A Safe Space to Celebrate Us — ‘The Black Hair Experience’ Reviewed
Yesterday I attended The Black Hair Experience, a pop-up art exhibit celebrating the existence, inherent innovation and overall culture of black hair. With activations in ATL and now DC via the National Harbor in Oxon Hill, MD, it’s a welcomed celebration of “us” as we all figure out our comfort with stepping outside since the pandemic began.
Along with my college roommate, whose been natural much longer than I’ve been, I spent a full hour exploring a variety of activations, taking photos and shopping the pop up’s retail shop. After a disappointing experience with a similar event, I went into this prepared to not be wowed. I thought, if I got a few decent pics for the pennsive.co IG Feed before heading to brunch, I’d be satisfied. I got that and so much more!
As a new member of #TeamNatural and my loc journey overall, it felt amazing to just exist in a space for 1 hour where I could walk amongst other humans and share a common understanding about our existence as black women and girls. No matter what hairstyle you were rocking or how long you’ve been on whatever path you’re on, there was something that represented you and/or your experiences with your hair. And to be honest, there just aren’t enough spaces like that. I felt safe, understood and empowered all in one masked and socially distanced swoop.
I took photos for strangers that were parts of a group and 1 or 2 on a solo date with themselves (normalize more of THIS!). I saw images of black culture from the past, present and future that continue to serve as inspiration for the hairstyles and overall aesthetic I love most. What really hit home for me was that after a year plus of quarantine and ~15 months of being loc’d, I was finally in community with people who “get me” on this one particular thing: my hair. Community is essential and COVID-19 really proved it to me.
So to wrap things up, you should attend The Black Hair Experience if you are:
A black woman/girl (anyone can attend but this is very much “ours”)
Love our dynamic history; nostalgia is a major part of the activations/space
Rocking your natural hair or a relaxer — as someone who rocked a relaxer up until the end of 2019, I don’t think I would feel ostracized if I hadn’t started my loc journey.
Interested in a low traffic opportunity to experience something simple and fun but with pandemic precautions still in place.
Seeking some new content for your social channels; this is a highly visual experience designed with Instagram in mind. You’ll have so many opportunities to shoot the perfect image, boomerang or Reels/TikTok content.
Selects from the exhibit. See more on Instagram and check out my first Reel.
