The first ever ‘Jamaica Natural Hair, Health and Beauty Festival’ will be held at the historic Fort Charlotte in Lucea, Hanover, tomorrow Emancipation Day, under the theme: “Hair we come; Here’s to health; Ital is Vital”, organisers announced in a press statement yesterday.

“The festival at its core is geared at enabling women and girls to love, manage and wear their natural hair, of all types, with ease, with beauty and with grace. Consequently, the main highlight will be the Miss Jamaica Afro and Miss Jamaica Luscious Locks Pageant in the afternoon”.

“Jamaicans are becoming health conscious and very mindful of the foods we consume and products we put on our bodies. So we will celebrate and promote healthy hair; producers of natural and organic beauty products, foods, healthy skin, hair and body,” event organiser Claudia Gardner said.

Gardner said the festival would go beyond the superficial and will be used as a medium to aid in reducing the prevalence of non-communicable diseases in Jamaica on the premise that the health of the hair in its natural state “is a reflection of general health”, and the state of the skin “ a major reflection of the health of the rest of the body”.

The event, which gets underway at 10:00am, will also include, among other things, hair and scalp checks by Negril-based Trichology (hair loss) specialist Debra Barrett of Careatin and Strands, free basic health checks, a fruit and herbs farmers market, and natural hair and skin product manufacturer displays.

A morning seminar will feature naturopathic consultant Maureen Minto, herbalists King Ises I, Omar Hines of Montego Bay-based 13 Trees, beauty expert Sharon Chambers, raw foods preparation demonstrations by Hope Evans, physical education specialist Parris Taylor, First Aid demonstrations by the Hanover Emergency Medical Services, and others.

Drumming by the Rastafari Indigenous Village, natural food and juices, a press up and freestyle football competition, and a celebrity salad and smoothie competition are among the other features of the day. The event is sponsored by JUTA Lucea Chapter, Big Bredda Productions, Nuchie Records, Let’s Do it in the Caribbean, accessjamaica.com, and the Hanover Municipal Corporation.