FUNDHERSHIP GRANT RECIPIENTS

Jenny Powell Hair Studio isn’t just a salon, it’s a response to years of feeling overlooked.

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"Back in 2018, I finally took the leap. After years working in the corporate world, hitting glass ceilings, and knowing deep down there was more for me, I decided to build the thing I couldn’t find. I’ve always loved hair, especially Afro and curly textures, but what really pushed me was realising how few places there were in the North that actually knew how to care for our hair. Not just style it, but care for it.

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As a Black woman, I’ve had my fair share of salon experiences where I felt misunderstood or like an afterthought. I knew I wasn’t alone. So I started small, selling and fitting extensions, and that slowly grew into a full studio where people could come not just for a service, but for knowledge, support, and care that actually makes a difference. I offer one-to-one consultations, tailored care plans, scalp health support, and I talk people through it all so they leave more confident about their own hair than when they came in.

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It hasn’t been easy. I didn’t have investors or family money backing me. I was learning as I went, how to run a business, how to manage money, and how to keep going when things felt impossible. Now, as a mum of two, I’m still learning how to juggle it all. But I’ve built this from the ground up, and every lesson has made me more grounded, more resourceful, and more determined to make this work for people like me.

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One of the most powerful things I did was travel solo through Southeast Asia to find ethical hair extensions that actually match our textures. I built a relationship with a small family-run factory out there that shares my values, no shortcuts, no exploitation, just quality and care.

Today, I’m not just running a salon. I’ve created an academy too, a space where I teach other stylists, parents, and even kids how to understand and love textured hair. One of my proudest moments was developing a course just for children, because no child should grow up thinking their hair is “difficult” or “unprofessional.” We deserve better, and it starts with knowledge.

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My hope is that one day, Afro and curly hair won’t be seen as specialist, just normal. Taught in every salon. Handled with care. Celebrated without exception.

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Because our hair isn’t a problem to solve. It’s a crown. And we deserve places that treat it that way."