For Black women, a hair salon isn’t just for getting hair done, it’s a second home

Civil rights leader Malcolm X once said the most disrespected person in America is the Black woman. But in hair salons, disrespect isn’t allowed inside – just love, empowerment and security.

As part of our Black History Month series, WINK News reporter Andryanna Sheppard looks at what it means for Black women to be in that comforting space.

The hair salon isn’t just a place to get your hair done for Black women, it’s a second home.

Latoya Turner owns Ascension Hair Salon and says, “Hair to me, it’s really a sense of identity.”

Third-grade teacher Nichole Carroll said, “I absolutely love it. And I owe it to my Black hairstylist.” A safe space for Black women to be themselves; to laugh, cry and heal.

Kimberly Thomas owns 1st Class Celebrity Status, and she says, “It’s a place where certain conversations are had that a lot of family and friends don’t know about. We are more than hairstylists. We are a therapist. We are nurses. We are lawyers when we need to be. We are well-rounded. It is vital for the community.”

Turner adds that it brings joy to herself, not just her clients. “Me being in my profession is how I know what love feels like. Because I could be having the worst day but when I go to work, I get to see so many different people and have so many different conversations.”

Five Black women; two hairstylists, a teacher, a performing arts director, and a reporter, came together to have a conversation about the most pressing issues for Black women today and the impact the last couple of years have had on the Black community.

WATCH and hear the conversation and full story above.