Would you alter your hair for a job? This bold question lies at the heart of BAD Hair Uprooted: The Untold History of Black Follicles, a groundbreaking exhibition set to open on October 10 at 7 PM at Restoration Plaza in Brooklyn, NY. Through a collection of powerful interviews with non-Black individuals, this exhibition offers a fresh perspective on hair discrimination and the far-reaching implications of unequal hair rights.
While celebrating the beauty and diversity of natural hair, award-winning Social Entrepreneur and photographer Mireille Liong, M.S., seeks to uncover the deeper societal biases that continue to fuel hair-based discrimination. BAD Hair Uprooted flips the script, exposing long-ignored prejudices that extend beyond personal appearance and dive into issues of race, identity, and self-expression.
Black people are uniquely pressured to conform to Eurocentric hair standards, particularly in the workplace. For Black women, this often means chemically altering their natural hair or wearing wigs and weaves to meet restrictive and outdated dress codes—just to maintain employment.
The consequences of these pressures are staggering: 73% of Black women suffer from hair loss, class action lawsuits are mounting against companies that manufacture toxic relaxers, and the Black hair care industry has ballooned to billions, disproportionately impacting communities of color.
Through thought-provoking photography and deeply personal narratives, BAD Hair Uprooted: The Untold History of Black Follicles explores the physical, mental, and financial tolls of hair discrimination. With each portrait, Liong brings attention to the urgent need for equal hair rights, one headshot at a time.
Accompanying the exhibition is a limited-edition photo book, available for order, which offers an in-depth exploration of the themes presented.
For more information about the exhibition, to register, or to order the photo book, visit WhatNaturalsLove.com.
BAD Hair Uprooted, the Untold History of Black Follicles
October 10 at 7 pm
Restoration Plaza Brooklyn, NY
Click here to register for free.
