Black Hair
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Credits:
X
Defined
WE BELONG HERE: BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2020
Project Creator | Ja'han Jones Project Editor | Erin E. Evans Creative Director | Ivylise Simones Photo Director | Christy Havranek Photographer | Jessica Pettway Art Director | DeAndria Mackey Designer | Isabella Carapella Project Manager | Jagie Daya Sr. Editor of Food & Style | Kristen Aiken Reporters | Ja'han Jones, Taryn Finley, Kimberley Richards, Doreen Pierre, Tatiana Pile, Natelegé Whaley, Ivana Fischer, Lizzie Edokwe, Kellee Terrell Copy Editors | Jillian Capewell, Nora Biette-Timmons, Aurora Ellis, Don Frederick, Mari Hayman, Wendy Lu, Bobbi Olson Video | Izzy Best, Shaquille Romblay, Amita Patel, Tyler Tronson, Dana Cataldo, Shirley Chan, Mike Caravella, Artem Golub, Daniel Fox, Lavarro Jones, Fredy Delgado Illustrator | Maya Ealey Hair | Stacey Ciceron/Staceyciceron.com Makeup | Claudia Lake for contactnyc using MAC; Amber Taylor Audience | Ron Nurwisah, Hollis Miller
Project Creator | Ja'han Jones Project Editor | Erin E. Evans Creative Director | Ivylise Simones Photo Director | Christy Havranek Photographer | Jessica Pettway Art Director | DeAndria Mackey Designer | Isabella Carapella Project Manager | Jagie Daya Sr. Editor of Food & Style | Kristen Aiken Reporters | Ja'han Jones, Taryn Finley, Kimberley Richards, Doreen Pierre, Tatiana Pile, Natelegé Whaley, Ivana Fischer, Lizzie Edokwe, Kellee Terrell Copy Editors | Jillian Capewell, Nora Biette-Timmons, Aurora Ellis, Don Frederick, Mari Hayman, Wendy Lu, Bobbi Olson Video | Izzy Best, Shaquille Romblay, Amita Patel, Tyler Tronson, Dana Cataldo, Shirley Chan, Mike Caravella, Artem Golub, Daniel Fox, Lavarro Jones, Fredy Delgado Hair | Stacey Ciceron/Staceyciceron.com Makeup | Claudia Lake for contactnyc using MAC; Amber Taylor Audience | Ron Nurwisah, Hollis Miller
Fade
I care for my hair mainly by keeping it moisturized, using my curl sponge on the top and keeping it clean with a shape-up. I use natural products from my local Black business. They consist of black castor oil and other mixes of moisturizers. I’m so grateful I don’t have to spend so much time doing my hair! I can give this open time to other things.
// 18
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Ashia Amavè // Brooklyn, NY // 27
Natural
Most Black women who I see in passing inspire me. No matter the style of their hair. Most of my friends and family wear their hair natural so I have “inspirations” everywhere! I’ve been wearing it this way for years. It’s my preferred style!
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Kennedy Johnson // Atlanta, GA // 28
Waves
I’ve brushed my hair so much that the wave pattern is set, but I get a cut once a month. I let my hair grow during that month, a process we call “wolfing.” I brush and wear a durag to compress my hair for as long as possible until it’s time for the cut. When I get the haircut, the waves are most visible at that point.
3
Philip Lewis // Detroit, MI // 29
Braids
I make sure to wrap my hair every night even though I have braids in; I’ve got to keep my edges intact. I use Creme of Nature argan oil edge control. While I’m getting my hair together, I always want to make sure that it looks good to me. People will compliment my hair sometimes when I feel it doesn’t look the best, so I like to make sure that I like it, and if others do, that’s secondary.
4
Kalieha Stapleton // Flint, MI // 25
Finger Waves
After an entire life of hair identity crises, I discovered waves by a stylist in Harlem. I had an Afro as a kid that my white parents didn’t know how to tame as much as they tried.
5
Fig 1
Rachel Noerdlinger // United States // 49
Cornrows
I like the fact that all of the rappers now have colorful locs and braids. Lil Yachty, Lil Uzi Vert. Footballer Jalen Mills, No. 31 on the Philadelphia Eagles. I've always loved crazy haircuts on Black men, from Wesley Snipes in “Demolition Man” to Chris Tucker’s character on “The Fifth Element.” While we're at it, I always loved the risks Dennis Rodman would take.
6
Assante Smith // Atlanta, GA // 31
Twists
As a Black woman with a coarser hair type, it usually takes an unreasonable amount of time and work to manipulate my hair into a style that I’m pleased with. So I went with an efficient yet beautiful protective style that not only gives my hair a break but is also easy to manage.
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Bianca Rhule // Odenton, MD // 29
The waves style to me will showcase anyone in a more well-groomed state. With how high-maintenance this hairstyle is, you'll always keep a clean and neat look, whether it's intentional or not. The consistent brushing, washing and styling will always give you a notch up over the next person. Also the ladies love the waves, so what can I say.
8
Malik McNeil // Newark, NJ // 24
Natural Curls
I underwent a big chop in 2018 and went natural after that. Up until my big chop, I had not defined what beautiful hair had meant to me. I found myself being unfamiliar with what my natural curl pattern was and that legit scared me. I began my first journey without my “mask” and discovered more about my inner self than I imagined. I’ve been loving my natural look ever since.
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Ava Grey // Brooklyn, NY // 25
Fortunately, Karter is not tender-headed but to keep him still, his favorite show, “CoCoMelon” on YouTube, or his favorite movie, “Boss Baby,” always does the trick. Karter loves to give himself kisses in the mirror once his hair is braided. I guess that’s his way of saying he likes it.
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Karter and his mother, Jasmine Graves // Brooklyn, NY // 1
Dreadlocks
A bonus to locking my hair was the simple daily routines. I barely have to do anything to them. I moisturize my scalp with a homemade grapeseed oil, castor oil and a vitamin E and water mix. I spray this on my scalp and locs. That’s it!
11
Tiana Kara // Oakland, CA // 35
Shaved Head
My dad is my hair inspiration. When it came time for me to start trimming my hair on my own, he gave me all the tools and the tips I needed, and that’s always felt metaphorical to me. He’s helped reinforce the idea of self-care as an expression of self-love, and I cherish that lesson to this day.
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Ja’han Jones // Phoenix, AZ // 27
*Toolkit
Wigs
I wear naturally curly wigs or my natural hair in a twist-out. I choose the wigs because it is the same coil/curl pattern as my natural hair, and I love the bigger, longer curl look on myself. It is also easier to maintain when I don’t feel like doing my hair. I wear my twist-outs because I love my natural hair and how chunky and healthy my natural hair has gotten since I’ve taken the natural hair care route.
13
Lavon Johnson // Chicago, IL // 28
I don't follow people for their cuts, but barbers that I know who cut people's hair.
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Marquise Francis // Oakland, NJ // 28
Toolkit
I don’t feel as though I need to conform to what our industry believes is appropriate for the workplace, including television appearances or reporting in the field. I go on MSNBC and my locs fall onto my shoulders. I go into the field or cover a protest and people don’t believe I’m a journalist or that reporters can have their hair this way. It makes me happy and that’s the most important aspect of it, even if it can be a pain to maintain.
15
Tyler Tynes // Philadelphia, PA // 26
Twist Out
I love the bounce and curl my natural 4c hair gives when I wear it in a twist out. It’s one of the first styles I tried when I transitioned to natural and it’s become one of my signature styles over time. I feel like this is a style that made me become really comfortable and confident in my own coils.
16
Taryn Finley // Dayton, OH // 28
Beard
I wash and condition regularly (every other day). I also trim it once a week with a pair of shears. I use Babe of Brooklyn beard products. They are all-natural and great for healthy beard growth. I always want to make sure that I have a clean presentation.
17
Percy Hicks // Bronx, NY // 47
Weaves
I enjoy versatility and the ability to change my entire look with the switch-up of my hair.
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Mandii B. // Orlando, FL // 29
