Hair braiding is big business. The global industry generates billions of dollars in annual revenue.
And a quick search on Google Maps shows just about a dozen places to get your hair braided within a half-mile of our radio station near Charles Village. But Black women have typically faced long wait times for this kind of styling.
One local hair salon, a little farther away in Bowie, is trying to address that problem by offering something unique: 24/7 braiding services.
WYPR’s own Wambui Kamau recently visited the salon, and she joins guest host Gabe Ortis in Studio A.
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To learn more about safety concerns surrounding the potential toxicity of some popular hairbraiding products, watch this virtual February 24, 2026 presentation of a Consumer Reports study called "Safety of Braiding Hair: What CR Tests Found."
