8/9/2020 - Royal-Essence

What is hair to you? Your pride? Your Joy? To Royal-Essence, her hair is her power.

We asked Royal what’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word hair and her response was; “I think of a crown. I think hair is a source of your identity. Of who you are. It’s a reflection of you.” However, Royal didn’t always feel this way about her hair and growing up she struggled accepting the fact that her hair was perfect the way it was.

Royal grew up in a predominantly white area in Long Island, so she didn’t see many people with the same kinky/curly hair texture that she has. She was surrounded by people with straight hair and instead of encouraging her differences, her peers told her that her hair wasn’t pretty enough and that straight hair was the ideal beauty standard. “Whenever I’ve had braids people would say I look like a mop or Medusa. But whenever I would wear my hair straight I never got any of those statements, people would just say it was pretty or beautiful.” Says Royal. Due to insecurities that formed because of this, Royal would flat iron her hair consistently and it caused her hair to have a lot of heat damage.

Eventually, with the help of her family, Royal started to embrace her natural hair type and found beauty within it. In 8th grade she stopped flat ironing her hair all together and decided to wear it natural. Now, that Royal has embraced her hair type she feels more confident and more comfortable in her own skin. “My hair is very important to me. For all black people hair type is super important.” Royal added. She incorporates her love of hair with her love of fashion. “My hair is often a fashion statement. So different hairstyles can change my clothing style.”

In the future, Royal hopes to work in the fashion industry. There’s not enough black representation in the fashion industry so she’s going to use her fashion to promote and inspire black men and women. “There’s a difference between appropriation and appreciation.” Royal finishes.

Whether it’s from her hair to her fashion, Royal finds the most confidence and beauty within her natural self.

Written by:

Damia Mckeithan