Urban World

Afro Hair & Beauty Show 2010

Thousands of visitors enjoyed Afro Hair and Beauty Live this Bank Holiday Weekend
The 29th annual Afro Hair & Beauty Live on Sunday 30 and Monday 31 May saw thousands of visitors pack into the Islington Business Design Centre to see trendsetting catwalk shows, interactive demonstrations, seminars and enjoy indulgent beauty treatments.

With the new venue came a new look and fresh new feel. Over 100 hair and beauty experts came together from across the globe to launch new brands and offer advice on hair, beauty and lifestyle.
Some of the show highlights included: Sensationnel Icon - Avant Garde – the jaw dropping visual spectacular which brings together the most creative afro hair designers who use hair extensions to create elaborate designs. The winner was Angela Plummer of Sour2Sweet in North London who knitted and plaited the hair extensions into millinery inspired creations to music by Grace Jones.

Face of Afro – the search for the face of the 2011 show concluded at the show with the crowd helping judges Dean Clearly Patterson of D1 models, Nesta McGregor the BBC 1Xtra’s showbiz reporter and supermodel Rachael Williams chose the winner. Charles Ekunbayo and Samira Hashi were crowned the winners.
Catwalk Shows – then pages of glossy magazines came to life at the fabulous fashion shows – showcasing this season’s key tribal and feminine trends.

Exciting Brands – there were some great new brands at the show, with beauty journalists and consumers alike getting excited over new product developments in afro hair and beauty. From LA based hair brand Mixed Chicks (whose fans include Halle Berry and Janet Jackson) to Sensationnel who demonstrated the latest hair extension products and styling techniques.
Celebrity Stylists – from Junior Green who tends to the tresses of the likes of Thandie Newton to Parees Taylor, who styled her models in a Technicolor 40’s Belle theme.

Other competitions: the show is an important event for afro hair professionals who compete in different events including Sensationnel Icon: Braid Impact, won by Raquel Wheeler, Raquel Wheeler Hair Salon and the Wahl’s Battle of the Barbers – King Barber, was won by Kade Kut, Image Barber where speed, accuracy and showmanship are the name of the game.
Celebrity Guests: Eagle eyed visitors will have noticed lots of celebrity visitors including 4,3,2,1 and Adulthood star Adam Deacon, Capital FM’s Margarita Taylor, Red Dwarf’s Danny John Jules and lots of Eastenders cast members enjoying the show.
Organiser Verna McKenzie commented: “We are so happy with the new venue; it gave the show a really fresh feel! We had a fantastic turnout and all the visitors seem