Local women are helping others embrace their natural hair

WILMINGTON -- Shantay Ward wants you to love your hair. And she's not alone.

Ward and fellow Wilmington entrepreneurs LaTasha Williams and Lynne Jones want to empower black women to embrace their natural hair, which is not processed with chemicals.

"It's a process, everybody has stumbling blocks and different tiers of learning how to maintain your hair," Ward said. "There's different types of products, everybody has a different curl pattern, texture and porosity of their hair. Everybody needs a support system."

Ward, founder of Mz Tayda Coils, has partnered with Painting with a Twist to host a monthly natural hair care social event in Wilmington. 

In the midst of painting natural hair portraits, Ward holds a Q&A session with attendees to talk about caring for their natural hair.

"I'm helping all naturals empower themselves one natural at a time because it's not easy. I didn't accept being natural for about five years," Ward said. "A lot of people didn't know I was natural until I woke up one day and said 'I'm just going to accept who I am and I'm going to wear my hair natural.'"

Natural hair and hair styles associated with "blackness," such as cornrows and dreadlocks, have been criticized. In fact, the U.S. Army banned twists and locks, styles worn by black women, in 2014. The ban was lifted in February.

In May, the Massachusetts Attorney General's office called on a charter school to end its policy of banning students from wearing hair extensions after two teens were instructed by school officials to remove their braids.

"I don't feel black women's hair is 'natural;' our hair if anything is supernatural," said Williams, creator of the blog Onyx Crown Co. Williams is in the process of launching "AFRO," a series of photos and videos that highlight black women.

"Black women are transitioning into natural hair because a movement of self-discovery and health has grown in our community," said Jones, founder of the organization Naturally Fly Wilmington. "It's not just about being chemical free but stress free and physically healthy. Women of color are beginning to embrace their kinks and curls and walk in their own self worth.

Reporter Elizabeth Montgomery can be reached at 910-343-2066 or Elizabeth.Montgomery@StarNewsOnline.com.

Want to go?

What: Mz Tayda Coils natural hair care social

When: 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 21

Where: Painting with a Twist, 5732 Oleander Drive

Tickets: $35