Gambrills beauty supply store supports children with hair care needs
An Anne Arundel County woman is using her passion for hair care to make sure every child feels beautiful.
Lamiya Kirby, owner of Joyce Essentials Beauty Supply store in Gambrills, showed 11 News how she uses her business to help children in need. Inside the store, customers can find aisles of hair products, from hair spray to hair color and conditioner.
"I always wanted to own my own business," Kirby said. "I never seen business owners that look like me owning a beauty supply store in my neighborhood, so I always wanted to. I always said I was going to open my own beauty supply store."
Her store is not just a place to buy products. In the back, there's a salon where Kirby styles hair for people in need for free.
"We don't realize how many people don't have access to hair care, so I think it's really important," Kirby said.
Kirby works with counselors at Van Bokkelen Elementary School to identify low-income students in need of hair care. She also works with foster families, providing free hairstyles and teaching foster parents about hair care.
"We did our research, of course, and found that foster parents have trouble taking care of their youth hair if they have different textures," Kirby said. "If they are coming in for a consult, I show them how to de-tangle, wash, condition and protective styles and things like that."
About 15 foster families come to Kirby regularly for free hairstyles and consultations. She regularly styles about 10 kids in need from Van Bokkelen Elementary. She said it's all about making sure kids feel good, from the inside out.
"When they leave here, they are really happy. (According to) feedback from the school, they love it, and they feel better. They are happy to be at school. Even the parents are very happy to be able to receive these services," Kirby said.
And, she is happy to offer them her help.
"I have to give back somehow, and I felt like they are in need, so to provide those services it's an honor for me," Kirby said.
It's an honor Kirby doesn't take lightly. The chance to make a child feel beautiful.
A free shopping spree day will be held Saturday for foster, adoptive and kinship care families. As many as 10 parents can register for $75 worth of free hair care products from Joyce Essentials Beauty Supply and Natural Hair Salon at 375A Gambrills Road in Gambrills from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday.
