BILOXI, Miss. (WLOX) – It’s no secret that the hair on our heads varies by culture, and for some, it’s a journey to embracing that natural look.
According to a 2023 study, Black women spend nine times more on ethnic hair products than non-Black customers — something Bishop State Community College cosmetology student, Angel Lowman, is all too familiar with.
“I am a 4c girly, so I’ve got the thickest of the thick, the coarsest of the coarse,” she said.
Lowman arrived with some classmates at the eighth annual expo. She says events like this empower her and other women.
“It’s about accepting us for who we are and embracing our culture and laying the foundation for future generations to be comfortable in their own skin,” she said.
“You have to embrace it. That’s who we are, and I feel like we look good in it. We are beautiful,” Another student, Amia Johnson, said.
Nearly 25 vendors, all selling products to enhance the health of hair, filled the room. Dozens made their way in for a feel of the confident atmosphere.
Whether it was locks, braids, or afro-puffs, women came ready to show their natural beauty.
Kentiria is with the Cosmetology Institute in New Orleans. She’s seen how some turn to relaxers and perms to fit in with who they are around.
“I’m so glad my mom taught us to love our natural hair and embrace it, so now I kind of get to help younger girls to embrace their hair as well,” she said.
Jennifer McDonald’s quest for knowledge about her own hair led her to spearhead this event in 2016.
“Your hair, however you wear it, is your crown. It’s the first thing people see and you want to be self-confident when you are wearing your hair and that’s why we have this event to have resources so women or men can wear their hair its natural state and feel comfortable,” she said. “Black women are often stigmatized for their natural hair. Of course, we can’t help that our hair grows out kinky or curly.”
See a spelling or grammar error in this story? Report it to our team HERE.
Copyright 2025 WLOX. All rights reserved.
