Rosa's Story - Hair & Hope in Foster Care
Hair is important. Many times children in foster care with textured hair go without the hair care they need. Maybe because it’s not prioritized. Maybe it’s lack of knowledge, support, money or just cultural understanding, but getting this right can make such a big difference for kids at school, among peers and, most importantly, when they look in the mirror.
Meet our friend, Rosa Jenkins, former foster youth, a local business owner, wife, and mother who shares how this was her story. She now is active at Foster Love Bell County leading Hair Care Clinics which are helping to change that story for others. Rosa told us, “I recently opened a salon 3 years ago. I have made my mission to help every client have access to haircare, no matter what type of hair texture they have.”
When Rosa was younger, her biological family didn’t prioritize hair care. She has painful memories of being called “ugly” and other hurtful words coming both from peers and trusted adults in her life. She, at a young age, remembers her step-sister asking her parents to please let Rosa learn how to do her hair, so this could change.
Around this time, Rosa began to have an awareness that culturally she was different from others around her. Her hair had more curl than many of the people in the Hispanic community she grew up in. One day at a bus stop, Rosa was asked if she was “mixed,” and she then realized she looked like some of her African American neighbors. “When we moved into an apartment with my bio mom, we were surrounded by mostly black neighbors. The Roes lived next door. Mrs. Roe was a single mom with four daughters, and she took me in like one of her own. They helped me understand my hair texture and took me to the salon where I got my hair cut and styled. I was absolutely in love with my hair. I had so much confidence in my appearance.”
Later, Rosa and her siblings were removed from her mother’s home and placed in a group home. Rosa shares, “They took us shopping for new clothes, which we were excited about, because that just wasn't something our parents did for us. They took us to get our hair done, and I couldn’t wait.” But Rosa goes on to explain, “The stylist had a thorough consultation with me, and I tried my best to tell them what the previous stylists had done for me. I was very hopeful ….but as I looked in the mirror, I was shocked. It wasn’t right. I went back to the group home and washed it with my tears…I tried to remember all the products that the previous hairstylist used, and I taught myself how to do my hair”.
Rosa moved about three more times after leaving the group home. The last home she lived in was with a foster family where “they loved each of the kids as their own and highly considered each of their talents.” Rosa moved to Temple for her senior year and enrolled in the Cosmetology Program at Temple High School. What a blessing it turned out to be! After graduation, she got her cosmetology license and was mentored by her aunt who is a stylist and business owner. “God had a bigger plan for me. Never did I think that I would have the talent to do hair. I never thought I would have an amazing mentor to guide me through all the way to owning my very own salon!” Rosa went on to tell us about the passion she has to educate parents about learning how to do their child’s hair.
As a hairstylist for over 21 years and owner of Meraki Salon in Temple, Rosa says her biggest tip: “Stop getting advice from YouTube creators, as they are stating what works on their child's hair. Go to a professional, and book an education class with them. It may get frustrating to figure out different textures of hair, but it's just as frustrating for the child knowing that they are going to school not looking their best. Knowing the basics of hair care, and seeing the glow and confidence your child will have as a result, is the best feeling ever. It makes the child comfortable and able to trust you.”
Rosa donates her time at Foster Love giving seasonal education clinics for foster families needing support with textured hair. At these clinics, parents can get advice on textures, products, and styling tips. The next clinic date and signup can be found on our calendar of events.