Mallorye Crowell learned to braid when she was 10. Her mother, a cosmetology school graduate, taught her. Crowell’s mother always emphasized one point to her daughters: “Just look decent.”

But not everyone has the means to get professional hair care on a regular basis. Crowell hopes to help address this problem with a new initiative.

The Higher Salon, which launched Sunday, provides free hair care to women and girls through partnerships with local salons and stylists who donate their time and services. The salon aims to tackle gaps in access to hair care services.

The Higher Salon is part of The Higher Foundation, which Crowell founded and leads. The foundation provides financial assistance to support college students’ basic needs: food, housing, transportation — “all the things that a

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