There are hair rites of passage in Black ladies’s lives: the primary salon appointment, the primary therapy, the primary blow out, the massive chop, the pure transition, the weave, and the braid up. After which, in fact, there’s the primary second of isolation and feeling of different from those that don’t perceive the historical past, the richness, and the feel of Black hair and the tales it tells. ELLE.com introduced collectively 20 ladies telling their hair tales—from a magnificence editor whose center faculty principal scolded her for carrying braids to an engineer swarmed at a celebration by a handsy “Can I contact your hair?” crowd. Take heed to what they should say.
Eunice’s Story
Ashley’s Story
Chloe’s Story
Illustration: Joelle Avelino
Editor: Shu-Ying Chung
Movement Artwork Director: Alina Petrichyn
Animation: Lindsey Flood
Sound Recordists: Kameron Key & Thomas Jezik
Magnificence Director
Chloe Corridor oversees all magnificence protection at ELLE.com. She knew she wished to get into magnificence the second Donna Summer season got here on her display screen and she or he’s been chasing the right disco shadows ever since. Her candy spot is the intersections of magnificence with present tradition, whether or not it is music, films, or social media. You’ll find her in Brooklyn together with her pug or in Rihanna’s remark part.
Magnificence Commerce Editor
Nerisha is the wonder commerce editor at ELLE.com, overlaying all issues magnificence (and style and music). She has a penchant for sneakers and nude lip glosses, and spends approach an excessive amount of time re-watching 90s sitcoms.