A first-of-its-kind one-stop beauty shop dedicated to catering to members of Surrey’s rapidly growing Black community opened for business on Saturday. The community showed support throughout opening day, dropping off flowers and snacks for Citadel Salon and Spa owner and founder Gift Ossai. The beauty shop combines hair, nails, and beauty services all in one location. There aren’t many places with such customized services for the Black community in the city. Isioma Chukwu is a working mom and has lived in Surrey for more than eight years, and she told CTV News she struggled to find a place suited to handle the demands of her unique hair texture. “My first year of being here, I had to cut my hair,” she recounted. “As a woman of colour, navigating basic things like haircare (and) skincare in a society like this, where there is not a lot of representation or places like this, could be difficult.” Chukwu isn’t alone in her hair struggle, as many Black women in the Lower Mainland still find it challenging to find a stylist well equipped for their hair needs. Fast forward to Saturday, and she has a place for more than just her hair. “Just having a space where I can get everything I love to get done in (one) place is amazing.” Founder and owner Gift Ossai started the salon as a home business a few years ago but soon realized her clients needed more from her. “A lot of my customers come in and ask, ‘Where can I get my nails done ... where can I get my lashes done? Is there anyone you can recommend for facials?” she told CTV News. The newly opened salon and spa lists services such as haircuts and styling, colour and extensions, wig services, braids, lash extensions, Swedish massage, facials, and nails. It also offers on-demand event makeup services, which she says many of her clients appreciate. “At times, people miss their hair or beauty or nail appointment because they are running late,” Ossai said. Tari Ohiosimuan, a mother of two, said she had been searching for a place where her family could all get their hair and beauty needs met at the same time. “Even my husband can get a haircut and get his pedicure,” she said. “Everybody has something for them, and that is amazing.” For now, Surrey appears to be the ideal spot for this kind of venue, as the city boasts the largest concentration of people of African descent living in Metro Vancouver. Many of them say they moved to Surrey for affordable housing and have built a community for themselves. “It’s not just a place where you come to get taken care of; it’s also a space where you feel safe, you feel welcome. It’s like a family,” Stephanie Odhomo shared. Chukwu said having a one-stop salon like Citadel creates a space for her to enjoy some “me time.” When customers step in, Ossai is hoping that they leave with a unique experience that helps revalidate her dream. “In the next few years, I’m hoping to be able to expand and offer these services in Vancouver and Burnaby as well,” she said.
