A natural hair boutique and salon in the Bahamas is changing the conversation around natural hair in the workplace. They are declaring that #NaturalisProfessional.
“The goal is to illustrate to our public that natural hair is accepted in the workplace and more notably in the professional environment,” said Carol-Lynn Taylor, owner of Happy Hair Boutique. #NaturalisProfessional is a campaign that Taylor and her company have been running every February for the last three years for “Love Your Natural Hair Month.”
The campaign is encouraging women who wear their hair natural but do not feel comfortable or supported in the work place by showing examples of women who do. “It is an important part of educating and changing the mindset to where natural hair is not viewed as inferior to any other hair type,” Taylor said. “Most of all it is important to demonstrate that how one wears their hair does not influence ability or competence, as professionals in all fields rock their natural and rock their careers.”
Late last year, a video of two Black women — one was an intern and the other a full-time employee — talking about natural hair in their newsroom went viral on Facebook. It sparked conversations that we’ve been having for years. People discussed whether or not the younger woman should straighten her naturally curly hair and fulfill the request of her supervisors.
The #NaturalisProfessional campaign suggests there is a need to change the normal dialogue by pushing against that widely accepted idea that Black hair is not acceptable in the workplace. “The result is countless stereotype-breaking, positive black hair images flooding social media to make people rethink what professional hair can be,” said Taylor.
While the campaign was launched in the Bahamas, it is easy for people to get involved from anywhere, thanks to social media. Taylor invites people to take a photo of their kinks & curls at work or going to work and to share it with #NaturalisProfessional on Instagram or Facebook. The photos shared on social media with the hashtag will show up on the #NaturalisProfessional website.
Photos: Courtesy of Carol-Lynn Taylor of Happy Hair Boutique
Deonna Anderson is on the editorial staff at For Harriet. Follow her at @iamDEONNA.
Deonna Anderson is on the editorial staff at For Harriet. Follow her at @iamDEONNA.
