Support Native Studio Salon's Relocation & Growth

My name is Selina McManus, a hairdresser and owner of Native Studio Salon. As a Native American woman, there is little to no grant funding for Native owned businesses. Despite that, I have been overjoyed to see the success & growth of Native Studio Salon. It has been incredible to watch over the last three years, and it was only possible because of the community’s help to open in 2021. We are now in need of assistance with the next phase of this journey.

Native Studio Salon is seeking funding to support our relocation to a larger space that better accommodates our growing clientele, stylists, and community offerings. Since opening in 2021, we have expanded from one full-time stylist to four, reflecting the increasing demand for our services. This move will ensure a more comfortable experience for clients, provide space for community events, and allow us to invest in essential salon equipment and infrastructure.

The expansion of Native Studio Salon is a necessary step to meet the increasing demand for our services and strengthen our impact on the Oakland community. By investing in our growth, this grant will empower us to continue providing a welcoming, culturally significant space while creating economic opportunities for local artists, stylists, and entrepreneurs.

Background & Mission:

Native Studio Salon is more than just a hair salon; it is a community hub that provides a welcoming and culturally significant space for clients. As a Native-owned business, we recognize the importance of representation in the beauty industry and strive to create a unique, decolonial space for hairdressers & their clientele. Our commitment extends beyond hairstyling—we invest in our local community by hiring local contractors, painters, graphic designers, and artists. We are committed to welcoming and serving a diverse clientele, and provide a safe space for all clients to heal through haircare. The motto of our salon is "Decolonize Your Hair," and our mission is to be a creative beauty space for all hair textures and all human rights. The salon is a community space, and has a deep tie to the community. We have cared for hundreds of naturally curly clients through our curl care services by providing life changing education for them.

Staying in Oakland is deeply personal and crucial for our mission. My grandmother moved to Oakland in 1959 through the Indian Relocation Act to attend cosmetology school, and we continue to honor that legacy by providing a space where culture, beauty, and community intersect.

Funding Request & Use of Funds:

The grant funds will be used to:

Impact & Growth:

Our clientele travels from across the Bay Area, California, and even out of state, showcasing the demand for our specialized services.

Our growth has created job opportunities, with a former assistant, Valerie, now working as a full-time stylist.

This expansion will allow us to continue providing high-quality service while fostering community engagement and economic development.

Native Studio Salon is committed to continuing our community service efforts. In the past we have donated hair care products to local organizations, donated haircuts to formerly incarcerated Native women reentering society and unhoused people, hosted discounted consignment clothing events, and offered paid youth intern opportunities.

Testimonials & Community Support:

"My name is Jazmin Marquez and I've had the pleasure of working with Selina McManus the past two years. In my position as a work-based learning program coordinator at San Leandro Unified School District, I am in charge of building relations and partnerships with community members to bring opportunities to our students. Selina has been hosting SLUSD high school students to intern at Native Studio Salon since 2023. She is the epitome of someone whom students should learn from and build community with. Not only do students walk out of their internship with hard skills in the beauty industry, but they also learn soft skills such as networking, time management, customer service, etc. Most importantly, students walk out feeling confident with skills that will help them in any field they decide to pursue. Selina's core values in decolonization are what drew me to partner up and bring opportunities to our student body. She embraces her roots and stays true to her values, all while being an amazing mentor to students." - Jazmin Marquez, Work Based Learning Specialist at Eden Area ROP

“I want to begin by expressing the joy it brings me to comment on the amazement of Native Studio Salon. This story is a real statement of the power of following your dreams. Selina not only creates stylish gorgeous hair, but she also gives knowledge and comfort to those in her hair. Hair is an important part of many cultures and Selina provides a safe space where many of the community can find a connection to themselves and their hair. Native Studio Salon provides a clean, professional, and compassionate atmosphere and you leave with a sense of renewal and beauty. Selina also goes beyond the styling chair. She has personally held events that benefit a local non-profit that supports Native Women in recovery with their children. She has donated her time, products, and services to give these women a chance to feel self-love, often for the first time. She inspires the Urban Native Community in the East Bay and I could not be more proud to see such strong Native women achieve such great heights! I invite you to support and be part of this movement Selina is creating to bring inclusion and tradition to the salon world.” -Marie Hernandez, The Friendship House

We appreciate your consideration and look forward to the opportunity to further our mission through this funding.