Oneida salon owner reflects on hair, identity and Native entrepreneurship
Bailey Skenandore says her Milwaukee salon creates space for cultural connection and self-expression
Bailey Skenandore, a citizen of the Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin, has built Sweetgrass Salon in Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward as a space where clients can express themselves through their hair while honoring its cultural significance, according to reporting by ICT. Skenandore said in an interview that hair is closely tied to identity and that creating a supportive environment for clients is central to her work. She noted that for some Indigenous people, hair can carry spiritual meaning and may be cut during periods of mourning or hardship.
Skenandore opened Sweetgrass Salon after spending eight years working under another salon owner. She told ICT that launching her own business gave her the freedom to create a space that reflected her vision. According to data cited by ICT from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Association for Enterprise Opportunity, Native-owned businesses have increased in recent decades.
- 1.Amelia Schafer. ICT, .
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