The Hair and Beauty industries are multibillion dollar industries – which is why it’s so baffling that there is such an under representation and lack of diversity in these industries. To a lot of women, their hair is a testament to their femininity and is defining part of their appearance and personality. In 2018 there has been a rise in the trend of women of color wearing their natural hair and embracing their curls.
Walking toward Pace University’s P.O.S.E Fashion Club’s event, I knew I would find the diversity and inclusion I felt was missing in my life.
“I feel that in society we aren’t really shown curls. We’re shown that our hair should be straight and that if our hair is curly it is unruly, it’s untamed, it’s unprofessional” senior, Gabrielle Banks shares with me as she waits for on line for “Curl La La Fest” to begin.
Diverse women (and a few men!) of all shades, shapes, sizes hair types and curl patterns line up eagerly outside of Kessel Multipurpose Room awaiting for “Curl La La Fest” to begin and for doors to open. A loud chatter fills the surrounding areas of Kessel as students discuss events of the weekend and excitedly talk about products they hope they can snag.
We all know how much college students love free giveaways. Which is why the first 50 people in line are lucky and overjoyed they arrived to this event early, because they will be receiving a free tote bag with numerous natural hair products.
Unfortunately, I am not one of those people.
Finally getting past the long line I am welcomed into a dimly lit and subtly decorated Kessel Multipurpose Room. The only real light comes from outside, shining through the clean, clear glass windows. Balloons and streamers decorate the room.
Different stations surrounded the room each covering a different topic. The first table I stop at is the “What’s your curl pattern?” table. There I see pictures of different hair types and curls, and that’s where I find out my hair pattern and someone approaches me to tell me what hair products would work best for my hair.
Another table I stop at is filled with clipped pieces of paper with different statistics about curly hair. One that catches my eye? 47% of women with curly hair wear their hair au natural.
The fashion in the room is to die for, I am left wanting to raid so many closets (what do you expect from a fashion club?). One person that catches my eye is sophomore Madia Bestman. She is the treasurer of POSE at Pace. I observe her as she proudly watches the event she helped to plan unfold, her eyes light up vibrantly like the bright yellow jacket she wears over her jean skirt and yellow and brown tube top.
Her hair is in tight curly and you can feel her care free energy radiate through the room. “This is one of the first events like this to ever happen at Pace, and it’s kind of disappointing because there are so many people that have natural hair. It’s time we start representing them.” She says.
By the time I’m finished walking through the event there are no more hair products and I am left empty handed…. But I don’t mind. The inspiration I get just by being at this event was enough of a take away.
I’ll definitely be rocking my natural curls more often.