Appleton's first Afro Hair Fair wants to close the hair equity gap by teaching textured hair care
APPLETON - Fox Valley community organization People of Progression and Taperz Barbershop are looking to close the Fox Cities hair equality gap by hosting the area's first educational fair on caring for textured hair types.
Afro Hair Fair will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 pm. Feb. 25 in Poplar Hall, located at 141 Riverheath Way in Appleton.
"This is Fox Cities' revolution towards hair equity," People of Progression Executive Director Kristen Gondek said.
Finding barber shops and salons that know how to work with curly and textured hair can be difficult for the Fox Valley's Black community and this hurdle is reinforced as most cosmetology schools don't teach its students how to deal with textured hair, Gondek said.
Because of this gap in hair care, Black people in the Fox Valley often have to travel out of the area to get the services they need or are left without proper care for their hair. This can be especially difficult for blended and adopted families with Black children without familial resources and people in shelters or group homes who often rely on hair care donations.
"Black hair is actually the most sensitive and the most vulnerable to breaking and being unhealthy due to wrong products or wrong haircare practices," Gondek said.
With this lack of local resources for people with textured hair types, the Afro Hair Fair wants to bring hair care education to the Fox Valley so Black people and families with Black children don't have to travel out of the area to get the care they need.
During the event, local businesses and stylists will provide barber and braiding skill training as well as teach about proper haircare products for Black hair.
The fair also features a panel with stylists who will speak on their experiences learning Black hair care, a dance performance from SiStar Society, a presentation on the history of Black hairstyles and a keynote speech from Salim Holder, CEO of 4th Ave Market, the largest Black-owned online hair and beauty retailer in the US.
"Black hair care is not just for one group — everyone is welcome to this event and families are welcome to bring their kids," Gondek said.
The event cost $10 to attend and registration is required. RSVP on the Afro Hair Fair Eventbrite page. Lunch by Peters' Boyz Texas BBQ will be provided.
In addition to the Afro Hair Fair, People of Progression is working with Appleton businesses on a donation drive of textured hair products for local shelters and transitional housing units. Products can be dropped off at DVSN 1, Basil Café, Lawless Coffee, Commodore Club and Trending Topic.
While Afro Hair Fair is the first event of its kind in the Fox Valley, Gondek said People of Progression and Taperz plan to host this event annually until "hair equity is increased in our area."
Sophia Voight can be reached at svoight@postcrescent.com. Follow her on Twitter @sophia_voight.
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Appleton Afro Hair Fair to teach proper care for Black hair types
