Are you ready for Essence Festival 2023? Or should we ask, are your curls and coils ready? NaturallyCurly will be back at Essence Festival this year, armed with products, expert consultations, styling touch ups and everything you need to look and feel your best at festival.
Join us as we bring the Curly Experience to the convention center floor at BeautyCon. BeautyCon, the annual convention for beauty lovers, has joined the Essence Ventures family and will be making their debut at Essence Fest 2023. We may be biased, but it’s going to be a must-see, can’t-miss event.
What can you expect from the Curly Experience?
Get your hair styled
NaturallyCurly is partnering with Swella, a modern luxury braid bar located in Atlanta, Georgia, to braid and style your curls and coils, and lay and refresh your edges. “At Essence, when you step foot into the NaturallyCurly Booth, you can rest assured that you will feel rejuvenated when you exit” says Swella Co-Founder Brooke Hill, “we’ll have goodies that protect your hair strands and give you peace of mind.”
The Swella team will be doing stitch braids, front braids, bun styles, small cornrow braids, styling knotless braids, as well as laying and refreshing edges. “Whether you’re looking for a mid-festival hair switch-up or a braid refresh, Swella’s got you!” shares Hill.
Join the BraidDown Contest
Do you have braiding skills that deserve to be recognized? “Most Black Women grow up knowing how to braid, while many have lost touch with the skill” says Hill, “we want to tap into nostalgia with our Ameteur Braiding Competition. Attendees will compete based on their skills and speed in braiding for a prize!” NaturallyCurly is bringing the heat with amazing prizes from Dyson, Camille Rose, Ouidad and Uhai, for the most creative and skilled braids!
Watch Texture On the Runway
Whether you’ve attended Texture On the Runway at New York Fashion Week, or witnessed it virtually, you know this show is not to be missed. For the first time, Texture On the Runway will take the stage at Essence Festival of Culture 2023. The show will be hosted by Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez and NaturallyCurly Editor Cristina Cleveland, and accompanied by a classical hip hop string piece from Neutral Ground Orchestra. “Texture On the Runway is a unique and innovative event that puts textured hair and multicultural beauty center stage on the runway” says Rodriguez. “It represents more than fashion, it represents pushing the culture forward.”
This year’s runway presentation will pay homage to the iconic hip hop hairstyles of Salt N Pepa, Mary J Blige, Lil Kim, Erykah Badu, Missy Elliot, and more, with hairstyles by celebrity stylist Tater Pazon. “I am extremely excited I was chosen to recreate looks of the most iconic females in HIP HOP” says Pazon, “especially because I’ve had the chance to work with a few of them personally like Mia X and Megan Thee Stallion.”
We’re excited to continue pushing the culture forward, and to connect with you at Essence Festival. Stop by the NaturallyCurly booth and say hello!
Read next: Essence Fest Hairstyle Ideas To Try This Summer
