Does Going to Natural Hair Shows Really Help You?

ID Life's Carla Ferrer and Susan Ruch

I feel today's posting is a great way to begin meaningful conversations about your participation in the plethora of LIVE natural hair shows.  Why do you go?  Are you interested in gaining knowledge or having fun at these events?  Can going to a live natural hair event really help you or your hair?

Participants at the Road to Healthy Hair LIVE Event 

We've seen the industry grow from a select few of LIVE hair events from the likes of Bronner Bros to the International Hair Shows at the big presentation centers around the country to an uncountable number of hair events in all the corners of America.  We've watched the offerings of the shows expand from just focusing on relaxed hair care to all aspects of natural hair care and obviously the products and ancillary items along with them.

Are there to many live events?  Some say that there are so many different shows with so many different messages for the consumers that consumers are getting lost.  Some ask if going to these shows help or hinder your natural hair care?

If you're a hairstylist you should expect your perspective to be very different than that of a regular consumer.  You've likely been working in your salon all winter and have been looking forward to flying down to Atlanta for the Bronner Brothers event to blow off a little steam,  You're thinking you may stumble across something new in between your convention partying and get all kinds of free sample products.  I should indicate that there's nothing wrong with that motivation, necessarily.  I know that all stylists' first priority is discovering the new products and techniques so they can share them when they get back home.

If you're wondering whether it can help your hair or hurt your hair, as a consumer, than I think we've established that if you're a professional going to a professional event, it's a very positive thing.  Consumers, however, going out to all kinds of "meet ups" may be taking on unnecessary risks with their hair care.  Should you trust the hairstylists who are there and the product vendors?   I think it comes down to the event organizers and the reputation they have.  As we mentioned earlier, there are those who have great established reputations and those who do no
t.  I am always concerned about those who throw up a tent and put on a hair show.  It, of course, takes a great deal of planning to effectively create a dynamic show.

I believe knowing how to compartmentalize your live hair event participation will help you determine if can really help you?  Your natural hair care takeaway will be that much more effective.

What are your thoughts?

Finding Your Voice in the Natural Hair Movement: New HaiRadio.com Blog

I'd like to personally welcome you to our new blog, "Natural Hair Conversations I Should've Had With My Mother".  It's our new digital home to have meaningful conversations about natural hair and the natural hair industry, in general.  We'll have many conversations about what's happening now across the hair industry spectrum.  Also, real conversations with the experts in the industry and people like you and me.

Finding Your Voice in the Natural Hair Movement speaks to the plethora of individuals who are driving the industry forward but may unwittingly be sending the wrong messages. This blog will help you to navigate through all of that and have a more comprehensive understanding therefore leading you to finding your own voice in natural hair.

I am excited to introduce you to folks who may be flying under the hair radar but have important messages to get across.  These are conversations that you don't want to miss about natural hair and natural hair care.  Working in and around the hair experts for about 20 years, I've interview some heavy hitters in the industry.  Many of them have similar messages and all want to truly share their expertise.

I guess it would've been nice when you were growing up to have conversations with your mother about natural hair.  If you think about it, your entire perspective would likely be different.  Our hair serves as the perfect conduit for real discussions that reflect pride in our race and our culture.  We'll be exploring many of these conversations in the upcoming posts.

What are your thoughts?