Prior to my ever attending a NHE, I'd assumed that these expos would have a plethora of information on how to maintain our Natural hair as well as product demonstrations and shows that gave Naturalistas ideas on different styling options/techniques. I'd envisioned walking into this large space and seeing thousands of beautiful women that looked like me...with my hair type and so many other beautiful types of African-descendant hair. I thought I'd see gorgeous locs being twisted, beautiful kinks being molded into works of art, cute coily curls being blown out and style into lovely bridal updos and exotic black women walking the runways with amazing Natural hair of all textures, densities and styles. In my mind there would be maintenance classes, styling classes, entrepreneur classes, self-helps classes and more. And because I see the cup as half FULL, I believe that somewhere in the world all of the above mentioned is taking place for some very privileged Naturalistas.
Although I've been a professional, licensed Stylist since 1992, I've only been in the Natural hair world for the past 3 years. But in these few years I've attended several NHE's. Upon attending each and every expo, I've yet to see a TRUE exhibit of me...of my 'Natural, Kinky, Curly, Coily" hair. I've viewed runways of "Natural-looking" weaves and braided styles that added "Natural-looking" extensions, but I've yet to see Professionals exhibiting REAL Natural hair. Nevertheless, I look out into the audience to those seated or standing among the crowds and they look like me...kinky, curly and coily. The exhibits that I've experienced were of Naturals that are having their curls flat-ironed and Professionals exhibiting the process of the Silken Treatment to a group of us. Yet there's another great percentage of us that just want to know how to treat our curls. How to comb it...do you comb it...what products do we use...what is a flat twist...how is it done...we want and NEED the basics! A large percentage of us don't know where to start with our hair! And we purchase tickets to these expos HOPING to leave with more knowledge of how to maintain our hair.
We (Professionals) can sell them all the products, jewelry and tools that we want. We can give them these fancy runways with sexy black women wearing beautiful weaves, and talk all day about what being Natural means to us, but when the event is over many of them leave with the products, jewelry and equipment and have even had a great time...but they don't know any more about how to take care of their Natural hair than when they came.
I am a Natural Hair Stylist. Hundreds of women sit in my chair for their hair services. And I share with every one of them what products they need to maintain their hair while they're away because Natural hair needs daily maintenance. Moreover, there are thousands of us out there that aren't receiving professional maintenance, and when a NHE comes to a town near us, we are looking forward to receiving some type of education on how to make our Natural hair presentable.
Again, the Natural Hair Expos are one of the greatest creations for our race because they encourage self-love. But as professionals we've got to do more than sell products that people don't know how to use, and start EXHIBITING our hair in its true form...without the extensions...without the excessive heat.
And please know that this is not to say that we're to never wear extensions nor flat-iron because weaves worn correctly are great protective styles and for those Naturalistas that love flat-ironing, it's a much healthier process than chemical relaxing. But it is to say that a greater percentage of us want to learn how to effectively and healthily wear our hair in its kinky, curly state.
So...now to the purpose of this post...MY REVIEW of the Pros and Cons of Natural Hair Expos:
Pros:
It's a great place for Naturalistas to see other brown women that look like them with the same hair texture and questions/concerns that she has.
It's a great place to see the many different types of products/tools that can be used on our hair.
The events help create unity upon a race of women.
Great exposure and a huge platform for Stylists/Salons and Product Companies.
They promote strength among our people and encourage many of us to proud of who we are and how we're made.
Cons:
I don't see a huge representation of the typical/average Naturalista.
Far too many Stylist/Salons aren't exhibiting style creations with OUR real hair.
No "How-to" panels or Stylist panels discussing Natural hair maintenance.
No information pamphlets or how-to materials distributed.
More love for hair straightening and weaves than real natural kinks and curls.
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But hey, I'm just one person. Maybe my thoughts are not the thoughts of thousands of other Naturalistas. But as a professional, I see women on a day to day basis that are having problems finding what works for their hair, how to style their and their children's hair, and just really doesn't know where to start when considering transitioning or big-chopping to become a Naturalista. And it was my thinking that they'd SEE and be educated on the basics, or most, if not all of these concerns at a NHE.
As stated before, I have not attended every NHE and I believe that somewhere around the world, many Naturalistas don't have these concerns as it relates to the NHE's they've attended.
Until next time...
KinkyCurlyBeauty
