The internet is celebrating the beauty of Afros with the most amazing images
Black hair that is kinky, curly, and tightly coiled isn’t widely represented as much as pin-straight locks in beauty campaigns, in fashion magazines, or on the runways. But one woman is on a mission to change that with World Afro Day.
World Afro Day founder Michelle De Leon‘s 7-year-old daughter’s love for her hair inspired her to launch a “global celebration” of textured tendrils. “I wanted every Black girl to feel the same and I knew that most didn’t,” De Leon wrote in a post online about the story behind World Afro Day.
She noted: “I didn’t want children to struggle anymore with thoughts of inferiority and insecurity about their hair. I wanted them to experience the beauty and value of their hair, from the very beginning, not later on in life, like me and like so many other Black women have done.”
De Leon’s vision has grown into a major event held at the Church House in London, where natural-hair influencers and experts, including Miss USA 2016 Deshauna Barber, celebrity hairstylist and hair care creator Vernon François, and blogger Mary of the Curly Closet engaged, educated, and uplifted attendees through panels, live demos and hair clinics.
François, who has styled the famous manes of Lupita Nyong’o, Ava Duvernay, and Solange Knowles, shared this video on Instagram of young girls at what he coined the “world’s largest hair education lesson”:
A post shared by Vernon François (@vernonfrancois) on Sep 15, 2017 at 7:07am PDT
The infectious energy from the World Afro Day conference spread rapidly onto social media, where women, men, and children of all ages shared stunning photos of their ‘fros using the hash tag #WorldAfroDay.
Barber, the Army reserve officer turned beauty queen, slayed with her kinky coils on the streets of London.
A post shared by Deshauna Barber (@deshaunabarber) on Sep 15, 2017 at 9:32am PDT
Beauty and lifestyle influencer Ronke Raji got in on the hair love fun with this bestie natural-hair selfie:
A post shared by @ronkeraji on Sep 15, 2017 at 11:22am PDT
Beautiful Afros of all shapes and sizes were everywhere.
A post shared by Akushika Gone Natural (@akushikagonenatural) on Sep 15, 2017 at 12:27pm PDT
A post shared by #AFRIKINKY ❤ Embrace it ❤ (@africansgonenatural) on Sep 15, 2017 at 12:26pm PDT
This one was actually my fav today #WorldAfroDay
A post shared by Noxolo Ntintili (@blue_paradiseus) on Sep 15, 2017 at 12:10pm PDT
Only a few hours left of #WorldAfroDay..
A post shared by Lee Majikija (@lee_majikija) on Sep 15, 2017 at 11:58am PDT
A post shared by Erica (@glammzmore) on Sep 15, 2017 at 11:40am PDT
Happy #worldafroday #froday #respectthefro #naturalhair
A post shared by Freda Funnye (@fredafunnye) on Sep 15, 2017 at 10:38am PDT
A post shared by D |S I M O N A | J I M E N E Z (@simona.amor) on Sep 15, 2017 at 10:36am PDT
Happy #worldafroday to all my natural sisters. : @raffiza
A post shared by Dineo Lekhanya (@sheer_dee) on Sep 15, 2017 at 10:36am PDT
And we can’t stop gushing over these tiny tots with big Afros…
A post shared by Carol’s Daughter (@carolsdaughter) on Sep 15, 2017 at 10:53am PDT
A post shared by Meika Curry (@life_with_lil_meikz) on Sep 15, 2017 at 10:27am PDT
A post shared by Brooklyn Camm (Official) (@brooklyn.nevaeh) on Sep 15, 2017 at 10:13am PDT
A post shared by CopperQueen (@uniquelywiredm) on Sep 15, 2017 at 10:04am PDT
A post shared by KING (@kickin.it.with.kingsley) on Sep 15, 2017 at 10:12am PDT
With so many diverse examples of Afro hair looks, one can only hope these images of natural beauty are continually celebrated and reflected every day.
Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:
• Zendaya’s Met Gala Afro gives me life
• Iman in an Afro for New Magazine cover spells love
• All the beautiful natural hair moments at fashion week
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