Euwurama - Dr Hair

Krysta Anderson, Gleaner Writer

Many believe going natural is the ordained way of living. For women who subscribe to this, it can be reflected in how they style their hair. Entrepreneur and natural hairstylist Dr Veronica Reid has made it her lifelong mission to live the natural way and promote it by opening her own natural-hair salon and starting a line of natural haircare products.

Adding author to her list of accomplishments, she launched her new book Chances Are You're Not Natural: A 1-minute read on the Visual Representation of African Women and their Hair, on Sunday, July 7. The event not only functioned as a launch, but was rather a three-in-one celebratory event, celebrating the two-year anniversary of her salon, Beautiful Earth Natural Hair Haven, and the Beautiful Earth haircare product line.

Well-wishers turned up at Bookophilia on Hope Road to support Dr Reid in her new creative venture. Soothing music filled the air of the cool Sunday afternoon as the intimate crowd gathered and mingled, discussing the success of her salon, product line, and now her book. The highly anticipated book, which underscored the debate on natural hair, was available for purchase at Bookophilia.

In keeping with the natural theme, Cherie Dowdie's The Live! Juice Bar, was on hand and opened, becoming a big hit, with many making multiple trips.

Reid, who holds her doctorate in business and management, prefers to be called by her Ashanti name Euwurama (eh-Rama). Studying in England, Reid returned home to start her professional journey. She told Outlook that her interest extends to all things natural - natural products, natural food and natural hair. "Hair was the first thing I actually got into. Coming back to Jamaica, people would complain about not having any natural hair salons to go to and not having natural products to treat their hair. Instead of joining the complaints line, I decided to do something about it," she remarked.

She notes that chooing a name for her salon had a lot to with keeping hair care natural and close to mother earth. After battling with the name 'good earth', she decided on 'beautiful earth'. It was her salon - specifically her journey during the first six to nine months after opening the salon - which inspired her to write the book.

She explains that she likes the short and concise format of the book, which can be a conversation piece for customers who could read and discuss the book while having their hair done.

The 'purist' discovered shades of grey in her pursuit of caring for natural hair and she explores this in her book. She notes that many women say 'Oh, it's just hair', unsuccessfully convincing ourselves that it doesn't impact other areas of our lives.

Hair, she notes, is political, as it takes on sociological meaning, affecting many aspects of our lives - professional, social and intimate.

Recently moving to a bigger salon space on Constant Spring Road, Reid is looking forward to opening another branch of her salon in Mandeville by the end of summer.

Her line of haircare products is also available at several locations islandwide.

krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com

Contributed Photos