IT ALL STARTED IN 2010…

When a group of our recently-natural girlfriends, who had been chatting on an email group, decided to meet face to face at an apartment in Brooklyn, New York. Many of us had never met before, but the energy in the room that night was magical. We exchanged tips, swapped products, shared stories, and left knowing we had to do it again. And that more people needed to experience it.

Soon after, a few of us from the meetup started an event business called Curly Girl Collective (CGC), creating a platform ripe for conversation, affecting more than just hair choices, but addressing the spectrum of subjects that start with hair, and end with self-actualization.

For the next three years, we hosted small events around the city. With each event, the demand grew stronger, and it quickly became evident that the growing natural hair community needed an advocate to overcome the increasing challenges we were facing in American society. From elementary schools and team sports, to the armed forces and corporate America, natural hairstyles had become a target of scrutiny like never before. We knew we were at a pivotal point and sought to take a stand! A bigger platform was needed to shift the conversation and show the world that beauty comes in a range of shades, shapes and textures.

CURLFEST®, the world’s largest natural beauty festival, was born to be the change that was long overdue. To flip the false narrative around unruly brown beauty, and create one that accurately showcases the glory of our crowns, the richness of our skin, and the joy of our culture.

Despite our growth in such a short time, we remain humbled by the support our movement has received over the years. Our hope is that the next generation of women and girls grow up knowing that whether fair-skinned or dark, straight-haired or kinky, beauty has many faces. Including theirs.