Calls for more afro-caribbean accommodating haircare businesses in Kent
One business in Gillingham is calling for more support from the Government, as it hopes to cater to the needs all Black and Minority Ethnic hairstyles.
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00:00When we have a good hair day, it can play a huge role in our self-esteem. But for Temi,
00:10who's lived in Medway for three years, her hair means more than just that. It's part
00:15of her Nigerian identity. It makes her who she is. But she says she can't always take
00:20care of it because of a lack of black hair and beauty products in the county.
00:24It means a lot to me because it's like who I am as a person. Yes, I wear wigs, but I
00:29like to have a good growth and care underneath the wigs for my natural hair. Even simple
00:34as this test goes, you don't really have some products that you can get if you were in London.
00:40And I also haven't really seen shops around to know that, oh yeah, I can go to this shop.
00:45I normally go back home because sometimes here I might have to order online through
00:49Amazon, which isn't the best because that's next day delivery when you want it then. It's
00:54quite a long process. I just want more shops that tailor to black businesses as well.
01:00And it's not just Temi who feels that there's a limited availability for textured hair products,
01:05as even some business owners agree.
01:07We sell a lot of goodies for ladies, not only for ladies, so we do for men as well. Basically
01:13here in Gillingham, we're the only shop here in Gillingham. And then we have another one
01:17in Chatham. So basically, or generally, within Medway, we don't count, if I would say, we
01:23don't have enough. So I think we need more shops like this. And we need more of African
01:28people to come out to do business. And then we want the government to please. Government
01:35grant is very important for us. So if you have more grants, if you have more funding,
01:41and I think we should be able to have more shops like this.
01:44I might be stood here surrounded by loads of different hair products here at Eunice's
01:49But it doesn't mean it's the same up and down the high street. In fact, Eunice says that
01:53there's not enough variety and that organisations and businesses need to do better in providing
01:58the hair and beauty products that the African and Caribbean community here in Kent want
02:02and need.
02:04In a statement, the government said ensuring everyone can reach their full potential is
02:07key to growing the economy. It says its start-up loans are helping people struggling to access
02:12finance as they've issued 20% of its loans to those from a BAME background.
02:17But many, like Temi, hope that it will be closer to home the next time that they need
02:21to buy basic products to look after their hair and ask for business owners to be more
02:25considerate of all communities.
02:27Mahima Abedin for KMTV in Gillingham.