Recently, I came across a post on Threads by Adrienne Randle asking for inspiration:
This simple question struck a chord with me, as I’ve been asked many of times during our client shoot planning sessions if it would be appropriate to wear their hair curly and natural and if it would be considered professional. After seeing this post, I realize that the lack of representation on visual search engines like Pinterest may be apart of the problem. Good news is, we can totally do something about it!
A Personal Mission
Inspired by this post, I decided to use my platform as a photographer to address this issue. I’m committed to creating and curating inclusive content that showcases the beauty and versatility of natural hair, especially in professional settings. So I am making an effort over the coming months to upload more visual inspo to Pinterest with specific tags to make finding black and brown women with natural hair easier to find on the platform.
Yes, Your Natural Hair is Professional
It’s time to challenge the outdated idea that wearing your hair natural in your branding or headshot photos isn’t professional and instead promote the idea that natural hair is professional hair. The notion that natural hair is less professional than other hairstyles is a harmful stereotype that needs to be debunked. Natural hair is a beautiful and valid expression of oneself, and it should be treated with the same respect as any other hairstyle. Naturalistas should be able to confidently wear their hair as it grows without any pushback or reservations from their colleagues, or higher ups.
- Confidence and Empowerment: Wearing natural hair can boost confidence and empowerment, which are essential qualities for success in any professional setting.
- Diversity and Inclusion: Embracing natural hair promotes diversity and inclusion, creating a more welcoming and equitable workplace.
- Authenticity: Natural hair is a genuine expression of oneself, and it can help individuals feel more authentic and connected to their identity.
Taking Action
To promote the idea that natural hair is professional, we need to challenge harmful stereotypes and actively support individuals who choose to wear their hair naturally. This can be done through education, advocacy, and representation in media and professional settings. We can also show our support to projects such as The Crown Act, and other photographers and creatives can do their part by being sure to add tags to your pins that include tags such as #NaturalHairInspo, and #BlackHairProfessional
We Got This!
Adriene’s Threads post served as a catalyst for this blog post and my ongoing mission to promote natural hair in professional settings. By working together and using our platforms to advocate for inclusivity and challenge harmful stereotypes, we can create a more equitable and accepting world where women’s hair is no longer questioned but it’s instead celebrated, respected and never left for second guessing on if it’s professional.