From Curls To Coils: The Freedom Of Choice
Jasmine Thompson addresses social and political issues that around hair when you're not white.
From Curls to Coils Part 3: An Interview With Beulah Davina
Illustration by Jasmine Thompson
In part 3 of the series, Jazz explores why it’s important that blogs for POC are at the forefront of web platforms. She chats with Beulah Davina, founder of The Creamy Crack Rehab to talk about why these blogs are so influential.
Natural hair blogs and vlogs are spaces where both amateur and pro content creators are self-generating content, and audiences are actively engaging with it.
The Black beauty blogosphere is an increasing presence online. These blogs illuminate Afrocentric features as beautiful and encourage women to celebrate their natural hair. These web platforms are being produced by Black women for Black women, differentiating them from the mainstream and combatting the lack of representation. They promote beauty ideals that are more accessible to women of colour, and allow us to actively engage with and create self-representations, instead of being spoon-fed content created by corporate media producers. Natural hair blogs and vlogs are spaces where both amateur and pros are self-generating content, and audiences are actively engaging with it.
But within this blogging sub culture there is still a sense of divisiveness around how we choose to wear our hair. This manifests itself in issues such as colourism, and now since the natural hair movement has gained momentum- ‘texturism’, and some people are still being excluded from certain platforms. Tight curls, loose curls, light skin, dark skin, natural or relaxed- as opposed to being divided by all this stuff, it’s important it’s all celebrated and showcased as beautiful.
Beulah is a hair blogger and illustrator I discovered through friends, and is the founder of TheCreamyCrackRehab, an online platform that celebrates black hair. It’s a place where all textures and curl types are promoted, and features both Beulah’s photography and illustration. In this video we spent the afternoon catching up, and discussing why blogging is so influential, issues around representation, and all things hair.
What are your favourite products, tips and tricks? Tweet us at Rifemag or find us on Facebook at Rife Magazine , and don’t forget to check out The Creamy Crack Rehab on Instagram.
Do you love vlogging? Jon and Aisha go on a whirlwind vegan adventure and you can watch it here
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About the author
Jasmine Thompson
Hey my name’s Jazz, and I’m a Bristol based artist who recently graduated in Illustration. I began as a portrait artist but have expanded into areas such as reportage illustration, zine making, and creating caricatures. I’m inspired by living in an urban environment and the people around me, and thrive off meeting others with brilliant ideas. My most recent work has focussed on 'Race & integration: A study of culture'. I am passionate about exploring segregation within UK cities (and factors such as religion and language) cultural appropriation and identity issues. Look forward to seeing some content on this in Rife. I love making comics, and am always looking for new ways to create funny spins on day to day life. I hope to make videos, films, memes, and most importantly push my writing skills. Some seem to think I have an addicted to buying trainers, but in my opinion it’s definitely more of a ‘healthy interest’. Throw some curly hair care tips my way and you’ll be my best friend forever.
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