Mariam Wolters talks to attendees about different kinds of Type 3 hair with visuals and a Hair Quiz at Kinks, Coils & Curls: A “Hair”itage Event presented by the Mixed-Identity Student Organization on Friday, March 1. Ella Banken//AS Review
By Brooklin Pigg
On Friday, March 1, students and hair care professionals educated students on hair care at Kinks, Coils & Curls: A “Hair”itage Event.
“It’s important to have an event for people with curly hair,” Ariana Dixon, one of the organizers, said. “We felt like it was important to bring this education to the community.”
The event was in collaboration with the African Caribbean Club, Arab Student Association, Black Student Union, Middle-Eastern Student Association, Mixed Identity Student Organization and Latinx Student Union.
In Viking Union 565, tables were set up on one wall in accordance to different hair types. One was decorated with sea shells, hair mask recipes and a blue tablecloth to represent type 2A: wavy hair. There were also tables for type three and type four hair. Other tables were designated for the different clubs that were present.
Jacqueline Hale-Young, a licensed cosmetologist for over 30 years, spoke at the event. She broke down the structure of hair, then gave tips for certain hair types and answered questions from the audience.
“Society has messed us up, women of color, with our hair. You know how many people have gotten fired from their job because they just wanted to wear their natural wear? What is wrong with that picture?” Hale-Young said.
Attendee Lelia Thorp found Hale-Young the most informative aspect of the event. She originally came to the event to discover the best products for her curly hair.
“There’s something about when a community comes together to talk about your struggles,” Thorp said.
Katherine Fry, co-chair of MISO, said this was their first collaborative event.
“It was a really educational experience,” Fry said. “I’m very proud of my board right now. I took the quarter off last quarter, so they really just took charge of this whole event. Looking around, this really turned out well.”
Chante Lee, budget authority of MISO, helped with obtaining the sponsors. DevaCurl and Mixed Chicks were some of the businesses present at this event. They handed out information on hair and their products. Baby Greens supplied succulents for the raffle baskets.
“I want people to get information that is useful so they can take care of their hair and be happy,” Lee said.
A friend recommended Hale-Young to Lee for the event. A line extended from Hale-Young’s table long after she spoke.
“There’s no such thing as good hair or bad hair.” Hale-Young said. “Because most of the time, if you got curly hair, you want straight. If you got straight, you want curly. But now we have embraced whatever we have. Do that.”
