NaturallyCurly: Introduce yourself and your event or company.
Jasmine Powers: I’m Jasmine Powers and my company Natural Hair Parade produces events and provides education, marketing and PR solutions for beauty brands and natural hair communities. This year in support of the Parade’s own outreach, the meetup group Gulf Coast Naturals and I partnered to produce their 2nd Annual Fierce.Fly.Fabulous. – The Ultimate Naturalista Meetup in New Orleans.
NC: Can you tell me a little bit about your own personal background and the event’s background?
JP: My start in hair care started when I became the go-to girl in the neighborhood for everything from makeup to hairstyling way back in middle school. I later attended beauty school yet decided to work full-time in corporate before finally quitting full-time employment to become self-employed providing business solutions. Later Natural Hair Parade allowed me to do that specifically for beauty brands. Working with Stephanie Dickerson of Gulf Coast Naturals this year on Fierce.Fly.Fabulous. provided a partnership opportunity to serve the Gulf Coast together rather than working independently on the same objective.
NC: How do you wear your hair? Natural? Curly?
JP: I currently wear my hair naturally and shaved into what I call “The Hawk”. I twist, braid, add colorful extensions and just recently pressed it out what’s usually a frohawk. There’s a lot you can do with 3 inches of hair!
NC: Can you tell me about your curly hair story?
JP: My curly hair story consists of me being a weave and chemical-holic. My work in the beauty industry required me to look the part. However, I became highly allergic and stopped using relaxers or any color. I struggle with the right regimen and products so for the last four years, I’ve opted for wearing TWA’s, big afros, mohawks, twist outs or shaved close.
NC: Let’s talk a bit about the event: when, where, cost to enter, type of vendors, how often etc?
JP: OMG, OMG, OMG. So the event is Saturday and Sunday, July 7 and 8th in New Orleans, during Essence Music Festival Weekend. Saturday’s Beauty & Shop Day is entirely free and includes a youth meetup sponsored by Sofn’free Nothing But and a demonstration sponsored by Bonner Brothers Tropical Roots line. Curls and Kynx are also contributors along with Johnson Product’s UltraCare line who is the sponsor for the Masters In Beauty Business Administration Seminar being led by Aevin Dugas’ publicist, Sarah Dugas and myself. For guests shopping enjoyment, we have clothing, accessories, and beauty brands as vendors. Sunday’s education-rich program tickets start at $15. Fierce.Fly.Fabulous has plans to return next year during Essence Music Festival weekend.
NC: What can attendees expect to see and experience at the event?
JP: Attendees can expect to see and experience hair demonstrations, education, humor, community building, networking, shopping and entertainment. We’ve tried to produce a mini-festival just for those interested in beauty, business and community.
NC: How does your event differ from other events happening in the community?
JP: There are SO many events happening this weekend in NOLA that guest have their pick. Ours differs because we’re not promoting one brand. We’re promoting the city of New Orleans and the people of the Gulf Coast and created an environment that everybody in the family can enjoy.
NC: Anything else you would like to add?
JP: Welcome to NOLA, baby! WHO DAT! *for all the Saints fans*
NC: Tell us where we can connect with your brand:
JP: Connect with Natural Hair Parade at NaturalHairParade.com, @paradeevents on Twitter and Facebook.com/naturalhairparade. Fans of Fierce.Fly.Fabulous can find us at FierceFlyFabulous.com, @fierceflyfab and using the event hastag #NOLAFIERCE.
NC: Lastly, what’s your opinion on the texture revolution. Do they see it becoming a bigger trend/movement? In Hollywood? In real life?
JP: I LOVE the revolution that is taking place right now. More women are saying no to chemically straightening their hair, no to some hot irons that have damaged their curl patterns and taking the time to truly learn more about the curliness that resides on the top of their heads.
NC: Do you see it becoming a bigger trend/movement? In Hollywood? In real life?
JP: I don’t believe there is a texture revolution. I do believe that social media has educated women on how to care for their hair. It may become a larger trend with new access to information and acceptance of differences in beauty standards. Not sure if Hollywood will respond to more curls but let’s hope they do to reflect the people who they entertain.
