We're kicking off the second season of the Curl Code by sharing a vulnerable, illuminating, sometimes hilarious and alwways incredible conversation from the launch party of the show last year.

This live event brought together curlies and non-curlies of different generations and backgrounds to discuss lived experiences of having curly hair. Regardless of what else we might not have in common, we discovered funny and not-so-funny stories of hair trauma, struggle, and finally, embrace that revealed to us the things we share, and helped us learn about what's changed--and still needs to change--to allow all of us to live as our most authentic selves and embrace our curly crowns.

Our non-curly allies helped us understand their own experiences and limitations, and even our wavy and swavy friends got a little reassurance that there is a place for them in the the curl universe too!

This conversation exemplifies the openness, authenticity and healing we stand for in this show, and at the Curly Oasis salon and education platform. We hope you'll find solidarity, companionship, and discovery in this show, and realize that whatever you hair trauma or curl experience may be, you are not alone!

Continue your curly hair styling and education journey on our Instagram!

Links/more:

The CROWN Act: The CROWN Act, which stands for “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair,” is currently being adopted on a state by state basis to ban hair-based discrimination at schools and workplaces. Braided twists or locs, “as long as style is neat in appearance” are allowed for women–but not men–in the military.

Environmental working group

INCI app: On Apple and Android

On personal products disrupting the endocrine system:
https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/endocrine

https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2024/09/09/nx-s1-5099419/hair-and-skin-care-products-expose-kids-to-hormone-disrupting-chemicals-study-finds#:~:text=A%20new%20study%20links%20the%20recent%20use%20of%20personal%20care,of%20exposure%20to%20these%20chemicals.

https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/cosmetics/cosmetic-products-specific-topics/endocrine-disruptors_en

On levels of cancer in brown and Black communities:

https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/health-equity/african-american.html#:~:text=Black%20people%20have%20the%20highest,cancers%20at%20a%20late%20stage.

https://www.cancer.org/about-us/what-we-do/health-equity/cancer-disparities-in-the-black-community.html

Meet some of our guests:
Sydnei
Susan and Ashira, Thrive Yoga
Luby Ismail, Connecting Cultures

CHAPTER MARKERS
00:00 Welcome to Season Two of the Curl Code
01:49 Personal Stories of Hair Struggles
09:13 Cultural and Generational Perspectives on Curly Hair
13:47 Workplace Discrimination and the Crown Act
31:57 The Importance of Authenticity
37:34 Closing Remarks and Gratitude

The natural hair stylists at Curly Oasis salon are back with more curly hair wisdom, styling advice, and stories of hair trauma and healing as curlies of all kinds share their journeys and learning to embrace their natural texture and living authentically.

Wafaya Abdallah brings her decades of experience in the beauty industry, and commitment to clean beauty, to conversations with industry pioneers, inventors, entrepreneurs, stylists, and clients. Meet some of the game-changers working to elevate the industry, and find inspiration for your own journey to showing up in your highest power. While embracing natural hair is the entry point, these stories are about so much more: learning to accept, care for, and love our unique qualities is an experience anyone can relate to.

Michael Yost has been a hairdresser for 25 years, and a business owner for 16 of those years. Much like the rest of the industry, he didn't think much about styling curls or natural texture until the last seven years or so, even though he's a curly man himself. Around that time, he also sold his business, and now, Michael is the president of Strategies, which teaches salon and spa owners how to create, run, and grow a team-based business around a co-elevating culture that builds up profits by building up people. Like Wafaya, Michael and his organization believe that good numbers are a reflection of a healthy and happy staff, thriving in a culture of safety and growth, with a clear sense of purpose. Michael joins The Curl Code to talk about growing up curly in Pennsylvania, raising curly sons, and how much he's seen himself and his industry grow and change over the last few decades.

Strategies and Oasis Curl Salon have partnered on a technical and business training course called Crosswalk, bringing the culture of curl and team elevation to salon owners from all over the country. Michael visited Rockville for an on-site with the team, and to kick off the classes. Learn more about topics like leading with empathy, avoiding owner burnout, and becoming an eco-friendly salon on the Beauty Business Strategies podcast.