Afro-Caribbean Hair, Beauty & Heritage

Chapeltown, Leeds · Since 1979

A home for Afro-Caribbean hair, beauty and heritage

For more than 45 years, families from across the Caribbean and African communities of Leeds have come to CC Hair and Beauty for the products they grew up with. This page brings it together: the brands, our history, the story of Chapeltown and of Black Leeds, and the community we are proud to serve.

Shop Black-owned brands Visit our stores

Shop Afro-Caribbean hair and beauty by brand

From Black-owned brands to the classics our customers have asked for since the beginning.

Black-owned brands

Community favourites

Shop all Black-owned brands  ·  Browse all brands

The history of CC Hair and Beauty

CC Hair and Beauty opened on Chapeltown Road in 1979 as a small family business, serving a neighbourhood that has long been the heart of Leeds's Caribbean community.

We have grown with the community around us. Today we have three Leeds stores and a braiding salon on Roundhay Road, and we deliver across the UK, but our main branch is still on the same road where we started.

Read our full story

  • 1979Opened on Chapeltown Road
  • 45+Years serving Leeds
  • 3Stores, plus our braiding salon

The history of Chapeltown, Leeds

Chapeltown sits about a mile north-east of Leeds city centre. Few neighbourhoods in the city have welcomed as many communities.

  • 1700s: open moorland used for horse racing, archery and early Yorkshire cricket.
  • 1800s: villas and terraces are built for the city's merchants; the area is nicknamed "New Leeds".
  • Early 1900s: the centre of Jewish life in Leeds, with 14 synagogues at one point.
  • Late 1940s to 1960s: families arrive from Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis and across the Caribbean, followed by families from India and Pakistan.
  • 1967: the first Leeds West Indian Carnival, now one of the longest-running Caribbean carnivals in Europe.
  • 1979: CC Hair and Beauty opens on Chapeltown Road.

Read the full history of Chapeltown

The history of the Black community in Leeds

Black people have shaped Leeds for generations. These are some of the people and moments behind that story.

  • 1749: Thomas Mawson, an army drummer, appears in a Leeds diary, one of the earliest records of an African presence in the city.
  • 1871: Pablo Fanque, Britain's first recorded Black circus owner, is buried in Leeds.
  • 1948: Alford Gardner arrives on the Empire Windrush, settles in Leeds and co-founds the Leeds Caribbean Cricket Club.
  • 1967: Arthur France, Ian Charles, Gertrude Paul and others organise the first carnival.
  • 1969: the death of David Oluwale, now remembered with a bridge and a blue plaque in the city centre.
  • 1976: Gertrude Paul becomes the first Black headteacher in Leeds.
  • 1981: Phoenix Dance is founded by three young men from Harehills.

Read the history of the Black community in Leeds

Hair is heritage

Black hair carries history. The styles, tools and ingredients we use today were passed down through generations across Africa and the Caribbean. Here is where some of them come from, and where to find them with us.

  • Braids and cornrows

    Braiding has been practised across Africa for thousands of years. Patterns could show a person's community, age or standing, and the skill was handed down from elder to child.

    Shop braiding hair

  • Locs

    Worn in many cultures for centuries and central to Rastafari faith and Caribbean identity. Locs are a commitment that deserves proper care.

    Shop faux locs and loc braids

  • Natural hair and the afro

    From the "Black is beautiful" movement of the 1960s to the natural hair movement today, wearing coils and curls as they grow is a statement of pride.

    Shop natural hair care

  • Shea butter and black soap

    Shea butter comes from the nut of the West African shea tree. African black soap is made in West Africa from plantain skin ash, cocoa pods and oils.

    Shop skin care

  • Jamaican black castor oil

    Made the traditional Jamaican way: castor beans are roasted, ground and boiled, which gives the oil its dark colour. A staple for scalp and edges.

    Shop natural oils

  • Durags, bonnets and wraps

    Covering and wrapping hair protects it and keeps styles fresh. Headwraps also carry a long history across Africa and the Caribbean.

    Shop durags and caps

  • Wigs and protective styles

    Protective styling gives natural hair a rest while you change your look. Try before you buy in our Leeds stores.

    Shop wigs

  • Children's hair

    Wash day is where many of us first learned to care for our hair. Gentle products make it easier for the next generation.

    Shop kids' hair care

  • Barbering and waves

    The barbershop has always been a community meeting place. Find wave care, beard care and grooming essentials.

    Shop men's grooming

In the community

We support events and organisations in Chapeltown and across Leeds. Here are some recent stories.

Read all community news

Dates we celebrate

Moments in the year when we come together to remember, celebrate and share.

  • 22 JuneWindrush DayHonouring the Windrush generation and their families, who helped rebuild Britain.
  • August bank holidayLeeds West Indian CarnivalCostumes, steel pan and soca through the streets of Chapeltown.
  • 15 SeptemberWorld Afro DayA global celebration of Afro hair and identity.
  • OctoberBlack History MonthA month of events, stories and learning across the UK.

Our stores in Leeds

Come in, ask questions and get advice from a team that knows textured hair.

  • Chapeltown Road (main branch)121–129 Chapeltown Road, Leeds, LS7 3DU
    0113 318 3830
  • Roundhay Road (store and braiding salon)256–258 Roundhay Road, Leeds, LS8 5RL
    0113 249 5450
  • Leeds City CentreNew York Street, Leeds City Centre

Opening hours and our story  ·  Contact us

Guides for textured hair

Questions people ask

Where is the Afro-Caribbean hair shop in Leeds?

CC Hair and Beauty has three stores: 121–129 Chapeltown Road (LS7 3DU), 256–258 Roundhay Road (LS8 5RL) and New York Street in Leeds city centre.

How long has CC Hair and Beauty been open?

Since 1979. We started on Chapeltown Road and our main branch is still there.

Do you deliver Afro-Caribbean hair products across the UK?

Yes. You can order online at cchairandbeauty.com for delivery across the UK.

Do you have a braiding salon?

Yes. Our Roundhay Road branch has a braiding salon for protective styles, cornrows, twists and wig installations.

Do you stock Black-owned hair brands?

Yes, including Camille Rose, The Doux, TGIN, Luster's Pink, Design Essentials and Taliah Waajid. See our Black-owned brands collection.