Nichole Ashley Moss and her daughters have created history by opening the first Black-owned beauty supply and hair care products store in Corvallis, Oregon. Soulful Strands has become a beloved local spot, offering a variety of hair care essentials tailored to the community’s needs.
The inspiration for Soulful Strands came from Nichole’s own frustrating experience of spending a large sum on hair care products in Portland. She and her husband then decided to start their own store in response to the lack of similar options in their area.
However, launching the store came with challenges. Nichole funded the venture through four months of savings, contributions from her husband, and strategic bulk buying due to difficulty in securing business loans. High rental costs in the originally planned location of Albany led her to set up the store in downtown Corvallis, despite its smaller space.
Despite the limited space, Moss maximized the store’s layout to offer a diverse range of hair extensions, conditioners, accessories, and tools, catering to Black customers, students from a nearby college, and clients from a braiding salon across the street.
Additionally, Nichole aims for inclusivity by providing products for all hair types and aspires to exclusively feature items sourced from Africa in the future. She also envisions expanding her store to include makeup, beauty products, fashion accessories, African prints, and more.
While she acknowledges the uncertainties of expansion, Nichole remains optimistic, seeing Soulful Strands as an opportunity to understand and appreciate various hair types and promote a positive perception of them.
“Your hair is like a plant. You got to water it, and if you don’t, it’ll die, like a plant. It’s causing me to learn a lot more working here,” Moss said.
For those interested in supporting the business, the shop can be visited at 425 SW Madison Ave F2, Corvallis, OR 97333. Additionally, the business can be followed on Instagram @Soulful_Strands_Beauty
