By the time Salem Berhane opened the doors to IncluSV Beauty Solutions in 2020, she had already spent years building trust with a community often overlooked by the beauty industry. Through self-taught technique, client feedback, and a deep-rooted commitment to authenticity, she turned her passion for textured hair into a platform for representation.
Born in Eritrea and raised in Canada, Salem understands how identity can shift in subtle, lasting ways. “Growing up around what was then idolized—the European standards of beauty, straight permed hair—I wanted to change the narrative to embracing the beauty in curly hair.” Her parents encouraged her to embrace her natural texture, no matter what society idolized, “I was teased for my long hair. People thought I was lying about having extensions. I constantly had to prove myself—until I didn’t care to anymore.” As she got older and began styling her own hair, she found joy in experimenting, often mimicking the looks of popular artists like Da Brat. What began as imitation eventually became passion.
“I never planned to become a hairstylist,” she says. “But I kept seeing how hard it was to find someone who really understood textured hair—someone who wouldn’t treat it like a problem to be fixed.”
Based in Windsor, Ontario, IncluSV launched during the height of a global pandemic. While many businesses were closing their doors, Salem opened hers—and found that the timing couldn’t have been better.
“There was so much unmet need,” she explains.
"People were looking for care that didn't come with side comments or uncertainty. I wasn't offering anything radical—just an environment where textured hair was understood, respected, and celebrated."
That simple promise resonated deeply. Within weeks, her books were full. Clients—many of whom had spent years feeling misunderstood in traditional salons—found in Salem not just expertise but empathy. They stayed because of the quality of her work, but they returned because they felt seen.
Her studio soon became more than a place to get your hair done—it became a space where identity wasn’t questioned but embraced. “It’s not just about styling,” she says. “It’s about creating a space where people feel safe being exactly who they are.”
Salem sees each appointment as a wellness check-in. “We start by talking about how they’ve been since their last visit, maybe sharing a tea or water,” she explains. For some, it’s a chance to open up about life—family, school, fitness goals, or healing from trauma. Others prefer quiet, just the hum of music and the comfort of being understood. Regardless of the vibe, Salem meets clients where they are. What resonates with her most, though, are the moments when someone struggles to see the beauty in their natural hair. “This is a space where we celebrate what God gave us,” she says. From fun, protective styles to elaborate extensions and as of recent a barbershop, IncluSV offers versatility without compromising texture. And for clients worried about professionalism, Salem is quick to remind them: “Professionalism is about how you carry yourself—not how you wear your hair.”
What Salem has created is more than a successful business. It’s a blueprint for what inclusive beauty can look like when done with intention. In cities like Windsor—where access to textured-hair expertise is still limited—IncluSV fills a gap.
“Hair is personal,” she says. “When you walk into a space, and no one knows what to do with your texture, it sends a message. I wanted to rewrite that message.”
Beyond styling, she empowers clients with education—teaching them how to care for their curls, build routines, and embrace their natural beauty on their own terms. It’s about ownership, not dependency.
Looking ahead, Salem has her eyes set on growth—but on her own terms. Whether it’s expanding to other underserved cities, launching a product line, or training the next generation of textured hair stylists, she’s thinking long-term.
“I’m not chasing trends,” she says. “I’m building something sustainable. Something that gives back.”
In an industry that too often treats inclusion as an afterthought, Salem Berhane is creating space—literally and figuratively—for a new standard. One where every client and every curl is welcomed with care.
“People come for the service,” she says. “But what they leave with is something bigger. They leave feeling like they belong.”
IncluSV Beauty is more than just a salon, it’s a community hub. Local Black-owned businesses have the opportunity to promote their products or services through the information board and shelf space for product sales. Often, clients are looking for contractors or service providers and are directed to the information board as a starting point for their search.
