.
— Nkechi Barnes, founder & master loctician
Start slow. Part clean. Keep tension kind. Color with care. And let every client leave a little taller than they came in.
Signature services
What we're known for
02
Garnet locs
Rich wine-red on locs, built in layers for even depth.
$165
03
Bridal braided crown
Locs or braids sculpted into a crown that lasts through the reception.
$195- 11years in Avondale
- 6specialists
- 2,600sets of locs started
- 4.9average rating
The work
The chapters
The team
The house
Nkechi Barnes
Founder · Master loctician
Imani Reese
Colorist · Natural hair
DeShawn Patterson
Loctician
Kendra Mills
Braider
Sample client reviews
Told by our clients
Placeholder reviews for this design — your real Google reviews appear here.
Nkechi started my locs four years ago. Every single one is the same size. People ask if they're extensions.
Imani made my locs garnet without drying them out. They're softer now than before the color.
The house feels like a family reunion with better music.
Kendra braided my crown for my wedding and it survived eight hours of dancing.
DeShawn's detox took out three years of buildup. My scalp has never been this happy.
My daughter asks for "Miss Kendra" by name. That says it all.
Recognition · sample
- Birmingham Magazine · Best Natural Hair Salon 2025
- AL.com · Avondale Businesses to Know
- Black Beauty Collective · Featured House
- Southern Bride · Vendor of Note
- Avondale Merchants · Member
The shop
Take the salon home
Online store teaser — products shown are samples.
Carnelian Loc Oil
$24
Rosewater Scalp Mist
$20
Loc Detox Rinse
$28
Satin Loc Sock
$22
Edge Balm
$18
Visit
Find us in Avondale
- 4113 3rd Avenue S
Birmingham, AL
Free lot across 41st Street; street parking on 3rd Avenue - (205) 555-0148
- Text us
- [email protected]
- @carnelianhouse
Hours
- Tue – Fri9a – 7p
- Saturday7a – 5p
- Sunday12p – 5p
- MondayClosed
Write your next chapter.
Call, text or book online — we'll take it from there.