Dear Braiding clients and parents
Dear braiding clients and parents,
Anytime someone asks me about hair braiding, a smile appears on my face. What began as a creative way to make money from a skill I already had has grown into something so much more and an experience I truly look forward to. Braiding has become a way of nourishing myself while lifting others, a labor of love, if you will. Over the years, as I’ve done my own hair and honed my techniques, braiding feels like an extension of ancestral knowledge, a sacred practice that connects me deeply to my roots.
My very first client was my baby sister when I was twelve and she was 8. She patiently sat on the ground between my legs as I learned how to cornrow. Growing up with two sisters, navigating the challenges of managing our hair while struggling to assimilate with our white peers and find acceptance in our own identities, was arduous and real. These early experiences shaped my deep love and respect for hair and the journeys that come with it.
In recent years, having made space my inner child, whenever a white parent reaches out to me for help with their children’s hair, it makes my heart leap. Seeing them embrace and celebrate their children’s textured hair fills me with so much joy. I am truly honored to be a small part of their journey. I am constantly learning from the wonderful humans who sit in my chair, from all walks of life and of all ages, though I have a soft spot for teens. They may not realize it, but they are part of my ever evolving healing process too. Each time they trust me with their transformation, I am reminded of the power of this work.
I strive to create a safe and welcoming space for everyone, offering music, movies, conversation, or simply quiet moments. Whether our time together is short or stretches on for hours, we share the process, and I never tire of seeing the smiles that appear when a client sees their new look for the first time.
Last year, this work inspired me to begin training as an expressive arts therapist. In my application letter I mentioned how I was driven by the understanding that creativity holds incredible potential for healing and how the trust we build through braiding showed me the deeper emotional layers of self-expression and motivated me to want to extend this into helping others explore their creativity to process emotions and find healing.
As the year comes to a close, I want to say how deeply grateful I am for every one of you who has trusted me with your hair. Hearing feedback like "I feel so empowered," or "It feels safe here," fills me with purpose and pride. Knowing that our connection goes beyond braiding and reenforces a sense of belonging and is something I cherish deeply.
My availability for hair braiding ebbs and flows as I figure out how to navigate other fields of interests but I want you to know that these moments of connection and tending to your braiding needs keep me grounded and remind me of my capabilities and strengths and guide me through moments of doubt and uncertainty. I am honored to have created a space where you feel seen, heard, and celebrated Thank you, thank you, thank you.
