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Attention all curly girls around the globe! It’s time to celebrate a decade of curly hair, sisterhood, and uplifting the community at CURLFEST in Brooklyn, New York. For the past ten years, The Curly Collective—founded by Charisse Higgins, Simone Mair, and Melody Henderson—has brought us CURLFEST, uniting the curly-haired community from across the nation. 

The Curly Collective created a safe space to uplift our community and connect with brands that support us. This experience is unlike any other. As the largest Natural Hair festival in America, CURLFEST brings out the best in urban culture including performances, panel discussions, and amazing local vendors. Local small businesses and creatives get the opportunity to be part of the celebration, and advertise their goods and services for thousands of festival goers.

The founders of The Curly Collective shared their entrepreneurial journey and the many challenges they’ve faced over the past decade during a Q&A panel. The trio emphasized the importance of creating a space where women can embrace their natural hair and support one another. Co-founder Melody Henderson shared, “Nothing beats a failure but a try,” highlighting the importance of trusting the process and believing in their abilities to bring CURLFEST to life.

Small business owners like Sharaine R. Louis travel from the Bronx, New York, to showcase their unique pieces. Her spiritual wellness jewelry line, Gems By Che, is a “one-stop shop for all your spiritual needs,” featuring a variety of jewelry, healing crystals, and positive vibes. 

Makini Regal Martin, a florist and author, introduces early readers to the beauty of nature through her children’s book, The Wonderful World of Zuri Rose. She created the book to fill the need for more diversity in children’s nature books, making it the perfect introduction to the world of flowers.

CURLFEST offers something for all ages, but the biggest draw for attendees is the opportunity for exclusive hair product deals from some of the top brands in the beauty industry. Shea Moisture set up an outdoor natural hair salon, where participants enjoyed free hairstyling and special giveaways for stopping by.

You can’t have top-tier products without top-tier stylists! The creative queen herself, Susy Oludele, was in attendance at CURLFEST. Best known for creating Beyoncé’s iconic “lemonade braids,” Susy, the owner of HairBySusy NYC and HairBySusy LA, was there giving away hair products and capturing the most unique hairstyles showcased by attendees. Despite her fame, she remained incredibly humble, engaging with festival-goers throughout the event.

So what is next for The Curly Collective and CURLFEST? The trio hinted at a big surprise in store for festival supporters, revealing they’re working on something special and are open to bringing CURLFEST to a new location. 

 

Story & Photos By: Krystal Harris