Bonita’s Extensions and Braids: A Story of Perseverance & PROMISE

In the Uptown area of Minneapolis, Bonita’s Extensions & Braids Salon offers a wide variety of services to its customers. The salon specializes in natural hair care, braiding, and extensions while also providing an apprenticeship program for future hair stylists. Afolakemi Iawani, owner of Bonita’s Extensions and Braids and the Natural Hair Care Institute, built this business out of need from the community with a goal of providing financial mobility, employment opportunities, and community empowerment through hair care and hair education. The business has grown from a small salon into a place that symbolizes dignity, healing, and opportunity for the Uptown community and the customers that Afolakemi and Bonita’s serve. Afolakemi understands the power of hair. Hair is more than beauty. Hair is an outlet for confidence, culture, and community.

However, maintaining this small business in today’s economic climate has been a challenge for Afolakemi. Bonita’s Extensions & Braids has faced difficulties with economic growth since the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent unrest in Minneapolis. Many businesses shut down or left the Uptown area, which deterred customers as well. With less foot traffic combined with the rising costs of rent, utilities, and supplies, Afolakemi and Bonita’s turned to survival mode.

With the help of the Minnesota PROMISE Act, Bonita’s Extensions & Braids now has the opportunity to move beyond survival mode. The grant funds will be used to purchase new tools for strengthening the apprenticeship training program. As Afolakemi wrote:

“With better resources, we can continue preparing new stylists for lasting careers, while giving our community access to skilled professionals and a trusted space for natural haircare.” 

To learn more about Bonita’s Extensions & Braids or the Natural Hair Care Institute, visit their website at https://bonitasextensions.com/.