What hairstylist Norma Pauline Humes provides for people with natural hair is so hard to find that a client visiting San Luis Obispo all the way from Connecticut sought her out.
“They used to live here but ever since they moved back to the East Coast, they have not been able to find someone that was able to get their hair and scalp the way that I was able to get it healthy for them,” Humes said.
Humes has been twisting braids and dreadlocks, installing weaves, providing silk presses, and everything in between on natural hair at her salon, Caribbean Love,for three years.
The Belize native moved to SLO more than a decade ago as a trained cosmetologist and honed her skills as a master stylist at Fantastic Sams Cut and Color in the Marigold Shopping Center.
Caribbean Love was born from resilience in the face of a health scare.
“I had a heart attack,” Humes said. “I couldn’t just sit down; I still had this intense desire to do hair. I figured, ‘Well, you know you’ve always wanted to do your business … you could start with the online part of it.’ Caribbean Love saved me in many ways because it didn’t let me focus on what had happened to my body. It kept me going, and I could focus on beautiful things.”
By the time Humes opened the Caribbean Love suite at Sola Salons, she had years of professional experience and multiple certifications under her belt. Not only was she used to styling her own natural hair, but she bumped up her skill set by becoming a certified trichologist who specializes in hair and scalp health.
“We focus on scalp health before the hair because if you don’t have a healthy scalp, then you won’t have healthy hair to do some of the styles that people are requesting,” Humes said. “I can recommend and advise them if this service would be best for them or not.”
Using a tricoscope, Humes examines her clients’ scalp and hair particles, often identifying issues like alopecia and stress that leads to shedding and breakage. She recommends regular scalp analysis, hydration treatments, and scalp detoxes so that clients can still express themselves through different styles without compromising hair quality.
Humes is also big on education. She offers classes on styling natural hair so that clients feel confident to do their own hair or that of their loved ones.
“Sometimes, you have Caucasian parents adopting kids with textured hair. I’m here to show them how to make it more manageable, how to care for it at home, and how to do certain hairstyles,” Humes said. “It’s OK to bring them in once in a while if you need to, but you shouldn’t be scared of learning how to take care of that hair and crown at home.”
Humes sometimes asks clients to bring hair bundles and extensions, available as both human hair and synthetic fibers, to create the desired color and texture for styling. She provides recommendations to fit all budgets if they don’t know where to shop.
“Sometimes I provide braiding here, but when it comes to weaves there’s various textures and price ranges,” she said. “Sometimes, as a professional, if I quote a price, the individual may feel like, ‘Oh, that’s too much.’ So, I let them find the hair, so that way we don’t have any issues.”
Interested clients can schedule appointments with Humes through her Instagram page @caribbeanlovellc, text at (805) 459-7846, or email kahribyaanlove@gmail.com. Humes also travels to clients within a 30-mile radius for an additional fee.
To Humes, styles traditionally seen on natural hair can be worn on different textures if they’re done right. Everybody can benefit from hair trims, hydration, and detox treatments, she said.
“If you’ve got straight hair, I could braid your hair for you,” Humes said. “I don’t believe in cultural appropriation when it comes to hairstyles. Someone feels good about wanting to express themselves or experience a hairstyle, I’m going to give it to them without making them feel bad about it.”
Fast fact
• San Miguel’s Hambly Lavender Farm is celebrating its seventh anniversary. From Oct. 7 to 13, customers who buy six lavender beeswax lip balms will receive the seventh free. The balms are made with local olive oil and beeswax, shea butter, and lavender essential oil distilled on the San Miguel farm. Founders Gina and Milton Hambly will host an anniversary dinner on Oct. 24 for community partners who supported the business in its early stages. Learn more at hamblyfarms.com. ∆
Reach Staff Writer Bulbul Rajagopal at brajagopal@newtimesslo.com.
This article appears in Oct 8-15, 2026.
