The Tamesis
For decades, textured hair felt like an afterthought on sets, runways, and salon chairs. Award-winning hairstylist Naeemah LaFond has seen firsthand how anxious it can be for clients of color—whether they’re photography geniuses or just women who come to the salon to get their hair done—not knowing if anyone has the ability to care for their curls or curls.
“I constantly hear and see from models about their bad experiences on set,” LaFond said. “Having been in this industry for so long, I know it’s not fair.”
LaFond took all of these feelings and transformed them into an industry-changing hair show, Texture On Set. Now in its third year, the one-day event attracted more than 300 attendees from editors, celebrities and industry leaders, with Olaplex as a presenting partner and sponsorships from Oribe, Pattern Beauty, Dyson, Sharkbeauty, SalonCentric and The Deoux.
For LaFond and her partners, this day is about more than education—they’re building a community of professionals who are committed to creating a more equitable fashion and beauty industry, and supporting each other in the process. Professionals across generations and disciplines come together to share knowledge and celebrate the pioneers who are creating space for more nuanced and equitable working conditions.
Jean Paul Dia
Curly hair expert, educator and Olaplex global ambassador Christin Brown brings the editor’s vision to life by hosting a hair care-focused tutorial that emphasizes the humanity of the models and what they go through as individuals and with their hair. Later in the day, Stacey Ciceron, textured hair educator and Oribe global ambassador, demonstrated the nuances of creating the same sleek, sleek slicked-back ponytail on textured hair in different states (one model had her hair blow-dried, another had her hair curled) and provided expert insight on how to adapt your approach based on your hair when the talent arrives.
The show also highlighted the history of black hair through a presentation by makeup artist and historian Michela Wariebi, who introduced black hair innovations from the 16th century to the present day. “It’s difficult to be fully culturally competent without understanding the context of how we got to where we are today,” Waribi told us Fashion. “There’s a lot of cultural context that gives insight into how Black people feel about their hair and why we feel the way we do and why we behave the way we do with our hair. Because it’s never just about the look or the aesthetics of hair—it’s a methodology of subjugation. It’s a way of revolution and resistance.”
