Mike Wolanin | The Republic Angelina Yor poses for a photo at her business, Anok Hair Braiding on State Street in Columbus, Ind., Friday, Feb. 28, 2023.
To Angelina Yor, having a good hair day isn’t just about style, it’s also a form of empowerment.
“For me, as a Black woman, hair is a very big thing on my confidence,” she said. “When my hair is done, I feel more confident and more powerful. So hair is a big thing. And plus, braiding hair is a protective style for our hair texture. It is a way of growing my hair. So it’s more than just confidence, also a culture thing.”
However, when Yor first moved to Columbus, there were no hair braiders in the city, so she would have drive to Indianapolis to get her hair done. Other women related similar experiences to her.
To rectify this, Yor has opened her own business: Anok Hair Braiding, at 1954 State St in Columbus. The salon, named after her mother, had its grand opening in July 2022.
Yor offers natural hair services, including braids of any kind. While the business is especially for Black women, she said that she can work on all kinds of hair.
In discussing challenges her business faces, Yor said that there are “not a lot of people of color or enough clienteles” in Columbus.
However, the best part of her job is seeing clients who do come in and are satisfied with their new look.
“Seeing the end of the day, a woman walking out the door very happy with their hair, look nice and that is, it make my whole day,” said Yor.
Her passion for braiding dates back to her childhood. Growing up, she didn’t have a TV or games, so she and other children would make their own dolls, using yarn to make hair that they could braid.
Yor was born in southern Sudan. When she was 2 years old, her family moved north to avoid warfare.
She came to Columbus as a refugee in 2004, fleeing an area that has since become the independent nation of South Sudan. Her family was brought to the country by the United Nations and sponsored by the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.
She is very grateful to Jo and Dave McKinney, who have helped her family a great deal since they moved to Columbus. Yor said Jo has been like a mother to her and was even there for her during childbirth.
And since she did not speak English at first, Jo acted as a go-between in situations such as doctor’s appointments and business meetings.
“She literally made it possible for me to open my business,” Yor said.
Another form of local support she may seek in the future is Targeted Investment in Minority Entrepreneurs (TIME), a local program that provides business and financial resources to minority-owned businesses. Businesses have to be in operation for at least a year in order to be eligible, so Anok Hair Braiding does not yet qualify.
Yor said that that TIME is very helpful and provides ways to connect with other small businesses in town.
“I’m just grateful being in Columbus and the welcoming that I get from people of Columbus,” she said.
