Nora Harper (Jenifer Lewis) is an African-American businesswoman who owns a hair salon in Los Angeles, California. She keeps watch over her employees, friends, relatives, and regular customers. Lilleana (Tatyana Ali) is a new employee from the Dominican Republic, and she is also in an abusive relationship with her wants-more-than friend, Bennie (Bobby Brown). Chloe (Tamala Jones) is a hair stylist who has aspirations of a career in show business. Ming (Lucille Soong) does manicures and has problems with her temper, and loves offering her opinions. Devin (Jean-Claude LaMarre) is a bisexual man who is uncertain about his relationship with Delicious (Donn Swaby) and fears losing his girlfriend (Lil' Kim) in the event she discovers his attraction to men. Later in the film, Nora has a myocardial infarction. Her friends from the salon hope for her recovery but she dies shortly before the end of the film. In the end the salon remains open, selling Nora's hairstyling products.