Plait
The challenge
Finding and booking a skilled hair stylist — especially for natural and braided styles — was fragmented and unreliable. Independent stylists had no professional platform to showcase their work, set their schedules, and collect payments.
What we did
We built a marketplace where stylists manage their portfolio and bookings in one place, while clients discover stylists by location, style type, and reviews — and book appointments instantly.
Overview
Plait is a two-sided marketplace connecting clients with independent hair stylists. Stylists manage their portfolio, availability, and bookings in one place. Clients discover the right stylist for their hair type, view real portfolio images, read reviews, and book appointments — all without a single phone call.
The Problem
Natural and braided hair care is a relationship-driven industry. Finding a reliable stylist often happens through personal referrals — and if your connection moves or retires, you're starting from scratch. Independent stylists, meanwhile, manage their books via WhatsApp and DMs, leading to missed appointments, double-bookings, and delayed payments.
Our Approach
Stylist experience
- Portfolio gallery where stylists upload images of their work, organized by style category
- Calendar management with blocked-off slots and buffer time between appointments
- Automated booking confirmations and reminders sent to both parties
- Stripe-powered payment collection with instant payouts
Client experience
- Location-based stylist discovery with filters for style type (braids, locs, natural, relaxed)
- Real portfolio images, verified reviews, and pricing transparency before booking
- Instant booking with no back-and-forth messages
- Appointment reminders and easy rescheduling
Key Features
- Verified stylist profiles — onboarding includes identity verification to build trust
- Portfolio-first design — images are the hero; text is secondary
- Smart scheduling — calendar blocks out travel time and prep time automatically
- Review system — post-appointment reviews gated to verified bookings only
- In-app messaging — clients and stylists communicate securely within the app
Results
Plait gave independent stylists a professional digital home and eliminated the administrative burden of managing bookings manually. Early users reported fewer no-shows and faster payment turnaround compared to their previous DM-based workflows.
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