More than a salon: Texture is a cultural hub celebrating black hair and identity
This is a cross-published piece with Mustang News, more information can be found here.
In downtown San Luis Obispo, Texture is more than just a hair salon— it’s a space where Black beauty is celebrated and nurtured.
Tamesha Lee has been a regular customer since the salon first opened in the summer of 2023. She said that one of the first things she did before arriving in San Luis Obispo was locate Caprisha Daniels, a hairstylist at Texture.
After moving from Washington, D.C., she said that having a space that reflects her identity has been invaluable.
“It’s a sense of home, and home is where the heart is,” Lee said. “My family is not here with me but coming here makes me feel like I have a little bit of family.”
“It can be difficult going places where you don’t see people that look like you.”
Tamesha Lee
Lee used to drive over two hours just to get her hair done. Now, she only drives 30 minutes to Texture. Her efforts are a testament to the importance her hair holds to her cultural identity.
“I’m very proud of my heritage and I’m very proud of myself with whatever hairstyle I have,” Lee said.
“I love that my hair is a reflection of who I am, my love for myself, and my culture.”
Tamesha Lee
Texture was founded as part of a larger initiative of the Black-led organization, Race Matters SLO. Race Matters SLO is a non-profit organization that holds events that respond to racial and social injustice, support the community and amplify Black voices.
The salon also acts as an event space centered on Black wellness. For example, their Shop Talk events are a therapist-led group that meets every first Tuesday of the month.
Founder and Executive Director of Race Matters, Courtney Haile, manages the non-profit from the salon. She created Race Matters after she organized a public demonstration in 2016 in response to the murder of Philando Castile.
“Historically Black, barbershops and hair salons have been cultural hubs for community organizing, gathering, and entrepreneurship.”
Courtney Haile
“The Black hair salon has always played a significant role in Black culture.”
The salon features rotating stylists and also offers a retail space showcasing products from Black-owned businesses.
Caprisha Daniels is one of the rotating stylists at Texture. Running her own salon in Bakersfield keeps her busy, but she comes to San Luis Obispo to do hair monthly.
“Sometimes we just don’t love our natural self; we don’t love the texture that comes out of our hair,” Daniels said. “But the joy is being able to encourage my clients to just embrace [their hair] because it’s beautiful.”
After taking a leap of faith, Daniels became a full-time hair stylist at a salon in Atlanta, Georgia. She opened her own salon in 2014, Loving Your Natural Self, in Bakersfield, California.
Daniels has been doing hair since she was 13. Being nervous to go into entrepreneurship, she started working her way towards a career in the medical field.
She is also a trichologist meaning Daniels specializes in diseases and problems related to the hair and scalp.
According to the National Library of Medicine, more than 31.7% of Black women suffer from traction alopecia. Traction alopecia is hair loss that is caused by repeated hair pulling.
“I wanted to help my clients by both doing the extension styles and a scalp analysis to make sure there isn’t any tension in the scalp,” Daniels said.
According to the 2024 Applied Geographic Solutions Database Methodology Statements, 15,923 Black people reside in the Central Coast. This makes up 2.2% of the population.
Despite the relatively small Black population, the need for specialized services, particularly in the beauty industry, is still present. The lack of such services can make it difficult for Black people to find culturally affirming spaces that meet their needs.
“The Black population is very low, and I think that’s why it’s been hard to sustain black salons in the area,” Haile said. “We need our hair done and we need people who are qualified to do our hair in a culturally affirming space like this one.
Spaces such as Texture offer a solution by fulfilling specific needs such as hair care. Salons like Texture can become vital for community members seeking connection. For customers, these salons fill more than just a practical need; they create a sense of belonging.
“If we want more of us here,” Haile said. “We need the services and the spaces.”
