Search Results: Beautycon LA 2024
Can there be such a thing as a beauty event without opulent looks? If NaturallyCurly is involved, the answer is no. We brought the signature “Texture on the Runway” Fashion Show back to Beautycon 2024 to serve fierce looks. Known to bring the community, boldness, and color, this runway show stands out in the crowd.
Somewhat reminiscent of the Bronner Brothers Beauty Shows of the past, it exhibits the voluminous creativity that comes from embracing different hair types. With a panel of expert beauty judges, a fabulous host, dancers, stylists, and models dressed to the nine, the entire experience was glamor materialized.
In elegant, sweeping moves, three interpretive dancers made their way across the Beautycon Main Stage ahead of the models. Dressed in all black with abstract face and body paint, the performers took hold of audiences’ focus and prepared them for the beauty that was about to unfold. Out came six stunning hair models of different textures and hues, all styled by the flawless efforts of celebrity hair artist Monae Everett. Fashion stylist Amiraa Vee dressed the collective in iridescent, chromatic looks that expertly complimented the dynamic hairstyles and offered Zenon-approved, avant garde ensembles.
Host and hair artist Kiyah Wright ushered the show along with her jovial stage presence, sharing that energy with the whole room. Refinery29 Senior Editorial Director Carli Whitwell, Global Beauty Director Sara Tan, and ESSENCE Senior Beauty Editor Akili King were the resident judges offering commentary and reactions to the looks as they came down the runway.
King mentioned being captivated by the model whose textured hair was fashioned into a multi-tiered ring style that framed the front of their body like a decorative neck piece—a look King hadn’t seen before. Tan adored the halo-shaped updo constructed of gravity-defying afro puffs, finished with a braided hairline and rhinestone accents. Whitwell’s look of choice was the bantu-knotted mohawk with pattern-braided sides. Other standout looks included gorgeous ginger curls cascading from a high half-up pony style, a makeshift crown with colorful yarn woven throughout bundled locs, and a classic high-top fade.
Inspired guests then got to try their hand at modeling, by entering into an impromptu “best looks” competition for a chance to win a VIP Beautycon goody bag. A selection of eager beauties were plucked from the crowd to strut their individual style on stage and the audience cheered for the finalists. In tune with the theme of the overall weekend, Wright and our fabulous judges brought the convention to a close by celebrating the unique beauty community that came out to share space together.
To beauty creator Dana Patterson and Rizo’s Curls founder Julissa Prado, healthy hair is a learning process.
Over the years, hairstyles, types, and routines have netted in and out of popularity as trends circulate. Hair has existed as a means of self expression, often with cultural meanings attached, since the beginning of time. This relationship to hair can either encourage one to feel connected to a larger group, and by extension themselves, or feel isolated and conflicted about their identity. For day one of Beautycon 2024, ESSENCE Senior Beauty Editor Akili King sat down with the inspiring creators for “HairTok 101,” to discuss their relationships to hair, how hair shapes self perception, and what routines they stand by today.
Opening up about her hair journey, Prado shares that, “learning to love my hair was my first step in learning to love myself.” As a curly girl, Prado had a difficult time growing up around beauty standards that celebrated straight hair over curls like her own.
The more she learned to care for and embrace her hair, the more community she found of girls trying to do the same, leading her to view haircare as a “community builder.” So much of her drive is guided by the emotional experience (she is a proud Pisces after all), which has also informed the inception and development of her own hair care company. The Rizo’s Curls founder’s trial and error hair exploration sparked her passion for content creation and, ultimately, creating a hair line that prioritizes healthy ingredients.
For Patterson, “Every part of my body is about self acceptance.” From learning to love her body type in its natural form to embracing the thick hair she had once been teased for, Patterson looks at loving your hair as another component to holistic self-acceptance. The model cultivated an organic community through her comedic storytelling, content on all things fashion, beauty, and modeling, and by showing up as her authentic, relatable self.
Her approach to hair content employs humor, acceptance, and of course, transparent education. Patterson is all about the science behind the product, and does her due diligence to inform her digital community about product formulation so they can feel good about the decisions they make. During the panel, she briefly touched on her Hair Science With Dana TikTok series, and sparked substantial curiosity from the crowd by discussing the benefits of acidic hair care.
Prado added to this conversation about hair ingredients by discussing the importance of pH balanced hair products and how that can improve hair and scalp health. Her brand’s Vitamin C Hair Repair Mask, which both panelists swear by, employs this innovative line of thinking for healthy hair practices.
The two beauty gurus jumped at the opportunity to offer their favorite hair tips when prompted, delivering some quality suggestions. For Prado’s color-treated coils, she prioritizes balancing products like her Vitamin C mask, as well as routine restorative treatments followed by quality sealing oils. Patterson advocates for products with silicones, particularly for heat styling, and investing in a good bond builder, like Nexus or K18’s for example.
The reality is, when we heat style, color, or chemically treat our hair, we are weakening the bonds. This is not necessarily the end of the world, however, as our hair should be an outlet for exploration and expression. “There’s no morality attached to hair, so enjoy yourself,” she concluded.
Prado and Patterson display the fun and fascinating side of hair care that comes from diving deep, and look to encourage their communities to accept and explore themselves at whatever stage they occupy.
