This reply in from African Look to the earlier story.
The African Look Salon has been providing niche market hair styling services including hair extensions, braiding dreadlocks, cornrolls, straightening, and perming to African and Caucasian clients in Canberra for 13 years. The vast majority of my clients are Caucasian men and women of all ages and include high profile individuals such as Football players, Australian International Net ball players, Deltra Goodrem, and Lauren Jackson and her coach.
My salon has never claimed through advertising, signage or otherwise, to offer ‘cut, style or blow-dry’ services. In fact, our salon is clearly identifiable as a ‘extension, braiding, cornroll and dreadlock’ salon through the numerous ‘before and after’ photographs of clients (black and white) on the walls and front windows of the salon.
The article published in the Riot Act by madjimmy on 13 May 2013, and the ensuing outrage through comments in response, followed by the large number of phone calls generated by this article has left me no choice but to respond publicly with the facts, and to defend myself from allegations of racism when I would prefer not to indulge this unprovoked attack and to maintain the dignified silence this deserves.
I would like to express how personally offensive it is to be labelled a racist by an individual simply because our business does not offer the service he was seeking. The potential damage to my personal reputation and the reputation of my business caused by this man’s blatant distortion of what actually occurred when he approached my salon for hair cut deeply concerns me. It was clearly explained to this man that our salon does not provide the hair cutting services that are offered by general hair dressing salons and that the only time we cut hair is to trim the ends of hair when required for braiding purposes. The salon acted appropriately and professionally by referring him to a salon next door that was able to meet his needs.
On a positive note, I would like to express my gratitude for the large number of clients, past and present who have contacted me over the last couple of days offering support and endorsements for the salon.
Juliette Graham
Owner of The African Look Salon
Shop 14, Gallery level, Centrepoint
Canberra
02 62472001
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