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SEARCHOlive Benson encapsulated a world of firsts for African-Americans, including first salon owner to offer advanced curly hair techniques and treatments (1959), first inducted into NCA’s Hall of Renown (1991) and first to receive a North American Hairstyling Award (1996). Once director of education for Soft Sheen, she pioneered the first black-hair advanced training academy and developed the first universal relaxer.
Olive Benson (deceased)
Her Work:
She encapsulated a
world of firsts for African-Americans, including first salon owner to
offer advanced curly hair techniques and treatments (1959), first
inducted into NCA's Hall of Renown (1991) and first to receive a North
American Hairstyling Award (1996). Once director of education for Soft
Sheen, she pioneered the first black-hair advanced training academy and
developed the first universal relaxer.
Why She's Influential:
Mastering all textures through competitions (and hoards of awards), she
was the first authentically multicultural stylist who insisted, "hair
is a texture, not an ethnicity." Today, that nomenclature is de
rigueur. Strong, smart and even-handed, Benson never stopped sharing-in
classes, on stage and in her salon. If the beauty door is universally
open, it's because she unlocked it.
Who She Has Influenced:
"Olive always gave good advice and never sold me up the river," says
James Harris, creative director of Olive's Beauty Salon in Boston. "She
was instrumental in my traveling through Europe and we collaborated on
many things. We made $750 on our Josephine Baker competition look; she
gave the money to me and I gave it to Patrick Kelley, who went on to
become the world's biggest black fashion designer."
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