Yeluchi's At-home Service Caters to Black Hair

I’ll never forget the first time I tried cornrows. I sat in a chair for hours, only to leave with a sore scalp AND behind. Now I’m thankful for Yeluchi, a new at-home service that brings professional hairstyling to the privacy—and comfort—of your own home. It took me 8 years to get over the trauma but when I got the style again, it was on my own terms and in my own home.

As a beauty editor I’ve tried a bunch of at-home styling services, but none of them really understood my super curly, kinky hair. I knew if a company could bring botox to your home, clearly someone could help my coils. Yeluchi was my answer. It services primarily to women of color, but the company’s licensed hairstylists are experienced in working with various textures. “There really isn't any at-home or on demand hair services in New York City that caters to Black hair,” says co-founder Abigail Opiah. “I recently tried one this summer and the stylist had no clue what to do with my hair! He had a one-size fits all approach. What sets us apart from our competitors is that we cater to all textures of Black hair. Also, a lot of our competitors focus in on convenience and affordability, whereas our focus is on comfort!”

---

Have you read about these at-home beauty services?

1. The Best At-Home Beauty Services
2. Just Say Spahhh: Three Relaxing At-Home Beauty Treatments
3. On-Demand Botox—as in Botox in Your Home—Is Now a Thing

---

At first I was skeptical. Would the stylist judge me for wearing my husband’s holed shirt while watching Sex and the City (don’t you dare call me basic!) with a box of cookies? I was wrong. Yeluchi hairstylists are licensed, professional and highly experienced in their field. She even told me to sit on several pillows so my rear end wouldn’t turn to mush. Good call.

But the fun doesn’t stop with Yeluchi—it’s an extension of Opiah’s online brand un-ruly.com, which aims to be a supportive community and stir productive dialogues about hair within the female and Black communities. “Yeluchi is not only a byproduct of Un­ruly, but also of our personal hair journeys and mission to reshape the way the world views Black hair,” says Antonia Opiah, who is the other founder and sister to Abigail. “So, when it came to choosing a name for our at­home hairstyling service, the natural choice was a play on my Nigerian name, Chiyelu, which means ‘God’s gift’. To us, Black hair is a versatile and beautiful gift that sits atop the highest point of who we are, expressing everything that’s come before us, everything we are now, and all that’s yet to come.”

I opted for cornrows, but other services offered include protective styles such as braids and weave installations with price points ranging from $50 to $225. Thus far, Yeluchi only services New York City, which includes Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx and Staten Island, but there are plans to expand in the near future. Luckily for you, the brand also offers gift cards, which might be the best holiday gift around.

Now learn how to clip in your own hair extensions: