The ten included Joyce Knox, left, Gmerice Turner, Leatrice Damus, Lorraine Anaya, Doris Hart, Johnetta Shearer, Antonia Gary, Myrna Range, Missing: Doretha Mingo and Regina Frazier PHOTO COURTESY OF ANTONIA WILLIAMS GARY

Miami – A mere five years after 1974 legislation giving women the right to have credit cards in their name, permission to open their own bank account, take out loans and mortgages without their husband’s or father’s consent and co-signing, ten Black women in Miami decided to leverage their new financial freedom.

This pioneering group included Joyce Knox (Moorehead), Leatrice Damus, Doris Hart, Regina Frazier, Johnetta Shearer, Gmerice Turner, Lorraine Anaya, Myrna Range, Doretha Mingo and this writer.

These ten friends formed as an investment club represented by empowered thinking to chart a new way. After nearly two years of saving their self-assessed monthly dues, the accumulated cash was enough to consider investing in a business enterprise, under the brand Women’$ Exchange.

The big question was which business would embolden their investment strategy. Several ideas were explored, including franchising and passive investments such as the stock market.

Knox shared information that she read in a magazine article about how the multi-billion-dollar Black hair care industry was dominated by Clairol, Revlon, L’Oreal, and others. We analyzed that information and decided to share in the profits of this lucrative Industry.

The ten began to research entry points into the Black hair care business. During this exploratory stage and as a part of our due diligence, several attended the famous Bronner Brothers annual Black Hair Expo in Atlanta. Not long after, an opportunity was identified.

Floyd Kenyatta, a renowned Black hair stylist, celebrity consultant to international stylists, and who owned the Fingertips franchise was approached. The ten entered an agreement with Kenyatta to bring Fingertips to Florida and the Caribbean and thereby unleash entrepreneurial ambitions.

It was the early 1980s, a heady time in Miami. The wealthy classes from South America were relocating to South Florida. The Omni, a popular retail entertainment venue, had opened to cater to the massive influx of these transplants and visitors. Located in downtown Miami, it was filled with high-end department stores, designer boutiques, a hotel, and a midway.

With a stroke of good luck, timing, and audacity, Fingertips moved into an existing free-standing hair salon only one block from that highly desirable complex, and opened for business with an elegant flair in December,1981.

The occasion was highlighted by flowing champagne, passed hors d’oeuvres, and music performed by the Billy Rolle orchestra in white tails.

From opening day, a steady stream of clientele lined up for special styling by Floyd who took up residence monthly to train stylists in his techniques and application of his unique hair-colors. Over time, the Fingertips “look” was instantly recognized.

Only one of the ten, Anaya had been licensed in hair care. The others, investors, owners, businesswomen, from time to time were known to shampoo a customer when the salon was over-run with clients.

Fingertips revolutionized the Black hair care industry in South Florida. The featured one price for all services, $27.50, induced our clients to come more often. Additionally, the salon hours of operation were six days a week and half-day on Sundays.

Fingertips clients enjoyed a luxurious experience with refreshments including wine, coffee, tea, soft drinks, with professional stylists, beautiful furnishings along with original and antique art on the walls.

These innovations were unheard of in traditional Black hair salons, and many existing salons reported that they could not compete with Fingertips model. Some closed and some stylists joined Fingertips. The competition was sharp.

Fingertips salon became an overnight success! So much so that on some mornings clients were found perched on the front steps before the doors opened.

Local news coverage lauded the initiative.

The business grew to include a “primping parlor” next door to the OMNI salon which was staffed by a licensed aesthetician. A line of private label cosmetics called WE was sold at that location as well as a clothing and accessories boutique that featured very select unique items.

Within a year, Fingertips expanded to include two additional hair salonsone in north Miami and one in downtown Coral Gables. By year two, a fourth salon was planned for a Perrine strip mall.

Remarkably, all these operations were financed by cash and one small loan!

Two of the salons closed in 1984 due to several factors. The Agreement with Floyd was dissolved, but the North Miami Fingertips salon remained opened as an independent business operated by Doris Hart until 1998.

The Women’$ Exchange was a wonderful illustration of how friendship, women’s financial empowerment, and innovative thinking benefitted its members as well as the Black business community in South Florida.

The ten are most proud that each of the original stylists of Fingertips went on to own and operate salons.

The members of the Women’$ Exchange held a reunion in 2010 where glasses were raised to the groups history and myth-breaking feat: how ten Black women could own and operate a successful enterprise ahead of its time, nearly forty-five years ago.

Sadly, Myrna, Doris, Regina, and Lorraine are deceased as of this writing. Toniwg1@gmail.com