Shurema is pictured, ready to assist with any hair care inquiries!
The series 'More Than a Main Street' aims to spotlight the people behind the businesses in OEV that help make it a vibrant community. Located at 632 Dundas in OEV, K-Laba Hair and Beauty has a wide selection of wigs, hair extensions, and hair care and beauty products at an affordable price. They have been a staple in Old East Village for 24 years and have four locations across Southwestern Ontario.
The history of their name ‘K-LABA’ is derived from the word ‘kyo-la-ba’, which loosely translates to the catchphrase ‘what you see is what you get’ from the Indigenous Ganda language of the Bantu language family in Uganda. Their reputation has been built on this ‘kyolaba’ premise of transparency and visibly recognizable product quality. No matter your hair texture, they are a one-stop-shop beauty and hair supply outlet!
Read more about K-Laba’s story below and make sure to visit them for all of your hair, beauty, and self-care needs!
K-Laba Business Owner Angella Kyabaggu.
How long have you been in business? How many years in OEV?
We opened our first locations in OEV in 1997, 24 years ago, and remain in the community to this day.
What makes your business unique?
We try to create a welcoming space. We enjoy dialoguing with our clients and our clients often engage with each other—a good place to get a sense of the pulse of the community. We also think that we are a business where you can feel represented and connected to community.
What drew you to Old East Village? What’s your favourite part of the OEV community?
The area has changed a lot since we initially moved there in 1997 - there used to be a roundabout at the intersection of Adelaide and Dundas. At the time what drew us to the area was its affordability. Rather than renting elsewhere we could purchase an entire building, which was an investment in ourselves and the community.
We also like the growth in the area that we are witnessing. We love seeing young people coming to OEV to support local businesses and in turn, they may drop into our store, and vice versa - it is a nice synergy. Finally, we also think that it is quite accessible in terms of the bus route if you do not have access to a car.
Shurema is pictured, pointing to the wide selection of hair extensions and weaves.
Can you share a fun fact about yourself that people may not know?
Angella, the owner, is personally connected to the area. She attended Beal Secondary School in the 80s.
If you’re looking for quality hair care products, wigs, or extensions, make K-Laba in OEV your go-to spot!
K-Laba also accepts Construction Dollars as part of the Core Area Construction Dollars Program.