The Salon CEO: Treava Barnes Redefines Black Haircare Excellence

PLEASANTVILLE — “There's nothing that you can't do in the beauty industry, and it's not so much about the support. It's about your mindset, and . . . what you want to see, and how you're going to create what you want to see,” says Treava Barnes, owner of Elements of Hair by Treava LLC and founder and CEO of the Entrepreneuress Federation.  

For Barnes, the salon chair is more than just a place for haircare—it’s a safe space for healing, mentorship, and community uplift. The 2023 NAACP Business Award recipient and Tina Marie Pretty in Pink Lux Association honoree has transformed her vision into reality through determination and an unwavering commitment to excellence. By turning her childhood passion into a thriving business that defies odds and inspires, Barnes has created a safe space for her clients to come in and have their hair done. 

Growing up surrounded by haircare - with an aunt who braided, a mother who pressed and relaxed hair, and a grandmother who worked in a local shop, Barnes's path seemed destined. Though she didn't initially plan to pursue cosmetology professionally, her natural talent emerged early when she began styling her neighbor's hair at just five years old. 

Her impact extends beyond the salon chair. She mentors young stylists on the business aspects often overlooked in the beauty industry. "In the African-American hair salon, a lot of times, we're not businesspeople. We just have a gift," she observes. Through her podcast, "Teachable Moments with Treava," she shares her pillars of success – prayer, business esteem, vision, and creating multiple income streams. 

What truly sets Elements of Hair apart is Barnes's signature approach. After her therapist suggested scalp massages during a difficult personal period, she developed the practice into an art form, eventually creating her own Hair Elements Vigor Scalp Oil. "My clients are spoiled," she shares. "When I massage their scalps, they stop talking and just relax." 

Her commitment to the community shines through annual book bag drives, Thanksgiving baskets, and occasional pro bono services. "I'm about creating opportunities for people that just need to see something different than what they've been seeing," Barnes says. 

Looking ahead, she dreams of opening a training center for stylists and potentially another salon location. Her advice to others?

"Whatever it is that you feel that you're called to do, whatever it is that you want to do, you can do it. It just takes commitment to your journey, and it takes tenacity. With those components, you can do anything that you want to do. You are your own competition. The sky is the limit. We may have adversities, but that helps you to grow—so you can't be afraid of that. You can be anything that you want to be." 

(This story was produced as part of the Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University's South Jersey Information Equity Project fellowship and supported with funding from the Independence Public Media Foundation, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, and the NJ Civic Information Consortium.)

Thanks for reading the whole story!

At Atlantic City Focus, we're committed to providing a platform where the diverse voices of our community can be heard, respected, and celebrated. As an independent online news platform, we rely on a unique mix of affordable advertising and the support of readers like you to continue delivering quality, community journalism that matters. Please support the businesses and organizations that support us by clicking on their ads. And by making a tax deductible donation today, you become a catalyst for change helping to amplify the authentic voices that might otherwise go unheard. And every contribution is greatly appreciated. Join us in making a difference—one uplifting story at a time!

*** GET UP WITH ATLANTIC CITY FOCUS and RAYMOND TYLER
STARTING MONAY, FEB 10th AT 8AM! ***