Trudy and Nikki: Embracing the kink
How many times have you hissed your teeth in frustration trying to comb out the tangles in your naturally kinky hair? At some point you may have opted to chemically straighten it in order to make it easier on yourself, or maybe after rocking the straight look for a while you have opted to ‘grow out’ your hair. Now what?
Montegonians Trudy-Ann Hylton and her partner Nikki-Jean Whyte Amair have opted to take a different approach when it comes to their hair. Instead of being overwhelmed by the styling demands of their natural hair, they have opted to embrace their natural hair, kink and all.
Hylton, who is trained in media and communications, and Amair, who is trained in business and psychology, have joined forces to create Curly-Centric Ja.
“Simply put, Curly-Centric Ja is a movement of young, beautiful ladies embracing the kinkiness of their hair,” said Hylton.
The group has actively sought to coordinate meet-ups and hair care shows with the aim of covering how to style, treat and care for naturally curly/kinky hair.
Their natural hair support group promotes self-love in every way possible.
“I started the group alone as I was really having a hard time on my own natural hair journey. I pretty much figured that there were women out there just like me who could do with some support and information on how to style and care for their own natural hair,” explained Hylton.
After being introduced by a mutual friend, the two decided to join forces.
“Curly-Centric Ja is a means to educate women about their black hair; why they should embrace it as an asset to their image instead of viewing it as something that needs to be changed,” she added.
Both women try to hold down full-time jobs while keeping up with the demands of Curly-Centric Ja.
“Personally I’ve had to overcome stereotypes of what standard beauty should be. Many suggested that natural hair is just a phase and eventually I would have to relax my hair. I decided to become proactive and join up with Trudy-Ann to support others on their learning curve to accepting their God-given tresses,” said Amair.
Curly Centric Ja has managed to leverage the use of social media to promote their mission. With hundreds of subscribers who follow them religiously, it is well on its way to becoming a trusted source of information on all things natural.
