"As a coily haired girl who often leans on protective hairstyles for support, I always have an eye out for braiders and artists making their mark on the scene. To the Black community, braids are more than just a hairstyle: they're history, they're a craft, they're a cultural language, and they're a nurturing practice. They represent patience and love for hair that was historically deemed difficult and unruly but, in reality, just needs extra tender loving care to thrive. With that, Black hair is limitless."
"Originally from Africa's Ivory Coast, Helena Koudou is a celebrity hairstylist who has been featured in Vogue , Elle, Essence, and more. She spent a lot of time in her family's Brooklyn salon Alima's Hair Braiding, watching the hair braiding tradition unfold before her eyes. Her family taught her the value of hard work, which resulted in her taking on her first hair clients at the young age of 13."
Braids serve as cultural history, craft, language, and nurturing practice within the Black community. Braiding represents patience, love, and specialized care for coily hair that thrives with tender maintenance. Culture-shaping braiders care for the hair of stars such as Teyana Taylor, Beyoncé, and Ari Lennox, finding joy in transformations and empowerment in the resilience of braiding traditions. Many braiders intend to pass techniques down through familial or community lines. Helena Koudou of Brooklyn, originally from Ivory Coast, began braiding at 13 in her family salon, evolving hard work into creative passion while mastering intricate patterns and traditional techniques.
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