CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn Vernon’s Hair, a Black-owned barbershop and beauty salon, has been a staple in the Crown Heights neighborhood since it opened in 1991. For over three decades, it has been a place where community members gather, sharing stories and shaping their identities.

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From fades to braids, the team at Vernon’s Hair has transformed the lives of countless people who have sat in their chairs. In a neighborhood where self-expression is key, places like Vernon’s are often considered a safe haven for the Black community.

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However, the neighborhood is not the same as it was when Vernon’s Hair first opened its doors. Crown Heights, like many parts of Brooklyn, is experiencing gentrification—a process of renovating and rebuilding that often leads to demographic shifts. As rent and living costs rise, many local shops have closed, replaced by businesses that cater to newcomers.

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Vernon Ramirez, the shop's owner, acknowledges the challenges. “With gentrification, everything has gotten more expensive; the prices of everything went up,” he said. But he also sees a positive side to the changes.

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“This area used to be festered with crime,” he explained, referring to Crown Heights in the early 1990s. “There was a lot of illegal activity with police and drug users, and as a result, there were a lot of inferences.” Over time, a new group of people moved into the area, bringing about changes in the neighborhood.

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“The people, in a sense, caused the change, but the police also changed their behavior towards those people, and now there’s less crime in the neighborhood,” Ramirez said.

While some view gentrification as harmful to the Brooklyn community, Ramirez believes there are two sides to the issue. As Vernon’s Hair approaches the new year, it’s important to recognize how places like this barbershop and beauty salon shape the neighborhood, and how, in turn, the neighborhood shapes them.

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Filmed, written and photographed by Elissa Johnson