Introduction

Scammers are targeting clients looking to get their hair braided by using real stylists’ work and creating fake social media pages.

Reports of Scams

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is receiving reports of scams targeting individuals wanting braids. Scammers take pictures from legitimate stylists and post them on fake social media pages.

Modus Operandi

Potential clients find the fake pages and book appointments, often making small deposits. Clients realize they have been scammed when they do not hear back from the supposed stylist on the appointment day.

Impact on Legitimate Businesses

Real stylists like Porsche Hensley, who has been braiding hair for over 10 years and owns Divine Innovation 615 in Nashville, are affected. Hensley reported instances where clients arrived for appointments, only to find out they were scammed.

Precautions to Avoid Scams

BBB advises not to pay for the service in full before the appointment. Visit the stylist’s location before booking. Verify the stylist’s work by searching for them online and including the word “scam” after their name. Ask for the stylist’s license number and verify it.

Continuing the Business

Despite the scams, stylists like Porsche Hensley remain undeterred and continue their work.

Conclusion

Scammers exploiting the popularity of hair braiding are causing issues for both clients and legitimate stylists. Clients are advised to take precautions to ensure they are booking authentic services.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovRNa1msWYU

Friday, May 16, 2025

SpinLab expands across the US coasts.

Share

SpinLab Communications announced today the appointment of music industry veteran Jill Mango to the position of Vice President of Communications and Ally Norton to the position of Director of Communications at the company. Ms. Mango will head up SpinLab’s New York offices, while Ms. Norton will work out of the company’s headquarters in Los Angeles. “Jill brings with her a vast amount of experience in venue and artist publicity as well as in the corporate communications arena and Ally has an incredible track record in helping companies build their profiles in ways that boost their bottom lines,” said John Vlautin, CEO of SpinLab Communications. 

“The addition of these two seasoned publicists to our team means that SpinLab now has a deep bench of executive talent on both coasts working with our incredible clients to build and implement communications strategies that yield meaningful growth for their businesses.” Ms. Mango has more than 25 years of experience promoting bands, brands and events in both agency and in-house settings. After earning a degree in journalism and philosophy from New York University and interning with Rolling Stone and SPIN magazines, held PR and marketing positions at major and independent record labels, including I.R.S. Records, Atlantic Records, Mammoth Records, RCA Records, Island Records and Wind-up Records.

She headed the New Media department at Girlie Action Media during the early days of the digital music revolution, where directed the consumer and music press campaign for the original launch of Napster. She had her own firm, Mango Media, for most of the 2000s and served as the Co-Director of the Ridgefield Independent Film Festival for its first years. She was the Marketing Director for The Ridgefield Playhouse, a non-profit performing arts center in Connecticut, for two years immediately before joining SpinLab. Ally brings a decade of PR and music industry experience to the SpinLab team. After graduating from Boston College in Boston, MA, and cutting her teeth at institutions like the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Bowery Presents: Boston, Ally spent 6 years as a publicist at Shore Fire Media. In 2018, Ally relocated from Brooklyn, NY to Los Angeles, CA where opened Shore Fire Media’s first Los Angeles office as the senior-most employee on the West Coast.

While at Shore Fire, Ally executed strategic press campaigns for a broad range of music, film, corporate, and brand clients, including artists like Grizzly Bear, The Voidz, Pussy Riot, Oliver Tree, Tash Sultana, REZZ, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Rosanne Cash, Melissa Etheridge, and Richard Marx; films like Echo In The Canyon, Creem: America’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll Magazine, and Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice; businesses like Premier Music Group and Songfluencer; and brands like Dr. Martens.

Read more

Local News