Why Supporting Black-Owned Hair Salons Matters

Updated December 2025 — 7 min read

When you book an appointment at a Black-owned salon, you're doing more than getting your hair done. You're investing in a stylist who likely understands your texture without explanation. You're supporting a business that circulates money back into the Black community. And you're preserving cultural practices that have been passed down for generations.

But the importance of supporting Black-owned salons goes even deeper-into economics, representation, and the future of our communities.

The Economics: Where Your Dollar Goes

Here's the problem: despite Black consumers driving billions in revenue, a significant portion of that money leaves Black communities. Large corporations and non-Black owned beauty supply stores often capture the majority of profits from products marketed to us.

When you spend at a Black-owned salon:

• Money circulates locally: Studies show that dollars spent at Black-owned businesses circulate within Black communities 6+ hours longer than at non-Black businesses
• Jobs are created: Black-owned salons employ stylists, assistants, receptionists-often from the same community
• Wealth builds: Successful salon owners can invest in real estate, education, and future businesses

The Cultural Connection

Black hair care isn't just a service-it's a cultural institution. Salons and barbershops have historically been:

• Safe spaces: Places to be yourself without code-switching
• Information hubs: Where community news spreads
• Mentorship centers: Where younger generations learn from elders
• Creative studios: Where new styles and techniques are born

When Black-owned salons thrive, these cultural institutions survive.

Understanding Your Hair, Understanding You

There's an intangible value in seeing a stylist who shares your experience. A Black stylist who grew up with natural hair often knows:

• How different textures behave
• What products work best for our hair
• Cultural styling traditions (and their roots)
• The emotional complexity of our relationship with our hair

You don't have to explain why your edges matter or why a silk press is a big deal. They just get it.

The Challenges Black Salon Owners Face

Running any small business is hard. But Black salon owners face unique obstacles:

• Access to capital: Black entrepreneurs receive less than 1% of venture capital funding
• Gentrification: Rising rents in areas like Brooklyn push out long-standing salons
• Competition: Large chains and booking apps favor established players
• Visibility: Without marketing budgets, getting discovered is difficult

That's why directories like ours exist-to level the playing field and connect talented stylists with clients who want to support them.

How to Support Beyond the Chair

• Leave reviews: Google and Yelp reviews help salons get discovered
• Refer friends: Word of mouth is still the most powerful marketing
• Follow on social: Engagement helps algorithms boost their visibility
• Buy products from them: Many salons sell products with markup that supports the business
• Tip generously: Stylists often work long hours on their feet

The Future We're Building

When we support Black-owned salons, we're building:

• Financial independence for Black entrepreneurs
• Career paths for young stylists
• Preservation of cultural styling traditions
• Community wealth that compounds over generations

Every appointment is a vote for the world we want to see.