Royal Cultures, a hair salon specializing in wigs and hair extensions at 1953 Ridge Road in Homewood, has renovated and expanded its space into the adjacent storefront. Owner Olusolape Ogunrinola, who often goes by Lape, said she hopes the expansion will allow Royal Culture to hire more employees, extend its hours and increase its customer base.
store logo that was installed in the store’s new,
expanded space. (Provided photo)
Wig selection, the customization of hair extensions, head measurements and stylists doing clients’ hair were once all done in the same room at Royal Cultures.
After more than doubling its space, Ogunrinola said that Royal Cultures went from having only one hair station to five hair stations in the new adjacent room. Many customers still do consultations in the same, original room, but clients’ hair is mostly done in the new space, especially if it’s done by one of Ogunrinola’s employees.
Previously, other customers and passersby outside near the store window could see a client take off their wig or take out their extensions. The expansion has also allowed Royal Cultures to create a smaller room where customers can do this privately behind a closed door.
Ogunrinola said the room was already owned by Royal Cultures but was previously used to store hair dryers. Since the dryers were moved into the new space, Royal Cultures could repurpose it, she said.
“Some people, like I said, don’t have hair. And they might feel uncomfortable. So, this is our safe corner,” Ogunrinola said, adding that she once had a customer who started to cry when two other women walked in and saw her with her wig off.
“They can take off their scarves or hats or whatever they have on and feel the privacy.”
Ogunrinola stressed that while Royal Cultures specializes in wigs and hair expansions, she and her employees “do it all,” adding that they “do natural hair,” hair color services and shampoo and conditioning.
“I’ve been doing hair since I was 12 years old. So, hair’s always been my passion,” Ogunrinola said. “I love doing hair. I love women. I love talking to them and giving them the confidence they need to go about their week and their day.”
“Every woman should feel like royalty, feel like queens, especially when their hair is done,” Ogunrinola said, explaining how she came up with the store name. “And ‘culture’ because it’s a culture of feeling good and being good to everybody.”
Ogunrinola, who has a nursing background, said her first client was a woman with cancer who’d experienced hair loss. She said Royal Cultures’ clients are predominately Black women but she has a diverse range of clients that she’s only hoping to expand, adding that her inventory includes wigs and extensions for all hair types.
Royal Cultures was originally an online business and the physical storefront opened in Homewood in 2021. In addition to expanding into the new space, Royal Cultures recently joined the Homewood Business Association which Ogunrinola said is a good networking tool.
Royal Cultures is open Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m., on Saturday from 11 a.m. through 3 p.m. It’s closed on Sunday and Monday.
Royal Cultures is now hiring stylists and sales associates. Olurinola said she hopes more employees can allow her to extend Royal Cultures’ hours.
“If they can specialize in different techniques, that would be great,” Olurinola said, regarding stylists she hopes to hire.
A grand opening celebration for Royal Cultures’ expanded store is set for Thursday, Nov. 21.
Correction: The name of owner Olusolape Olurinola was misspelled in the original version of this story. The Chronicle apologizes for the error.
