UMD alumna opens new blowout bar
(Photo courtesy of Hair + Space)
UMD alumna, Regina Holbert, opened a new beauty bar in late October dedicated to servicing all women of all different hair types.
“All women, all hair types. Asian women, Hispanic women, Black women, white women, I wanted us all to have a place to feel comfortable and come here to get their hair done.” said Holbert.
Located in the College Park Plaza, on the second floor of a suite adjacent to Starbucks and Cava is Hair + Space. Walking into the shop, visitors are greeted with music and ample daylight from the windows surrounding the salon.
To the right of the entrance you see a sitting area with a space tapestry. On the opposite wall are the Amika products used on guests’ hair. A sign that says “You Go Girl!” hangs in the window.
This blowout bar has been something Holbert felt needed to be opened a long time ago.
During her time at UMD, Holbert participated in cheerleading and other activities where she would do her own hair or have to travel to other parts of Maryland or D.C. to find a good stylist. After leaving the team and becoming a coach, she was approached by a representative of Mary Kay, who gave Holbert her first exposure to entrepreneurship.
After graduating and realizing a salon like this still did not exist, Holbert made it her mission to bring this to College Park.
“I have to bring this back home to Maryland. College girls want somewhere to get their hair done that services all hair types and that’s what I set out to do.”
Tired of constantly having to leave where she lives and works, this beauty bar came to fruition.
“I wanted to be able to target all students. This isn’t a Black salon and this isn’t a white salon. It’s for all students,” Holbert said. “College Park is a melting pot. I wanted to be able to reach a broad spectrum,” she said.
Each stylist has a personal station with a giant circular mirror so that clients can watch the process of getting their hair done. Stylists use the mirrors are to explain to clients which product is being used and why.
In addition to getting your hair washed and blown out, the salon offers deep conditioning, scalp treatments and a “healthy trim”. So, instead of doing a big chop or cutting layers into the hair, stylists offer the healthy trim alternative to clean up the ends in the shape that the hair is already in.
The natural hair products featured in the salon is Amika, a Brooklyn-based company known for adding good moisture and volume to the hair.
“They are not 100% [natural] but they get as close to natural as possible,” said Holbert on why she chose the line.
Holbert is very hospitable,offering tea, water and cookies to guests. She’s able to learn about everyone and how they found out about the salon. With business starting to pick up, she meets new people everyday.
“Regina opened a spot that is now marketable to everyone, every hair type is welcomed. It doesn't matter what it is: curly, straight, whatever, you can get it done,” said Wynette Andrews, a stylist at Hair + Space, who has been doing hair for almost 12 years.
Holbert’s advice for up and coming Black business owners? “Do your research, make sure that you are filling a need and that it’s something that people want,” she said.