When a family from Ethiopia opened the doors to a specialty hair salon in Vancouver nearly 25 years ago, they didn’t know if the business would survive.
Now, Afro Hair Studio is celebrating a quarter of a century in operation — and like the hair they cut, the business just keeps growing.
The studio is marking the milestone with the grand opening of a second salon on Granville Street, something twins Jacob and Isaac Abraham said was 12 years in the making.
“Seeing our mom and dad working 12-hour days, sometimes it’s a lot of work (to) do — our initial reaction was just to want to help them, and then later on it became a passion of ours,” Jacob said.
“It’s a big adjustment for them, right. Our entire lives we were always under their wing,” Isaac added.
The family’s story started on Commercial Drive in 1998, where Abraham Berhe set up what he says was, at the time, only the second Black hair salon in the city.
“It’s a big adjustment for them, right. Our entire lives we were always under their wing,” Isaac added.
The family’s story started on Commercial Drive in 1998, where Abraham Berhe set up what he says was, at the time, only the second Black hair salon in the cityAfter immigrating to Canada from Ethiopia, Berhe and Emy Belay began doing all styles, while specializing in textured hair.
“Right now, braiding, all other ethnic styles, that’s become like really big — it’s not like before,” Emy Belay said.
Soon, the salon was attracting clients from across Canada, including pro athletes.