PsychoHairapy with Dr. Afiya

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Yes, you can wear braids at the Pentagon! Black women in high positions are often faced with a decision about what hair is considered professional. Lonye Ford, a cybersecurity expert, chronicles her impactful career as Black woman in the military and rising through the ranks of cybersecurity. She highlights each achievement with being intentional about her hair each stage of the way for her success.

Black hair is often policed; we've all seen the stories of kids being kicked out of school and people losing their jobs because of the appearance of their hair. The CROWN Act ensures protection against discrimination based on hairstyles by extending statutory protection to hair texture and protective styles in the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and state Education Codes. Professor Wendy Greene has dedicated her legal career to civil rights, racial and gender equity, and appearance discrimination. In this episode, she breaks down how she advocates for the CROWN Act at the local and national level to #FreeTheHair ! Instagram: @naturallaw77 and @professordwendy

Taking care of your mental health does not need to get ugly. Kyra Pinkney (Beauty Influencer and Mental Health Advocate) shares the intimate details of her journey in managing mental illness and how she transformed doing her hair and makeup in front of thousands online into a mental health ritual to compliment her therapy. Instagram: @kyraariana_

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What is the psychology of Black women? Dr. Huberta Jackson-Lowman has dedicated her career to answering this question. She is the immediate past president of the Association of Black Psychologists, an international organization dedicated towards liberation of the African mind, empowerment of African character, and illumination the African spirit. In this episode, Dr. Afiya and Dr. Huberta Jackson-Lowman discuss all things Black women's mental health.

Do you have hair stress? Hair stress is defined as the physical (hormonal, hair and scalp conditions) and psychological (anxiety) effects of persistent and improper hair care and styling practices used to transform hair from its authentic state to achieve and maintain a desired unnatural texture and appearance. In this episode Dr. Afiya and Dr. Evelyn Winfield-Thomas (a psychologist, university administrator, and hair researcher) discuss the complexity of hair stress in the lives of Black women.

Cross relates the transition of the Black identity through a five-stage theory of acquisition of Black identification. He called this theory Nigrescence, which is translated as: “the process of becoming Black." The five stages progress as follows:Pre-encounterEncounterImmersion/EmersionInternalizationInternalization-CommitmentThe pre-encounter stage describes the identity before the encounter, and thus refers to the initial being or frame of reference that will alter upon facing the encounter. In this stage, one is unaware of his/her race and the social implications that come with it.According to Cross, people of color are socialized to perceive an unracialized reference frame, and are thus resistant to any information that threatens this unracial perspective. In the encounter stage, individuals undergo an experience that suddenly and sharply calls race into perspective, and is generally an awakening to racial consciousness. This encounter makes the individual vulnerable to a new racialized worldview. Oftentimes, this occurrence is easily recalled as the first time a child was treated differently because of the color of his/her skin.The third stage, immersion-emersion, the individual acts as though he/she has “just discovered Blackness.” This individual often becomes adamant in “proving that one is black,” while taking an apparent pride in their blackness and simultaneously disparaging White culture. One becomes more consciously involved with members of his/her own ethnic group to the exclusion of those from other groups. This stage is often marked by a full-fledged immersion into Black culture and a Black reference frame, and a subsequent emersion from the oversimplified, and often racist immersion experience that floods the early part of this stage. Eventually, the individual’s highly emotional response to the encounter begins to plateau and this “psychological defensiveness” is replaced by “affective and cognitive openness,” which allows for a more critical analysis and worldview formation.The internalization stage is marked by an individual’s comfort with rejoining society with a strong enough sense of his own racial/ethnic identity to be able to forge relationships with members from other racial/ethnic groups. In this stage, the individual is able to begin resolving conflicts between their worldview prior to the encounter and after the encounter. Prior to this stage, the individual is insecure about his self-identity; for instance, a Black person may have concerns with whether he/she is “Black enough,” according to his internal representation of what it is to be a good Black person. This racial/ethnic anxiety often leads to the rejection of other racial groups, accompanied by an over simplistic and stern code of Blackness, rather than a positive affirmation of pro-Black ideas and actions.The final stage of the identity transition, internalization-commitment involves reaching a balance of comfort in one’s own racial/ethnic identity as well as the racial/ethnic identities of others. This stage makes the distinction between individuals who have internalized their new identity but discontinue their involvement in the movement for social change, and those that have internalized their identity and continue to be agents of social change. For a “successful” transition into this stage, the individual must become their new identity, while engaging in meaningful activities to promote social equality and political justice for their group members.Throughout one’s life one may revisit different stages and repeat steps of this process and reformulate their racial identity and opinions. Repeating stages is not a regression but often a part of greater process of integrating new information and reevaluating ideas from a more mature standpoint.

It is not often that a psychologist shares the complexities of their own mental health with the public. However, mental health professionals have a responsibility to be self-aware about their mental illness and seek treatment for themselves through therapy and self-care. Dr. Lisa Whitten (psychologist and Black hair researcher) discusses her life as a psychologist with a mood disorder, specifically bipolar disorder. This episode also highlights how hair can be used as both a trigger for mood disorders and form of treatment for Black women.

Psychology can take you on a journey to discover yourself, your purpose, and to change our world. In this episode, Dr. Afiya engages in a meditative conversation with Dr. Mawiyah Kambon on the history of Black psychology and the process of merging psychology with African spirituality. Dr. Mawiyah Kambon, is a licensed psychologist, past president of the Association of Black Psychologists, and founder of the Sankofa Journey African travel company. She took Dr. Afiya on her first trip to Africa about 10 years ago. Dr. Kambon will be leading her next Sankofa Journey to Ghana and Benin from May 26 - June 8, 2020.

We need to use what is happening on social media to push us to have the hard conversations in person, especially as relates to Black beauty and mental health. You may know her as the YouTube beauty vlogger BeautifulBrwnBabyDol with over a million followers on social media, but Dr. Nina is also a tenured professor of psychology, licensed psychologist, and certified life coach. In this episode, Dr. Afiya and Dr. Nina have a phone session focused on the process of becoming a psychologist, the role of psychologists on social media, the psychology of natural hair, and exciting new projects coming out.

Soulcare can take you to places beyond what you have imagined, if you are willing to make the investment. Wellness is a lifestyle that has deep African roots like meditation, yoga, secure emotional support, and a live food diet. In this episode of PsychoHairapy with Dr. Afiya, Omikunle Ekundayo (formerly known as Ashley Freeze) takes us on a journey of how she discovered her life purpose as a mental health therapist and healer as a millennial traveling the globe and her inner world.IG: @omikunlewaWebsite: www.omiwali.com

Hair is a language, it is the first thing a woman says before she speaks. Yene Damtew is fluent in the language of hair as the owner of Aesthetics Salon in Arlington, VA and as one of the two personal stylists to the Obama family for the past decade, as well as several celebrity clients across the country. In this episode, Dr. Afiya and Yene Damtew discuss the politics of hair and hair care.

The hair doctor is in! Trichologists are professionals in the the branch of medical and cosmetic practice concerned with the hair and scalp. Dr. Kari, a trichologist and hairstylist, is known throughout Hollywood by some of her clients (such as Brandy Norwood, Meagan Good, Willow Smith and Ava Duvernay) as having a healing touch and she launched into fame as the creator of The Goddess Locs. Dr. Afiya and Dr. Kari tap into the medical, spiritual, and educational importance of hair care practices and also offers ideas into building a business as a celebrity hairstylist.

With about 80 million Americans facing hair loss, Wade the Barber found his entry point in resolving hair loss issues for men of all hair textures through his unique hair units. His transformation videos of men’s hair replacement have taken the Internet by storm and globally popularized his special techniques making him a sought after master educator and entrepreneur. Dr. Afiya chatted with Wade Menendez on the signficance of restoring confidence to men experiencing hair loss and the power of barbers to transform lives.

Remember Solange’s breakthrough hit “Don’t Touch My Hair” ? Well, Solange made an exception for the master braider and interdisciplinary artist, Shani Crowe, to create gravity defying braids with her hair. In this episode, Dr. Afiya sits down with Shani Crowe at Sankofa Cafe in Washington DC to reflect upon the powerful connection between mind, body, and spirit in the art of braiding.

The struggle is real! But, you have to keep the faith. Skye Charlie and Dr. Afiya reflect on the power of vision in growing a successful career in the hair care and the fashion industries.

Did you eat today? Or drink enough water? What about exercise? Hustling in the hair care industry does not mean that you should neglect your own health. Dr. Afiya and Angela Walker (owner of N Natural Hair Studio and Professional Experience Curator) engage in a chat on how to be business minded while engaging in self-care in the natural hair industry.

Hair matters for men too! Aremu Mbande and Dr. Afiya explore the cultural significance of hair on Black manhood and the healing power of barbershops for Black men.

Not the average girl in the video? Media archives the cultural trends of Black women and hair. Tayo Mbande and Dr. Afiya discuss the patterns of hairstyles in the media and specifically on the magazine covers of Ebony magazine over the past 60 years.

Have you heard about all these Black girls being suspended from school because of their hairstyles? Dr. Danielle Apugo and Dr. Afiya breakdown hair bias in school and challenges that Black girls face in the educational system.

Has your hair prevented you from exercising? Hair continues to be a barrier for exercise for most Black women. Avery Lacey and Dr. Afiya discuss their published findings on the relationship between hair and exercise, and strategies to keep your hair styled and your body fit.

What did your mama teach you about hair? Our early memories of hair with our mothers may shape our present perspective. Ingrid-Penelope Wilson and Dr. Afiya discuss their recently published article about hair combing interaction and the impacts of hair on our relationships with our mothers.

Do you know your hair type? 4C texture often gets over looked in the hair care industry and on social media. Latisha Neil and Dr. Afiya reflect on texturism and the role of YouTube hair tutorials in disrupting the myths of tightly coiled hair.