Aja Bradley-Kemp of Conversate Collective On Five Things You Need To Understand About Hair Discrimination
It’s not just a corporate issue. — For Black people, Hair Discrimination is not limited to the corporate workplace. The Dove CROWN Study for Girls found that 86% of Black teens who experience discrimination state they have experienced discrimination based on their hair by age 12. As a result of this trauma, young girls are missing on average a week of school each year.
As a part of our series about “Five Things You Need To Understand About Hair Discrimination”I had the pleasure of interviewing Aja Bradley-Kemp.
Aja Bradley Kemp has spent 20 years creating consumer experiences and driving revenue through marketing communications initiatives for beauty, fashion, lifestyle, and tech brands in the United States and international markets. Her work has been trusted by the likes of MAC Cosmetics, Expedia, Reebok, and Sir Richard Branson who she once sent flying through the rafters of his then Times Square store to promote a mobile phone plan. She is also the founder of Love My Curls. The first multicultural event celebrating women with curly hair in Australia & New Zealand.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dive in, our readers would love to learn a bit more about you. Can you tell us a bit of your childhood backstory and how you grew up?
I grew up in Queens, New York in a very multicultural neighborhood. Walking through the hallways of the apartment building I lived in you would hear different languages and smell a variety of aromas from cooking that was influenced from different regions around the world. I often say my elementary school classes looked like the United Nations.
I loved it and as an adult feel blessed to have been raised in that environment.
Can you tell us a story about what inspired you to become a natural hair advocate?
There were several experiences in my life that led me to becoming a natural hair advocate. 15 years ago when I was living in Sydney, Australia, finding a hair stylist to care and heat style my hair felt like a second job. From stylists saying things like “we don’t do Afro hair” to one well known salon owner telling me, after several months of going to his salon, that he was going to start charging me more because “it just takes too long” to do my hair, finding a stylist was emotionally draining.
When trying to find products to care for my natural curls, I would have to stock up when visiting the US or have family/ friends send care packages. It always seemed to be a struggle to take care of the hair God gave me. Once I had my daughter, I was determined to figure it out. I also didn’t want her to subconsciously have a negative feeling about a her natural curls if she always saw me straightening mine.
It was a combination of all of these experiences that led me to create the Love My Curls Festival, the first event celebrating natural curls and textured hair in Australia and New Zealand.
You have been blessed with great success in a career path that many have attempted, but eventually gave up on. Do you have any words of advice for others who may want to embark on this career path but know that their dreams might be dashed?
Being an entrepreneur can be a very lonely journey. You’ll want to give up numerous times but it’s important to always remember why you started down this path and what your ultimate goal is. That will give you the fuel to keep going. Lastly, It’s easy to get burned out so It is important to make time for self care.
Can you share 3 ideas that anyone can use “to feel beautiful”? (Please share a story or example for each.)
- Find a great skincare routine. Last year I spent the entire Thanksgiving holiday watching YouTube videos by dermatologists like Alexis Stephens & Dr. Vanita Rattan, who specialize in treating people of color. I was able to create a skincare routine that’s easy to maintain and that I’m really happy with.
- Since the pandemic I don’t wear as much makeup on a daily basis as I used to but I find just wearing Mascara can brighten up your eyes
- Wear great fitting and colorful clothing -If you don’t feel and look your best, you can’t do your best work. I personally like to wear a lot of color because it brightens my mood and it can also create a bright spot in other peoples day. Whenever I wear something bright or colorful it leads to a conversation with a stranger. In the world we live in, it’s nice to have an unexpected, positive exchange with someone you may have not normally spoken with.
Can you share with our readers some of your techniques to style natural hair?
Getting a great styling result for your curls starts with washing your hair. Water is your best friend and the time you spend washing and detangling your hair, sets the foundation for popping curls!
For a wash & go I like using gels to maintain definition for my type 4 curls. I apply my styling products in the shower, in sections while my hair is dripping wet. Then go under a dryer, which I purchased from Amazon for under $150.00
Can you share some of your techniques about how to best maintain natural hair?
Despite the negative experiences I’ve had, I’m a big believer in finding a professional you enjoy working with and trust. They notice changes in your hair and literally see parts of it that you can’t. They will help you stay on a schedule for trims and things like clarifying treatments.
The other important part of your regimen is your nighttime routine. When I first started wearing my hair naturally, I would get frustrated because for the first two or three days my hair would look great but after that, between shrinkage and tangling, it was a mess. Once I perfected my night time routine, my curls easily last two weeks.
I section my hair with my fingers into 4–6 areas and secure each area with an alligator clip or loose-ish elastic /scrunchie :
- Pineapple the Bang
- Pineapple the top section
- Either secure the sides like two pigtails or roll them under and secure with the alligator clip.
- Divide the back of your hair into two sections (upper & lower) and secure them
Cover with a bonnet.
In the morning, take all your clips out, shake, pick & go!
Ok super. Let’s now shift to the main part of our discussion. Can help articulate to our readers your “Five Things You Need To Understand About Hair Discrimination”. If you can please share a story or example, for each.
Hair Discrimination, is a multi-layered issue but there are a few basic things I feel are important for business leaders to understand.
- Know the law — The CROWN Act was created in 2019 to ensure protection for black people against discrimination based on race-based hairstyles like braids, locs and twists. CROWN stands for Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair. Currently, 19 states have passed the CROWN Act and more than half of all states have filed or prefiled legislation for consideration. In September, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bill at the federal level — meaning, that if approved by the Senate and the president, the law would provide protection against hair discrimination in all 50 states.
- Examine your HR policies — As a leader, you may have a preference on how you want your employees to represent your organization but ask yourself a few questions. Is the language in your dress and grooming policy inclusive? Does it apply to all or does it call out specific hair styles? What are the business needs that justify the policy you currently have? Is there a process for employees to request accommodations to a policy? Looking at your current employee handbook through this lens could reveal unintentional discrimination in your organization. Whether or not the CROWN act becomes a national law, you have the power to update your HR policies now and make your business a great place to work for all employees.
- Microaggressions — Making unsolicited comments about a Black employee’s hairstyle, inquiring about whether their hair is real or touching their hair are microaggressions. In the workplace, These actions create inequities and can have a negative impact on one’s performance.
- It’s not just a corporate issue. — For Black people, Hair Discrimination is not limited to the corporate workplace. The Dove CROWN Study for Girls found that 86% of Black teens who experience discrimination state they have experienced discrimination based on their hair by age 12. As a result of this trauma, young girls are missing on average a week of school each year. In 2018 a Black varsity high school wrestler in New Jersey was forced to choose between cutting his locs or forfeiting his match. In 2020 a Black Texas teenager was told he couldn’t walk in his graduation ceremony unless he cut his locs to meet the school district’s dress code. If business leaders across the board are more aware of how Hair Discrimination shows up in the work environment and make appropriate changes at the corporate level, I believe there will be a positive impact on the effect it’s having on our children and reduce these types of incidents at school.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
My favorite quote and something that I live by is “Run your own race”. It’s very easy to compare yourself to your peers and other people. But your metrics for success may not be the same as the next person. The formula that you see that random person on the internet using in j their business may be contrary to your values and what makes you happy. Be inspired by others, but know when to block out the noise and focus on what works for you and your business.
We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world with whom you’d like to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this. 🙂
There are two people I would like a private meeting with. The first is Serena Williams because she’s confident yet humble, unapologetic but open. I admire the way she has created a team that seems to help her balance the many roles she plays while continuing to make space to grow personally and professionally.
The second would be Entrepreneur Matt Higgins. He’s a fellow Queens native and I find his life story of getting into college on a GED to starting an investment firm that has backed some of the most successful hospitality and food brands very inspiring.
How can our readers follow you online?
Aja Bradley-Kemp of Conversate Collective On Five Things You Need To Understand About Hair… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.