The Evolution of Natural hair. This was the tittle of the first Natural Hair Show I saw at the International African Arts Festival.

International African Arts Festival
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The famous colorful festival is held every 4th of July weekend in Brooklyn. An estimated 75.000 visitors from all over the country come to enjoy, celebrate and share the contributions of the Afrikan Diaspora. At its 35th year, over a 150 vendors offered craft, books, clothes, jewelry exotic food and more then one can imagine while over 50 artists showed their talents. The IAAF turned Commodore Barry Park into spectacular entertaining fields where one could easily be overwhelmed by the vibrant energy of color, music, dance, poetry and people. One of the highlights on the schedule was the “Evolution of Natural hair” Show.

Tameeka’s Revelations Hair Salon set high expectations by debuting with
two complete opposite styles. A contemporary afro and a creatively combined loc style.

Nekhena Evans proudly presented Brooklyn as the hair capitol of the world. Pioneers like herself picked up where others left off after the revolutionary fro of the 60’s. Passionate and proud about their “hairitage”, a group of creative stylists refused to give up their standard of natural beauty. Hairdressers like Diane Bailey, Tulani Kinard and many others developed an own distinctive style and pushed limits. Their inspiration helped to lay the foundation for today’s Bantus, Braids and Locs.

Sheny Nefer amazed us by adorning artistically styled locs with tasteful jewelry.

Tar Baby showed us a variety of cornrow patterns, braided and crinkled locs.

It was good to seen how much pride the stylists took in their work. Their pride and passion reflected on the models. Like life art, the models, youngsters and adults presented their crown of beauty and showed that the beauty of natural hair is not constrained by age.

Thando Kafele, who already gained international fame,
demonstrated his distinct signature loc sculptures once again.

Ricky locs confirmed her creativity by showing her exquisitely unique cornrowed styles.

Locs of Nu made a sparkling entrance with no one less than supa nova
showing one of their signature styles: feathers braided in cornrows.

New bein showed us afro’s, locs and flowerlike bantus created from locs.

Red Art Concept Studio went creative on locs, extensions and silky locs.

The 2006 natural hair show did indeed proved the advancement of the natural hair care industry over the years. The fascinatingly creative styles confirmed the versatility of natural hair and demonstrated how versatile even locs can be styled. Clearly Natural hair styling is only limited by one’’s imagination.

Evolution of Natural Hair – Hair Show at the International African Arts Festival

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