ROB: A BENSON NEIGHBORHOOD GETS A WNE BUSINESS. T HEAVIHITTERS IS A ONE-STOP SALON HOPING TO MAKE AN IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY. KETV NEWSWATCH 7'S KALE' SEARCY TELLS US ABOUT THE NEW ADDITION TO MAPLE STREET. IT'S THE FIRST OF IT'S KIND IN THE HEART OF BENSON. >> WE'RE ALL DIFFERENT ETHNICITIES, AND WE'RE ALL WOMEN. REPORTER: SHANNON JACKSON OWNS HEAVI HITTERS, A BARBERSHOP FULLY OWNED AND RUN BY BLACK WON.ME >> IT'S GIVEN OUR CLITSEN A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE OF LIFE, BEING IN A MALE- DOMINATED WORLD. REPORTER: COSMETOLOGIST ALIA JACKSON SAYS THEY'RE BUILDING A SAFE SPACE FOR ALL THEIR CLIENTS NO MATTER THEIR BACKGROUND. >> WE REALLY JUST WANT TO CREATE A SPACE WHERE ANYONE CAN FEEL LIKE THEY CAN COME IN HERE. REPORTER: BUT IT DOESN'T STOP AT HAIRCUTS. THEY'RE BRINGING EVERYTHING UNDER ONE ROOF. FROM BRAIDS TO WS,IG TO MAKEUP AND TATTOOS. >> SEEING THAT THEY ELFE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM WHEN THEY FIRST CAME IN, LIKE I CAN HAVE SOMEBODY COME IN AND HAVE THE WORST DAY EVER. BUT ONCE THEY COME OUT OF MY CHAIR, THEY FEEL COMPTELELY DIFFERENT. REPORTER: THE BUSINESS HAS ONLY GROWN SINCE OPENING IN 2019. THEY QUICKLY RAN OUT OF SPACE, BRINGING THEM TO THEIR NEW LOCATION NEAR 65TH AND MAPLE. >> WITH THIS NEW SALON AND BEING IN THIS AREA, WE GET A LOT OF TRAFFIC. REPORTER: LATORIA NEAL SAYS THROUGH THE YEARS TIRHE RELATIONSHIPS HAVE ALSO GRN.OW >> WE ALL GREW TOGETHER, LIKE A SISTERHOOD WITH EACH OTHER, LIKE, THIS IS MY FAMILY. REPORTER: WHILE CREATING A PERMANENT IMPACT WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. >> ALSO TO BE A PUBCLI FIGEUR IN THE EYE WHERE WOMEN THAT LOOK LIKE US AND GIRLS THAT ARE GROWING UP ANDOO LKING AT US AS ROLE MODELS KNOW THAT THEY CAN DO I
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'Like a sisterhood': First Black women owned barbershop opens in Benson
A new business just moved to the Benson neighborhood, it's a one-stop shop with a unique twist.
It's the first of its kind in the heart of Benson, hoping to make an impact on the community. "We're all different ethnicities, and we're all women," said Alia Jackson, a cosmetologist and professional makeup artist. Shannon Jackson owns, Heavi Hitters, a barbershop fully owned and run by Black women. "It's given our clients, a different perspective of life, being in a male-dominated world," hairstylist Ayanna Carfield said. Alia said they're building a safe space for all their clients, no matter their background. "We really just want to create a space where anyone can feel like they can come in here," said Alia.It doesn't just stop at haircuts, they're bringing everything under one roof, from braids to wigs, to makeup and tattoos. "Seeing that they feel completely different from when they first came in, like I can have somebody come in and have the worst day ever. But once they come out of my chair, they feel completely different a whole new person," Carfield said. The business has only grown since opening in 2019, they quickly ran out of space, bringing them to their new location near 65th and Maple. "With this new salon and being in this area, we get a lot of traffic," said Latoria Neal another hairstylist at Heavi Hitters. Neal said through the years their relationships have also grown. "We all grew together, like a sisterhood with each other, like, this is my family," Neal said. While creating a permanent impact within the community. "Also to be a public figure in the eye where women that look like us and girls that are growing up and looking at us as role models know that they can do it all," Alia said.
It's the first of its kind in the heart of Benson, hoping to make an impact on the community.
"We're all different ethnicities, and we're all women," said Alia Jackson, a cosmetologist and professional makeup artist.
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Shannon Jackson owns, Heavi Hitters, a barbershop fully owned and run by Black women.
"It's given our clients, a different perspective of life, being in a male-dominated world," hairstylist Ayanna Carfield said.
Alia said they're building a safe space for all their clients, no matter their background.
"We really just want to create a space where anyone can feel like they can come in here," said Alia.
It doesn't just stop at haircuts, they're bringing everything under one roof, from braids to wigs, to makeup and tattoos.
"Seeing that they feel completely different from when they first came in, like I can have somebody come in and have the worst day ever. But once they come out of my chair, they feel completely different a whole new person," Carfield said.
The business has only grown since opening in 2019, they quickly ran out of space, bringing them to their new location near 65th and Maple.
"With this new salon and being in this area, we get a lot of traffic," said Latoria Neal another hairstylist at Heavi Hitters.
Neal said through the years their relationships have also grown.
"We all grew together, like a sisterhood with each other, like, this is my family," Neal said.
While creating a permanent impact within the community.
"Also to be a public figure in the eye where women that look like us and girls that are growing up and looking at us as role models know that they can do it all," Alia said.
