Last night on the 41st floor of Manhattan’s Maiden Lane, the skyline wasn’t the only thing lit. Echelon Noir Productions debuted its much-anticipated event, Black Hair Reimagined – The New Era of Beauty. Of course, it was nothing short of a love letter to the legacy, creativity, and limitless future of Black hair.
Curated by celebrated hairstylists Jawara Wauchope and Jarrod Lacks, the inaugural show wasn’t just about showcasing hairstyles. It was an immersive celebration of Black artistry, identity, and power. Who better to host than the incomparable Tracee Ellis Ross, a walking embodiment of natural beauty and fearless expression?
Set high above the city, the event transformed a corporate rooftop into a reverent runway of resistance and fantasy, with hair as the medium. Legendary stylists like Yusef Williams, Vernon François, Cyndia Harvey, and Malcolm Marquez joined Wauchope in sculpting 25 breathtaking looks, each a physical manifestation of Black imagination, pride, and history. The hair pieces were architectural, spiritual, and absolutely ethereal, turning heads in the best way possible.
A New Era for Textured Hair Education and Empowerment
Redken and Kérastase products brought high-performance shine and structure to the sculpted masterpieces. True + Pure Texture products grounded the looks in deep-rooted, textured hair care excellence. This commitment to authenticity was echoed in the show’s partnership with THE TEXTURE OF CHANGE. It is a movement pushing for true equity in textured hair education within the beauty industry. That mission shined through every coil, braid, and twist on the runway.
It didn’t stop at the hair. The looks were elevated by fashion’s finest: styling legends like Carlos Nazario, Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, and Jan-Michael Quammie. Makeup artists Sir John and Sheika Daly served up face with fierce glam that honored and enhanced each model’s natural features. With nails by Dawn Sterling and tailoring by the likes of Malisa Browman and Lindsay Wright, the full vision came to life in high-def, high-concept fashion.
The show’s models were nothing short of amazing. They are icons in the making and the moment. Anok Yai, Alton Mason, Jordan Daniels, and Julez Smith all graced the stage with their bold and daring styles. Their strut wasn’t just a walk, it was a statement.
Echelon Noir has officially entered the chat and they came to slay. With the perfect blend of artistic mastery, cultural reverence, and visionary storytelling, Black Hair Reimagined didn’t just raise the bar. It braided it, twisted it, and adorned it in gold.