When Shela Ledwaba opened the doors to Amara & Friends this month, she wasn’t just launching a salon , she was introducing a new way of seeing beauty and care. Tucked in the heart of the Winifred Mandela Precinct, the space feels like a quiet revolution. Bright, calm, and purposefully designed, it’s where family and wellness meet ,where a child’s first hair appointment can feel just as special as a mother’s.

For Ledwaba, the idea came from watching her own daughter, Amara, grow up in salons that weren’t built with children in mind. “I noticed that while beauty salons are everywhere, there wasn’t a place that truly centred children and families together,” she says. “Parents, especially mothers, rush through the experience instead of enjoying it. I wanted to create a place where a child’s hair appointment feels special  and where parents feel seen too.”

The result is Amara & Friends, a salon that marries care with connection, and beauty with emotional wellbeing. Every detail, from the child-sized stations to the calm, contemporary interiors, reflects Ledwaba’s belief that family self-care should feel intentional and joyful. “I wanted children to feel free, and parents to feel proud,” she explains. “It’s about creating a space that feels safe, welcoming, and full of life.”

Launching in the Winifred Mandela Precinct was a deliberate choice. The area carries legacy, resilience, and community ,qualities that mirror the brand’s soul. “It’s where stories of strength and self-expression belong,” Ledwaba says. “That’s what I want families to feel the moment they walk through our doors.”

From the very first appointments, it became clear that Amara & Friends is about more than hair. It’s about emotional care that leaves both parents and children lighter, happier, and connected. Wellness here isn’t defined by products or treatments alone; it’s found in the patience of the staff, the laughter of children, and the quiet relief of parents seeing their little ones cared for with intention. “Wellness, to us, means being seen, celebrated, and cared for  no matter your age,” Ledwaba says.

The energy children bring is central to the salon’s atmosphere. Their joy shapes everything — the laughter, the spontaneity, the authenticity that can’t be manufactured. Parents relax, stylists smile, and children leave with confidence that extends far beyond a fresh style.

Ledwaba’s leadership is as much about heart as it is about strategy. Every choice, from pricing to décor, carries a message. “As a businesswoman, I want Amara & Friends to be structured and sustainable,” she says. “But as a storyteller, I want it to feel human, cultural, and emotionally intelligent.” Introducing a new family-first concept wasn’t without challenges. “People understood an adult salon or a kids’ corner, but not a space built for both. It took patience, persistence, and belief in what we were creating.”

As the salon begins its journey, Ledwaba’s vision extends far beyond the chairs. “Ten years from now, I hope it stands as a symbol of joy, confidence, and connection for families,” she says. “A place that teaches children to love their natural beauty early, and reminds parents that caring for your child is also an act of self-love.”

In a city that moves fast, Shela Ledwaba has built a place that asks families to pause, to breathe, laugh, and feel seen. Amara & Friends isn’t just a salon. It’s a space where beauty begins with care, and care begins with presence.