Going-Natural Hair Show

So over the past few weeks I’ve been feeling the natural summertime love all over Brooklyn. In addition to a fabulous book-signing event, an awesome baby shower thrown by the world’s best little sister and mom team, there seems to have been an increase in natural hair events this summer.

International African Arts Festival Hair Show

I was super excited that I got to participate in on the fourth of July at the International African Arts Festival (IAAF).  As I note in my book:

The IAAF originally began in 1971 as the African Street Festival, a block party fundraiser for an independent school in the Bedford Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn. In its first year, the event featured local entertainers, about 20 arts and crafts vendors, along with food prepared by the parents. Fast-forward nearly three decades and by 2004, the event had grown to host more than 70,000 attendees and vendors from all over the world.

Going-Natural.com Show & Products

So I was so excited when Mireille Liong, owner of Going-Natural.com asked me to participate in her hair show at the IAAF.  The show featured six stylists  (Red Room Hair Salon, Cowrie Shell Center, Locs of Nu Hair & Spa, Bohemian Soul Hair Salon, Naturally Beautiful Hair and my personal stylist Adenike of The Woven Wool located at Sabine’s Hallway Natural Hair Salon) all of whom put in some serious work to showcase their natural hair expertise.

To put it simply, these salons and stylists created some hair art that was simply amazing.  Even though I don’t have locks, I had some serious locked hair envy when I saw some of the models gracing the stage.  It actually made me revisit my thoughts about growing locks once I get a little older. For now, I just need an Afro way too much to wear locks, but believe me when I say one day you might see me walking around with some variation of that style.

Mireille had my stylist Adenike use the Going-Natural Curly Twistout Hair Milk, Herbal Styling Gel and Silky Shea Hair butter on my hair and they worked fabulously. Believe me when I tell you that my stylist is not a fan of a lot of products so to have her give the Going-Natural line a thumbs up was a pleasant surprise.

Adenike first washed my hair and incorporated the Silky Shea Hair butter as she dried it out. Then she mixed the Curly Twistout Hair milk and Herbal Styling gel as she two strand twisted my hair into a basic twist style.

Since my baby bump has me waddling all over the place, I was able to be a seated participant in the show. Instead of working the runway I sat on stage as Adenike performed a live twist out demonstration for the audience.

By the time she finished, I was thrilled with how defined my twists were.  I was a little worried at first because there was so much humidity in the air. Those of you with kinky/nappy hair like mine know that a dash of humidity can really turn a twist out into a mini Afro poof.

Twistout Joy

But the style held up really well. The products felt very light and didn’t have that greasy feeling to them so if you’re in the market for some all natural products that can work on very kinky/coily/nappy hair then I suggest you try them out.

Twistout Close up

If you’re looking for a stylist to help you with your hair health I recommend that you give Adenike a call. The woman can work wonders (and there’s a reason we call her the Natural Hair Whisperer™!). You can reach her at her Brooklyn location at 347.251.1212.

I’m going to update this post once I get the pictures featuring the models. You will seriously be amazed at what you’re going to see. I swear I find new reasons to fall in love with natural hair. The diversity of the looks, the amazing things our hair can do…man, it just makes me wish more of us could feel the joy I feel when I see a crown of natural hair walking by.

Mireille w/ Some of the Models

How about you? Been to any good hair shows lately? Use the comments section to promote some of the great shows you’ve attended/participated it. We have to share the love!