By Terresa Moses
The field of design research has been moving toward a direction that has academics and industry professionals asking critical questions about how design affects the experiences of the users. As a design researcher, I have chosen to center my work around the intersectional experiences of Black women who have chosen to wear their hair in its naturally curly, kinky, afro-textured state– also known as naptural (nappy + natural). I will examine how White supremacist cultural influences today’s Euro-centric beauty standards and negatively impacts the choices Black women feel they have regarding styling their naptural hair. I will then reveal how design and design research can help to improve the experiences of Black naptural women, by creating culturally accessible spaces that allow education, connection, and empowerment.
Available in Navigating the Black Hair Phenomenon in a White World.
