LEXINGTON, Ky. — A multicultural hair salon in central Kentucky is breaking barriers, building empowerment and spreading education.
Melanie Day, the owner of You’ve Got Curls & Hair Loss Center, said she remembers a childhood filled with her parents owning a salon and distributing hair care products. So when she saw a chance to help other people learn to love their hair, she didn’t hesitate.
What looks like a regular hair salon to people is not for Day. The Lexington native is the owner of central Kentucky’s first multicultural salon. Her appreciation for healthy hair products came after years of trying to tame her frizz during dance lessons.
“And there was nothing… absolutely nothing we could do. [My hair] was chemical free, like 100% chemical free. My mom was like, ‘I don’t know what to do with her hair,’” Day said. “People were telling her, ‘oh well you need to put a relaxer on that baby’s hair,’ and she was like, ‘I’m putting no chemicals in her hair.’”
She said that decision led to her wanting to learn everything about natural hair care, education and empowerment. That meant graduating beauty school in 2005 from Bluegrass Community and Technical College to developing an online beauty community and hosting hair events.
Since May 2012, she says her salon walls have heard many concerns, including hair loss.
“This chart shows stages where a lot of people are experiencing hair loss because of COVID-19, postpartum pregnancies or medications,” said Day.
Or even alopecia and cancer. Although she’s not a doctor and unlike a regular salon, she’s able to hold consultations and connect clients to medical resources. Day knows the importance because she, too, has experienced hair loss.
“The reason why it’s called a cranial prosthesis is because it is a prosthetic,” she said. “Your hair is essential, and it is a part of you. And without it like you can’t go out like you don’t want to go outside."
In the last year, her newest endeavor is a hair care vending machine—In Living Curls College Beauty Supply. It’s on the campus of Berea College, a campus with just under 9% Black or African-American students. She says seeing and feeling heard was the motivation behind the project.
“It’s very curated on the location of what the students want. Not just random stuff, but this is high-quality items that are going in there,” said Day.
The hair guru chops all the success up to one thing.
“So if I can be the best part of your day and if I can help you have that extra smile and give you the boost that you need to make it to point A and point B, so be it,” said Day.
As for what’s next? Day wants her story to inspire the next generation of Black entrepreneurs. You’ve Got Curls & Hair Loss Center operates in a coworking space where other stylists can cater to different expertise. Click here for appointments or to request a beauty vending machine on a college campus near you.