This project highlights the diversity and beauty of black hair. It’s a denouncement of the deep-seated hostility between Black hair and broader society. For a part of the project, I shot studio portraits and interviewed people about their hair. I also documented spaces that catered to the care of black hair, such as braiding and barber shops. Over time, this project became a tribute to the love I have for the resilience and community of black people.
This work was also a result of a collaboration between the subjects and I. Before each shoot, I would ask them the same four questions:
What’s the earliest memory relating to your hair?
Finish the sentence; my hair is _______?
What’s the craziest thing anyone has said/done to your hair?
How has your relationship with your hair changed over time?
These questions lead to conversations about childhood, stereotypes, hair care and transformation. It led to laughter and community and friendship. For every person I interviewed there was always a profound answer to the last question. There was a relatable journey of self discovery and evolving into a person who has a healthy relationship with their hair. By sharing the experiences and stories of black people and their hair, I invite the viewer to do the same.
