Making a difference, one hair extension at a time

By Kathryne McCann

WASHINGTON – The 45-minute commute to Howard University and back again is a trip many black women on American University’s campus know well – and one Trinity Balla hopes to end.

Balla, an American sophomore from Oakland, California, quickly learned as a freshman that if she wanted to buy the products she needed for her hair she would have to travel beyond the surroundings of her own campus and visit Howard, located in Washington's Shaw neighborhood.

As a public health major, Balla has a passion for helping others. With her degree, she hopes to expand the scope of health beyond that of traditional medicine in order to positively impact populations in need. This desire to help others and solve problems has translated from her passion for health into her business, Valentino Braiding Hair.

Named after her beloved poodle, Valentino Braiding Hair was created the summer before her second year at American. During her first year, Balla noticed that there was a need for black women's hair extensions on American’s campus. With the nearest provider of these hair extensions being located 45 minutes from American’s campus, Balla wanted to provide a solution. Accessibility, Balla decided, would be at the heart of her business.

“My main goal was just helping other black girls on campus get access to supplies they need,” said Balla, whose infectious smile appeared with each mention of her business.

“We (black women) do very extravagant and beautiful styles with hair and it is one of the ways we express ourselves,” said Balla.

Consuelo A. Grier, director of multicultural student support at the Center for Diversity and Inclusion at American, knows that hair holds a lot more meaning than meets the eye.

“Your outward appearance can absolutely be a manifestation or reflection of your identity … and when you don’t have the things that you need in order to do that, it places an additional burden on students who have to go so far out of the way,” said Grier.

However, students, Grier said, have all the power in the world to create change and make a difference, just as Balla is doing.

“I think that what she’s doing really falls in line with a long legacy of what we have seen in terms of black women taking charge of something when there is an absence of the things that they need and creating a way to provide that need to their community, so I think it’s great,” said Grier.

Balla’s business is just one of many ways she has taken charge within the black community on American’s campus. In addition to catering to hair needs, Balla also serves as the events coordinator for the American University African Students’ Organization.

Bethlehem Sisay, a business administration major from Boston, Massachusetts, met Balla through a friend and became close to her due to Balla’s heavy involvement in the black community on campus. The struggle that inspired Balla is one Sisay knows all too well.

“It’s just something I’ve gotten used to,” said Sisay, referencing the commute to Shaw. “It was really nice to have Trinity have this business on campus. It’s close, nearby, and it’s cheap.”

Balla is not alone in her journey to provide black women on campus with accessible hair options.

Fatmata Kamara, the president of Sister Sister AU, an on-campus organization that works to support black women at American, spoke of other students who have started their own braiding and weave services. These students were inspired by the same lack of resources that drove Balla to create Valentino Braiding Hair. Students at American, Kamara says, need to take it upon themselves to address the need.

“Nobody else knows what black women need but other black women,” said Kamara. “They know what we want so it is easier for us to be able to go to them.”

When thinking about the future, Balla hopes to not only address the need for black women’s hair supplies on American’s campus, but to help students all over Washington.

“I would love to see it grow to other campuses like maybe helping G.W. students or Georgetown students whose schools are located in predominantly white neighborhoods that don’t necessarily cater to needs for black people,” said Balla.

When it comes to owning a business, Balla would encourage anyone with the drive to start one, no matter what their major might be.

“You don’t have to be a business major to start your own business,” said Balla. “Anyone can do it. You just need that entrepreneurial spirit and you can launch from there.”

Trinity Balla, a sophomore at American University, poses while sitting in the Mary Graydon Center located on American’s campus. Balla started her own business called Valentino Braiding Hair to serve an unmet need black women on her campus experience.

(Photo by Kathryne McCann)