Key Points
- Curl Jar partnered with The Curly Cow hair specialists to host a free community salon day in Westhoughton focused on curl care.
- The event attracted people with curly, kinky, and wavy hair, offering free styling sessions and sharing hair care tips.
- Curl Jar’s founder, Preeya Ogier, organised the event to help people understand and embrace their natural hair through education and styling.
- Four curly-hair specialists participated, including salon owners and stylists from Bolton, Leeds, and Hull.
- The Curly Cow, a specialist salon in Bolton owned by Vicky Westby, specifically caters to textured and afro hair, a rarity in the North West region.
- The event aimed to build community support and confidence for people with textured hair.
- Challenges remain as many hairdressers still lack proper training on afro-textured hair despite recent industry standards updates.
- The salon day included holistic treatments and attracted families, especially young girls experiencing their first professional curl styling.
What Was the Free Curly Hair Salon Day in Westhoughton About?
As reported by The Bolton News, Curl Jar, a Birmingham-born company focused on textured hair care, joined forces with The Curly Cow salon in Westhoughton to host a free salon day dedicated to curl care. The event took place on Saturday, 15 November 2025, at The Curly Cow, a specialist salon owned by Vicky Westby that caters exclusively to curly, afro, and textured hair types. The aim was to educate people on natural hair care and styling while providing a welcoming space to nurture community and confidence. Visitors with curly, kinky, and wavy hair were offered free styling sessions and shared tips on maintaining their unique hair textures.
Passengers browsed the bustling salon, which featured four curly hair specialists and two curl-focused small business owners, as clients enjoyed much-needed personalised attention and community exchange of knowledge.
Who Is Behind Curl Jar and What Is Its Mission?
According to Preeya Ogier, founder of Curl Jar, the company was launched two years ago after years of developing an all-in-one nourishing product for textured hair. Speaking to The Bolton News, Preeya said,
“I wanted to create one product to do a little bit of everything. The idea behind it was, ‘if I was on a desert island, without anything, what would I need?’”
She explained the challenges of afro and textured hair styling, which often requires multiple products to achieve a desired look. Curl Jar is vegan-approved, cruelty-free, Leaping Bunny certified, and dermo-tested, standing as a product that promotes community as much as hair health.
Preeya emphasised,
“We are product-focused and community-led. We’re all about encouraging the confidence that your hair can give you.”
She added the joy of such events lay in the opportunity to connect personally with clients and answer their questions in an ‘old-school’ way that fostered genuine connection and learning.
Who Were the Specialists and What Unique Expertise Did They Bring?
The event featured a team of four curly hair specialists: Vicky and Olivia from The Curly Cow in Bolton, Terri from Curls Inc in Leeds, and a stylist visiting from The Curl Care Studio in Hull. The Bolton News quoted Terri reflecting on her passion:
“I absolutely love what I do. I love giving women the confidence to be their natural, whole selves.”
Vicky Westby, owner of The Curly Cow, explained the motivation behind specialising in curls,
“Curly Cow started just after lockdown because I think lots of people realised that they had curly hair during this time. It was starting to become more popular for people to embrace their natural hair.”
She also noted the scarcity of salons equipped to handle afro and textured hair, referencing Treatwell data from 2022 showing only 0.5% in the North West accommodated such hair.
Why Is Specialist Training for Afro and Textured Hair Still Lacking?
Despite the 2021 update by the Hair and Beauty Industry Authority (Habia), which mandated that hairdressers should be trained to work with afro-textured hair, Vicky Westby pointed out to The Bolton News that the standards have yet to be fully implemented in educational settings.
“It’s still not really being taught properly in colleges,”
she said, highlighting an ongoing industry gap. This lack of training often leaves people with textured hair underserved by mainstream salons, reinforcing the importance of specialist salons like The Curly Cow.
What Impact Did the Event Have on the Community?
The free salon day was not only about styling but also about community building and empowerment. Many young girls attended with their parents to experience professional curl care for the first time. For instance, a father brought his daughter, the first in their family with afro-textured hair, hoping to help her learn to manage and embrace her curls. Nine-year-old Rose from Wigan, who attended with her mother, shared,
“It was my first time having my hair styled by a curly hairdresser. I really liked it,”
leaving the event with a smile.
The day also featured complementary holistic treatments from Zen Essence, a wellness business located within The Curly Cow, giving clients time to relax and rejuvenate alongside their styling appointments.
What Does the Future Hold for Curl Jar and The Curly Cow?
Curl Jar's educational salon days, including the Westhoughton event, continue to receive positive feedback as they help raise awareness and celebrate textured hair communities nationwide. Preeya maintains strong relationships with stylists stocking Curl Jar products, using events like these to bring people together and share expert knowledge about curls.
Meanwhile, The Curly Cow recently marked its first anniversary at its Market Street location in Westhoughton, solidifying its role as a key local resource for curly hair care. With growing recognition of the need for specialist services, both Curl Jar and The Curly Cow are positioned to expand their community impact and educational efforts.