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In front of a crowd of eager observers, Syracuse University sophomore Fatoumata Sow began her “IG Baddie Brow” tutorial for student volunteers. Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Brows He used pomade, an angled brush, and various shades of concealer, and So explained each meticulous step to creating the perfect camera-ready brows.
Soh was one of six hairdressers who attended this year’s Black Beauty Expo, held in the basement Shine Student Center. Co-sponsored by the Black Student Union, the National Association of Black Accountants, and the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the event was a celebration of Black expertise and entrepreneurship.
“Black Beauty Expo is a place for student entrepreneurs to showcase their amazing and amazing talents and highlight the importance of Black beauty and Black beauty here on campus,” SU sophomore Aria Green said. .
On February 1, Syracuse University celebrated Black History Month 2024 with the theme “Existing Outside the Lines: Colors of Resistance.” The Black Beauty Expo is one of many featured events this month and is open to all members of the SU community.
Each hairdresser’s booth filled the basement. The list of specialists included students such as Sow, Bilhisa Fadiga, Motlani Oladitan, and Jess Aimunmondion, as well as professionals such as Shayla Maewather and Shakera Kemp. The creators invited students, faculty and staff to learn about the field of Black beauty and experiment with new techniques and products on display.
This is the second year Kemp, a Syracuse native and natural hairstylist, has participated in SU’s Black Beauty Expo. As a fourth-generation hairstylist, Kemp said she started @cusecurfriend five years ago. She said participating in her entrepreneurship, especially in the beauty field, means continuing to leave her legacy behind.
Throughout her career, Kemp said she particularly enjoys helping college students who are not from the Syracuse area and don’t know where to find natural hair care. Surrounding herself with student entrepreneurs who are experts in the field allows her to continue her mission to make a difference.
“It means a lot to someone to take care of their hair, and I love helping them take care of their hair,” Kemp said.
Oladitan, @tabeautie on Instagram, was another hairdresser who attended the event. In 2013, Oladitan developed her Tà Beauty on her Blackstone LaunchPad in her Bird Library. She said TàBeauty is a virtual marketplace where African entrepreneurs can easily and efficiently sell their products to the US and UK.
“It means a lot to be here as a Black entrepreneur because entrepreneurship as a Black person can look incredibly different,” Oladitan said. “It’s so great to have a space like this where our products, our time and energy, and our passions are highlighted.”
Her booth attracted several interested expo attendees. Oladitan often posts her concerns on social media, so hosting a booth like this is a great way for TàBeauty to gain visibility among her peers, many of whom are people of color. It helps, she said.
While the Black Beauty Expo celebrated artistry, the event also reflected on how black beauty is perceived by society. Sow said people often assume that black makeup is monolithic.
Soh said society believes that certain styles, such as “soft makeup,” don’t work for people with darker skin tones. She added that people often don’t realize that Black people create many of the trends that occur in the makeup industry.
“There’s been a brownie lip liner trend lately, but many Hispanic and black women have been using brown liner and lip gloss to begin with,” So said. “What was once described as hoods and ratchets ultimately became the trend we see everywhere today, first popularized by women of color.”
Fatima Sangare, president of the Syracuse Chapter of the National Association of Black Accountants, said the Black Beauty Expo allows Black students to promote their businesses and that Black students are underrepresented in many fields. said it was very important.
“It’s fun to see things like this lit up on campus, and when you come in, you’re like, ‘Okay, look at the beauty of black people around you, all the different shades of brown look great.’ It’s a feeling,” said KeAra Blanton, a senior at SU. “You get to see products made for you by people who look like you. It’s cool, it makes you feel better.”
Published February 13, 2024 at 11:01 p.m.