© Courtesy Vernon François
“Being raised in a Rastafarian household, treasuring and maintaining our hair, locks and braids was always a priority. Sunday afternoons were the big moment in the week when my four brothers and I would get our hair done. Despite how I personally felt about these Sundays, the methodical cleansing, retwisting and braiding of our hair to prepare for the days ahead was a vital part of our wellness.
“These rituals may have moved on with time, but the mindset around the art of caring for your hair, and showcasing it as part of your identity, is something I’ve held on to very closely. I make a point of blending the art and care side with empathy, influenced by how I felt about my own hair care when I was young.”“I was surrounded by Congolese women growing up.
“I remember my grandmother melting raw shea and cocoa butter with glycerin, which feels like a sticky oil and using it on her face. My mum used to cover mine and my sister’s faces with shea butter before we went to school, and by the time 3pm rolled around, we were still shiny. I love using these butters now — they’re at the heart of all my products, from the highlighter to the lip gloss to the cream blush.