Hair salons are not just about physical appearance; they also play a crucial role in enhancing our mental well-being. They provide convenience and a space to de-stress from daily life. For some, the self-care aspect of getting a new hairdo can be truly transformative, boosting their confidence and self-esteem. Araceli Hernandez, owner of Florbella Salon, and her staff are doing their part in providing such benefits to nowhere else other than their local community.  

“I could’ve easily gone to Lincoln Park or Allen Park, where the services are much more expensive, and I could earn much better.” Said Hernandez, “However, I chose to stay and serve my community. It was not an easy decision, as it required a lot of money. But I wanted to create a nice place that we deserve, eliminating the need to travel to other areas such as Troy or Birmingham. My goal is to ensure that customers feel good and look good. That’s why my motto is “If I make you look good, you’ll feel better for sure.”

Florbella Salon has come a long way since its inception. It was initially known as Favi’s Nail Salon and was owned by Araceli Hernandez’s sister. The salon had been a staple in the Springwells neighborhood of Detroit for over 17 years. Eventually, Hernandez’s sister passed the baton to her. 

Though Hernandez may have experienced many obstacles in her business journey, none would equal the challenges that would be brought on by the pandemic (Covid-19).  

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the salon had to close its doors for three months, leaving Hernandez and her staff without a source of income. As contractors, they were not eligible for unemployment benefits, and it seemed like there was no hope. However, they were lucky to receive some assistance, which helped them through the tough times. However, after reopening, the salon experienced a slowdown in business as customers were hesitant to come in for services due to safety concerns. Hernandez had to exercise patience and perseverance, waiting for clients to arrive and prioritizing safety measures to ensure that her staff and customers were protected. 

In addition to those pandemic-related challenges, Hernandez had to navigate rent issues for her business space. Despite the difficulties, she was determined not to let her dreams die. She persevered, and in July of 2022, she eventually found a new location that turned out to be a blessing in disguise.  

“It’s a completely different space than the one we had before,” said Hernandez. “Our service remains the same or even better, as we continuously update our offerings to cater to both men and women.”

Florbella Salon is proud to offer an extensive range of services to cater to a diverse clientele. They provide exceptional hair care services for people of all ages, genders, and ethnicities, including plant stem cell treatment. Apart from their exceptional hair services, they are renowned for their top-notch eyebrow services and provide excellent skin and facial treatments, which include Fibroblast treatment. Their salon also offers prenatal and therapeutic massages that are highly beneficial for pregnant women and individuals with injuries. In conclusion, if you are looking for a salon that provides a diverse range of exceptional services, Florbella Salon is the ultimate destination for you.

Araceli is currently focused on remodeling the façade of her space. However, she is concerned about the high cost of such a job. Fortunately, her sister and Elias Gutiérrez informed her about a program that could provide assistance. The program in question is SDBA. Although Araceli was intrigued, she was not accustomed to the idea of resources being readily available to her.

“I was interested but not very used to it.” Said Hernandez, “I’ve been here in Southwest Detroit for more than 25 years working for the community, and I’m not used to asking for help.”

Admitting our need for assistance requires courage and a willingness to seek out the knowledge or resources we lack. Doing so opens us up to new possibilities and opportunities that we may not have considered before. Hernandez came to realize this when she met SDBA.

“My sister is a part of the committee at SDBA.” Said Hernandez, “She advised me to attend a meeting and talk to them, and they would make me a member. The membership fee was around $100 per year. When I approached them for help, they offered me some financial assistance. I’m not used to asking for help, and SDBA helped me understand the resources available to me.”

Despite her challenges, Hernandez is very hopeful about Florbella Salon. Her deepest aspiration is for it to be a space where her clients can feel free from criticism and bad tempers. She wants it to be a place where they can work and express their art without any hindrances.