Brittany Matthews: Untangling Black Beauty in Bridgeport

Brittany Matthews opened Haus of Melanin Beauty Bar in Bridgeport last June, mid-pandemic, after the 28-year-old waved goodbye to her job at the Illinois Tollway with money in the bank and a dream in her head.

She landed a prime spot on Morgan Street and within weeks, painted walls pink, hung glittering chandeliers and decked black sofas out with fur-and-frills accessories. She hired some of the city’s best Black-hair stylists.

“I wanted to create an environment for women so they feel comfortable— for them to be beautified and for them to feel safe and to feel like they have somewhere that we could start a sisterhood.”

Check out our accompanying newsletter story about Brittany!