Although it is incredibly busy organizing the 10th anniversary of Going-Natural.com it is also very educational. My photo book “BAD Hair Uprooted” is just finished, 90% of the photos are framed for the exhibition, now the education day and the hair show.
With the hair show I feel like I've landed on my feet. My mate Orin, owner of Locs and Chops, one of the oldest afro-hair salons in America, recommended that I approach Jerry Brown, a veteran in the field of Fashion Shows. Coincidentally, Victorius, a Surinamese dancer in New York , had already introduced me to this fabulous organizer who exudes Fashion anyway. I was so happy when he said yes.
Jerry, who has been walking with New York Fashion Week for years, knows the best designers in New York. That Raif, one of my favorites, is participating is a dream for me. For years I have stared at his great designs in his studio here in Brooklyn.
Still, I had to straighten things out when it came to her. One of the organizers who had been to Suriname said that Suriname has beautiful women and asked if there would be any Surinamese models participating. Unfortunately, I don't know any Surinamese models in New York, but if there are any who read this, I hope they will respond, because of course I would like that.
However, it really rubbed me the wrong way when he said “don’t you have a few models with that beautiful type with Indian-like hair.” Now Indian hair is often beautiful and I have nothing against that type of hair but Black people have frizzy hair that is at least as beautiful and we always seem to skip that or forget about it. That is what my exhibition, show and book are about. That is the whole theme!
So I said to him, listen this show is a frizzy hair show. I'm looking for models with frizzy hair, length doesn't matter but the frizzier the better. The hairstyles I want to show from locs and coils to afros and twists look best with frizzy hair.
I also made it clear to this designer that when these hairstyles are seen on the runway it is always with straight hair, which is not a problem, but I just want to show the fashion world how powerfully beautiful these hairstyles can be with just pure frizzy hair.
Without being arrogant or racist but certainly when it comes to show and show hairstyles there is almost no better suitable hair type than afro hair. You only have to look at some hairstyles from my new book. Other than maybe a hair pin here and there no other attribute has been used to create Crown of Locs or any other hairstyle. It is all just pure hair, afro hair, locs, braids, twists and pins. Where other hair types probably need wire, hairspray or other attributes to keep a hairstyle up, afro hair does that naturally. Afro hair is simply made for show!
What I hope is that these frizzy hair caps inspire other designers, white and black, to come up with their own variation. Then we are in communication and have an exchange.
I was super happy that everyone had been listening to my motivation in silence and nodded, like yes you are right. The message is clear and we are completely behind it. Okay then!
If I can get these designers behind me, half the work seems done. Now the rest of the world. Will you help? Share and tell everyone you know: BAD Hair Uprooted