Hair Couture – Jamaica Observer

Hair Couture

Under The Dryer

Saturday, August 13, 2016    

Jamaicans have never been a group of people to fail the tests of the unconventional hair rivalry. Over-the-top hairstyles have become part and parcel of who we are.

From lace wigs to pixie cuts and braids, Jamaican women have somehow managed to put their signature on simple hairdos, transforming them into personal statements. Coming from a point where a streak of colour in the corporate world would have been condemned, fast-forward to 2016 when our ladies are helping to spark some of the world’s hottest trends. Most recently our revered Olympian, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, almost broke the

Internet at the opening ceremony of the 2016 Olympics in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, prompting US online news blog

The Huffington Post to declare “ With hair that good we say pack it up folks, the Olympics have peaked. Fraser-Pryce is serving looks too fast and too flawless for anyone to compete.”

What is it about us and our hair?

Under the Dryer sat down with one of Jamaica’s most competitive crafters in the hair game, Kadie-Ann Brown, to get her views on the matter of statement manes.

Under the Dryer (UTD):What is it about hair that you believe is so controversial during the Olympic season?

Kadie-Ann Brown (KB): A lot of the countries at the Olympics won’t go all-out with hair. I believe we as Caribbean people are the only ones who take the conversation of hair down on the track and it’s because we want to be seen, we want to be different from everyone else. It is because we are different and we are willing to spark a conversation about something so minimal yet as controversial as hair, this is why we are so great.

UTD:Have you ever had clients during Olympics season who have opted to jump outside of the box?

KB: The 2016 Summer Olympics has most definitely triggered this response. Some of my most conservative clients whom I would least expect it from are asking for streaks of yellows and greens. We can’t all be there physically, so I think we try our best to show our support in little ways that are impactful.

UTD:What style would you opt for if you had the responsibility of styling members of the female Olympic team?

KB:I would go for full lace wigs. Black roots with yellow and green ends in a high pony tail. It’s trendy and also durable.

UTD:What seems to be the over-the-top trend of the season?

KB: It seems to be grey hair, a lot of women and also men are opting for grey hair. At one point grey hair was the joke of the century and now it’s one of the biggest trends.

UTD: When it comes to hair, are we (Jamaicans) conservative or adventurous?

KB: Adventurous, of course! A Jamaican woman will just walk into the store with a hairdo printed and say, I want this, give it to me now. Regardless of however it might look on her.

UTD:What’s the downside, if any, of sporting an unconventional ‘do?

KB: I would say being taken seriously. I’ll walk into the bank with pink or grey hair and everyone will look at me as if I’m a clown. It’s sad, because a lot of times these women with over-the-top ‘dos are successful businesswomen.

UTD:Do you believe the over-the-top ‘dos are for everyone?

KB: Not at all… you definitely have to have the personality for it. Each ‘do prompts a certain attitude and confidence from the person wearing it; otherwise you won’t be very happy with it.

UTD:What

is

the

most

difficult

part

for

you

in

crafting

these

‘dos?

KB:

It’s telling the customers the truth that a hairstyle won’t suit them or they should try something a little different. Sometimes you lose money, but that’s better (in my opinion) than losing a good reputation.

UTD:What

do

you

believe

is

the

story

being

told

by

Shelly-Ann

Fraser-Pryce

with

her

current

choice

of

hair?

KB:

I think she wants to stand out. She wants to make you know that she’s Jamaican and that she is Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. Anywhere she is seen or spotted outside of her Jamaican-coloured sporting athleisure; she wants it to be known that hey, I’m Jamaican! As Jamaicans, that makes us really proud.

Instagram: @kadie_hairstylist

from Hairstylez http://cityhairstyle.xyz/hair-couture-jamaica-observer/