Joyola Mei has arrived to Corktown!

Okay, so you’re fresh out of school on one of your first real jobs, and you hear someone yell from across the room: “You need to go back home!”

This was straight-up “bananas,” to Joyell Lewis – and it was all because of her natural, big, and fluffy curly hair. The word that her colleague used was “unkempt.”

Joyell brushed her shoulders off, leveled up, and became a Curl Artist for her salon @joyolameihair. Probably wouldn’t find her work next to a Vincent van Gogh at the DIA, but you’re likely to peep it throughout the metro area… in that hot new restaurant, the grocery store, or the car in the next lane.

“There are so many trigger words attached to curly hair that I really set out to change the narrative. Embrace your frizz,” said Joyell.

About four years ago, Joyell noticed a shift in her clientele. It wasn’t just Black women wanting the curly look. She started servicing Asian women, Eastern Egyptians, women from all walks. “I just love when I do a full transformation and my clients say, ‘I’ve never seen my hair curly before.’”

And since Detroit is the ‘hair capital of the world,’ Joyell thought it was only right to leave her hometown of Lansing and start a new life in Detroit. “Detroit is so unique because it is small business. That is something I wanted to be a part of.”

And a grant from the Motor City Match initiative helped make her dream come true, assisting with purchasing the all-important blow dryers, and hair products – which are all low-tox; containing ingredients that are healthier for your hair and skin.

Style Tip from Joyell: “Have fun with your hair, go BIG, change the color. Stop playing it safe.”

FYI – When asked if she went back home at her colleague’s request, Joyell was like, “nope.”

@joyolameihair is coming soon to Corktown.

свернуть