Harlem’s History: Beauty Parlors
During the 1920s and 1930s tho most popular and commonly found black owned business were beauty parlors.
- George Edmund Haynes surveyed the neighborhood’s businesses in 1921 he found 103 hairdressers, compared to 63 tailors, pressers and cleaners and 51 barbers.
- Simm’s Blue Book, a directory of black businesses and professionals published in 1923, listed 161 beauty salons.
It took relatively little money to open a beauty parlor. The vast majority of the beauty parlors owned and operated by women in Harlem were run out of their homes. When George Edmund Haynes surveyed those beauty parlors in 1921, only 46 operated out of stores and 57 worked out of their homes. The amount of beauty parlors increased and became so successful partially because it was an alternate occupation to what was the “norm”: domestic service.
Beauty parlors in Harlem were so much more than just a place to go to get prettied up! This was also a place where women would learn about the latest Harlem news, hear the best bits of recent scandals, or even just to meet other neighbors in Harlem. Another common occurrence was a type of social networking. Women would trade and exchange everything from tickets to shows, recipes, to clothing!
Beauty Parlor were such a huge part of Harlem’s history. It is important to know about the roots of our community. Next time you see a Harlem native senior getting her touch ups done in the salon – ask her about early Harlem days and the Beauty Parlors. You just might learn something new and enrich your appreciation for our community and its roots!