Lenora Leathers’ journey in hair care began humbly at the age of 13 when she started styling hair at her parents’ home. Today, as a Black woman and owner of Savvy Salon in Lee’s Summit, she has turned her passion into a mission to address the challenges faced by people with textured hair.
For years, Leathers has witnessed how difficult it can be to find suitable hair care products for curlier hair patterns, which are common among people of color. As her salon business grew, she began creating her own line of hair care products tailored to the needs of her clientele.
This summer, her products gained the attention of Whitney Huddleston, a registered nurse with the University of Kansas Health System. Huddleston, inspired by her biracial children and her experiences in health care, identified a significant gap in hospital resources for textured hair.
“She saw the need that this is an issue in the health system,” Leathers said. “There are so many patients who may spend the night and don’t have access to products that work for their hair.”
A Solution Rooted in Understanding
This realization sparked the launch of a new initiative, “Rooted in Change: Understanding the Cultural Differences of Hair Care,” funded by the health system’s STAR Fund. Established in 2004, the STAR Fund supports patient-centered programs outside the hospital’s regular budget, thanks to employee contributions.
The program debuted this week with hundreds of “textured hair kits” featuring Leathers’ products. These kits include shampoo, conditioner, a detangling pick, and a bonnet for overnight hair protection. Initially, they will be provided to patients in the Dialysis and Cambridge Pre-Post units at KU’s 39th Street and Rainbow Boulevard campus.
Leathers collaborated closely with Huddleston to ensure the kits meet patients’ needs. “I told [Whitney], ‘Not only do they need shampoo and conditioner, especially for textured hair, but they also need tools to detangle and protect their hair,’” she explained.
Addressing an Overlooked Need
The program has already made an impact. Leathers recounted a story of a cancer patient who reached out through social media to request a kit. “They got right on it and mailed one to her home,” Leathers shared.
As a multicultural salon, Savvy Salon embraces diverse hair types, and Leathers is excited to see hospitals taking steps to do the same.
A Vision for Expansion
The pilot program is just the beginning. The goal is to expand the initiative across the entire KU Health System and potentially inspire other hospitals to adopt similar measures.
“People never forget how you make them feel,” Leathers said. “Not only are we making clients feel amazing in the salon, but we’re bringing that same care to hospital settings. I’m mind-blown.”
Leathers and Huddleston hope the program will serve as a model for inclusive health care practices, bridging cultural gaps and addressing the unique needs of all patients.
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