This weekend marked the first-ever Natural Hair Pandemic, which was hosted in the UC-Houston room. Natural hair has recently gotten more popular. | Jack Wehman/The Daily Cougar
Afros, twists and braids appear to be the new trend among black women across the nation, especially in Houston.
Women embracing their natural beauty have taken society by storm, and UH is no exception.
UH hosted the inaugural Natural Hair Pandemic in the UC-Houston room on July 30.
The showcase presented an array of natural hair product companies and services that support the natural hair community.
NHP provided styling classes and a chic fashion show on how to rock your locks.
Natural hair care specialists Jane Carter Solutions and Karen’s Body Beauty were in attendance along with jewelry and graphic T-shirt vendors.
During an interview with founders Toliver & Muhammad, they shared their passion behind transforming this idea to a reality.
“We created Natural Hair Pandemic to help other naturals rock who they are,” Toliver said.
“It is more about mind frame and lifestyle — not just hair.”
Stories about the experience of exposing your natural hair are catching the interest of CNN and the New York Times.
Black women rocking their natural hair is being mistakenly understood as trying to revamp the 1960s and channeling a Jackson 5 afro.
It is really about making a healthier choice in regard to the maintenance and styling of a woman’s hair.
Some black women even reject the idea of accepting their natural hair for internal or societal reasons. Natural hair has also been commonly misconstrued as being unprofessional, but Muhammad and Toliver disagree.
“I don’t entertain that,” Toliver said.
“It’s all about how you wear it — I have actually worn an afro on two interviews and landed both jobs, so I don’t think natural hair is unprofessional at all.”
Muhammed stressed the dangers of relaxers,“One of our presenters shared that a medical examiner discovered traces of relaxers on the scalp of a woman.”
However, the lengths that all women will go for beauty is nothing new in American society. The documentary “Good Hair” by comedian Chris Rock has proven to be an educational, yet humorous, presentation about the dangers of relaxers.
Whether you are relaxed, natural, color-treated or weaved-up, everyone woman should take the opportunity to become educated on proper maintenance and styling her hair.
Making the effort to do so will enable you to become the most beautiful and healthy woman you can be.
Awesome article! Go COOGS!