BRATTLEBORO — The Root Social Justice Center will hold a free BIPOC hair clinic for all ages on Monday, Aug. 28, originally scheduled earlier this year.
As explained in a Facebook post from the racial justice organizing and community group, Black people, Indigenous people, and people of color "have a variety of hair types and textures that require hair care that just isn't centered when we live and exist in predominantly white spaces."
With hair stylists versed in working with BIPOC clients unavailable in the Brattleboro area, "we have to travel far to be seen," says Shela Linton, the organization's executive director.
"It's past time we center our hair needs where we live, and we're doing that, one BIPOC Hair Clinic at a time," she said. "We're excited and honored to be providing a community-centered space, featuring skilled Braiders, Locticians, and more, all dedicated to providing the care our hair deserves."
"Various members of the youth program Youth 4 Change mentioned having to travel to Springfield, Massachusetts, for their hair needs, and while they can make a fun day out of it, they'd love to be seen closer to their Vermont homes," says Gillian Lucero-Love, that program's coordinator.
The hair clinic will assemble a team of locticians (hair stylists who work on dreadlocks), braiders, barbers, and designers from Euphoric Hair Experience of Rutland; Sheelah's Mobile Braiding LLC, based in Bennington but serving customers in their homes in southern Vermont; and Sarah Kanebi, who moved to southern Vermont in 2020 with two decades of experience as a braider.
"I really do believe that we all deserve access to specialized and knowledgeable hair care which this state lacks for brown and black folx," said Gloria Sheelah owner of Sheelah's Mobile Hair Braiding. "And hair is an important part of our identity. So being a part of this clinic helps me to help others look and feel their best."
The clinic is part of The Root's BIPOC Affinity Healing Series, which draws together "those wanting to be more connected to the people who look like us and the gifts we provide" and "recognizes the different needs, desires and ways we can heal when we are able to come together in a safer space, connect and learn from folks who may share a similar cultural background," according to the organization's website (therootsjc.org).
"We are almost full for locs and braids, but have barber and designer spots still available," Linton says. "Walk-ins are welcome, but there is no guarantee that we will be able to take you."
The clinic, organized with the support of the United Way Community Resilience Grant and The Vermont Department of Health, takes place from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at The Root, at 28 Williams St.
To register, visit tinyurl.com/3kmvmmw3.
This Town and Village item was submitted to The Commons.