Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the North Carolina Natural Hair Expo. Held in Raleigh, this was North Carolina’s First Natural Hair Expo, and hopefully one of many successful ones in the future. The brainchild of Malaika Cooper and Martone Evans, these ladies produced an extraordinary event, replete with workshops, vendors and an outstanding fashion show. (I will have features on these dynamic ladies soon on the site!)

When I walked into the Convention Center, I remarked to my friend that I had never been in the company of so many beautiful natural-haired people in one place. Breathtaking! I couldn’t wait to share some pics and stories of the mesmerizing people I encountered….

Tomoka’s Twists

This pretty lady makes hair accessories and jewelry. I recognized Mimi from her previous features on a myriad of natural hair blogs. What a joy to meet this talented woman! She brought so many dazzling creations to the Expo, making it a daunting task to decide which one to choose. (I finally choose the DNatural hair twist made from dark wood beads.) I love it!

Check out Tomoka’s Twists website here.

Pretty Natural Divas

I am a huge fan of these natural beauties’ website…and their awesome shirt collection! With such proclamations as, “Natural Beauty and Brains” and “Go Natural. Go You.”, these ladies represent the natural landscape with unabashed pride. (I am in the middle–the real divas are to my left and right–the ones with the dynamic tees!)

You can read more about them and peruse their shop here.

Koils by Nature

I am always excited about sampling natural products (and supporting small businesses), so I was thrilled to meet Pamela, Owner and Co-Creator of Koils By Nature, an all natural hair and skin care company. Pamela shared her philosophy for her product line, to create products with pure ingredients that were affordable. Natural hair care products that don’t break the bank? Yes, I’m an instant fan! Although all of the Koils By Nature products looked (and smelled!) enticing, I decided to try the Herbal Soothing Lavender & Eucalyptus Gel. (I will post a review for you all soon.)

You can see other offerings from Koils By Nature here.

Nyenzo Bath & Body

If you’re in the Triangle area, be sure to check out Dionne of Nyenzo Bath & Body Boutique. I enjoyed talking with Dionne, who was full of energy and a vast knowledge of natural products. I purchased some unrefined shea butter from Nyenzo, imported from Ghana. You can see her collection of soaps, lotions, and other goodies at her online store here.

All in all, I had a blast at the show. Thanks to Malaika and Martone for their extraordinary efforts. Can’t wait for the next show at a city near you!

Did you make it to the North Carolina Natural Hair Expo? What natural hair shows do you have in your area?