Ethnicity in a White Town

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Tina Arnett stands behind her client with a straightener in hand, as more African American women, young and old, stream into her salon. Another day filled with talk about products, straightening curls, and the hand breaking work of braiding.

To be an African American in today’s society ultimately means still fighting for opportunities and receiving the same treatment that others receive. But add being a woman to that equation. To be a black woman in today’s world, you have to be at the top of your game because everything is looked at more carefully and scrutinized; and that includes their hair.

Hair has always been important to the African American community, since the time of slavery. Slave women used to braid their children’s hair and hide food in it which ensured that their children ate during the day. Since those times, African Americans have been finding ways that protect their hair and in styles that fit them. But even now, there are times when these women have to fight about their right to wear these styles, and they face discrimination for it.

Arnett is working to make sure that African American hair is viewed as beautiful and promoted in the best light possible.

Arnett, a single mother of three, did not see herself owning a hair salon when she first got into the real world. After earning her degree in nutrition and dietetics, she got a corporate job where she worked for ten years. Then suddenly in 2015, her job was eliminated, and she had to figure out what she was going to do. Arnett had always done hair and enjoyed it, so she decided that she was going to go to hair school. After moving to Fayetteville and seeing a need for a salon that specialized in African American hair, Tina created the Glitz Beauty Bar.

Fayetteville is made-up of 20.7% minorities, so it is difficult to find businesses that cater to the needs of a minority. Often in the African American community, that means trying to find someone that knows how to handle their hair. Tina’s Glitz Beauty Bar is one of 35,982 small businesses owned by minorities in Arkansas. And although that number may look high, it only makes up 16.2% of the total number of small businesses in the state. Tina has recognized the lack of minorities in the community and attests that as to why she’s done so well.

“For me, I have done well just because there aren’t as many African American stylists in the area which ends up helping my clientele,” Arnett said.

But she does see that there is a growing number of minorities in the area. Above all, she wants to promote healthy African American hair in the community and knows that the need for that is growing.

“It is very important because the area has biracial couples and people that have adopted African American children and they don’t know how to take care of our hair type. It is very important for them to learn. I am in the process of creating classes for people to learn how to do African American hair,” Arnett said.

She is not sure when these classes will begin but they will be held in her salon.

But it isn’t only African American hair that Arnett works with.

Eleanor Dalmut, a Hispanic woman in her 60s, has been going to Tina for many years.

“I’ve known Tina for several years,” Dalmut said. “I met her when she was in school. I’m picky about my pedicures and when I called up to the school to see if someone could do my nails, they gave me Tina. She did an outstanding job, and I told her the school recommended her. That wasn’t her forte, but she spent a great deal of time with me and did fantastic. After she graduated, I followed her.”

Dalmut sees the work that Arnett has put into the community and loves that she is trying to promote ethnic hair in a less than ethnic area.

“She does amazing. I think that the African American people feel more comfortable with someone who knows their hair,” Dalmut said. “I think she is a great resource for this community. And when people recognize what she is able to do, she will get a lot more customers.”

Arnett is working to expand her business and hopefully get her classes set up soon to continue to promote African American hair in this community.

“I don’t just want to just do hair and make sure that it looks pretty, but I want to make sure that it is healthy. That is the mission of my salon,” Arnett said.