Event Recap: Black Hair In The Media Empowerment Panel

On March 26, 2013, Design Essentials hosted it's first partnership empowerment panel event with Spelman College in Atlanta, GA.  The focus was "Black Hair in the Media".  Every where you look, you can see different hair styles, textures, colors and lengths. If you're like me, you've probably wondered where the inspiration came from. If any at all. This is exactly the kind of information that was discussed on the panel.  Be sure to follow Design Essentials Natural to find out about the next panel event in your area!


In partnership with Spelman College, Design Essentials® Natural held Beauty Empowerment Panel focused on Black Hair in the Media on Mar. 26th.  Photo Credit: Shawn Dowdell Photography 

Co-moderated by Cyntelia Abrams of Design Essentials® and Nina Thompson, secretary of Coils and Curls Hair Care Association, the panel featured:

• Ebony Steele: Co-host of the Rickey Smiley Morning Show, dancer, philanthropist and cancer survivor
• Jamila Robinson: Digital Entertainment Editor for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
• Kim Walker: Beauty journalist and lifestyle writer who has written for bothBET.com and Ebony.com
• Myleik Teele: Beauty enthusiast and founder of curlBox, an exclusive beauty box that delivers incredible hair care products to the doorsteps of curly girls across the country founder and CEO of curlBox
• Kiki Stephens: Natural hair blogger/vlogger, co-creator of the ever-popular natural hair blog Mahoganyknots.com
• Deshonica Kerrie: Professional hair stylist, Design Essentials® Master Educator,  and salon owner
• Linda Ripoll: Freelance beauty writer for Sister 2 Sister, JET and Juicy
• Tracey Gibson: Director of Marketing for Design Essentials®, oversees all branding and communication strategies for the company, as well as new product launches

Gibson hoped to see "greater acceptance among women, which will require greater diversity in media images."  Photo Credit: Shawn Dowdell Photography 

"More diversity among women of color- we don't have just one look," said Robinson. Photo Credit:  Spelman College 

"Black people don't celebrate one another enough," said Teele, (middle) adding that she founded her company to help women of color feel better about themselves and their hair; no matter their hairstyle preference. "It's Team Options NOT Team Natural, Weave or Relaxed!"  Photo Credit: Shawn Dowdell Photography

"This cartoonish representation of women going on in the media has got to stop!" said Ripoll. "I'd like to see more of the natural beauty of women celebrated, and less of the crazy, bodacious makeup, hair and overall look we see now." Photo Credit: Shawn Dowdell Photography

Information provided via Design Essentials Natural Press Release