Editor's Letter: We're Celebrating Black Hair as a Means of Connection

Box braids. Blowouts. Bantu knots. Roller sets. TWA's. Twist-outs. Sew-ins. I've had almost every style imaginable, all plucked from my favorite hair magazines or spotted along TikTok's endless scroll. As a Black woman, my hair is a source of boundless creativity — but it's also the root of my identity, and has been for as long as I can remember.

I have early memories of sitting on the kitchen floor, learning to braid from my grandmother, who learned on grass stalks on her family farm in Georgia. Even as a child, I sensed the weight of what she was teaching me: a generational practice that was sacred and shared between the two of us.

In my preteen years, I begged my mom for a relaxer after countless days seated near the stove, jumping every time the hot comb burned the back of my neck. I'd wear sponge rollers overnight, and the next morning, with my bangs rolled tight, I'd walk into church with my head held higher than before.

As an adolescent and later, an adult, I explored every hair moment from box braids to blowouts, salons to at-home styling, relaxed to natural. I big-chopped and never felt freer than in the TWA stage; I learned to care for my natural hair with protective styles (two-strand twist me, please!) and watched in awe as I started to retain length for the first time.

Now, I listen to my nephew's stories about playing with his classmates as I cornrow his hair for the week. I brush my niece's hair and style it into one big braid with a bow wrapped around the end. After I hold the mirror up to their eager faces and watch their confidence bloom, I'm reminded how hair is intrinsically linked to our sense of self and our sense of community.

With every hairstyle, every haircare tip, I become more connected to my family, my friends, my culture, and ultimately, myself. Black hair is a divine, shared language that only Black people truly understand. It's something we must protect — as school and workplace bans threaten to criminalize our hair — and it's something we must celebrate with intention.

In Crowned: Our Roots, presented by Mielle Organics, we're diving into all aspects of our relationships to our hair. We uncover why some Black women are ditching 12-step TikTok routines and going back to basics to care for their natural hair. We talk to legendary hairstylists like Chuck Amos about his tips and tricks for styling celebrities like Tracee Ellis Ross. We examine what it means to leave the natural hair movement and return to relaxers without shame — and on your own terms. And so much more.

But mostly, we celebrate hair as a means of connection, self-esteem, and most importantly, joy. Through interviews, personal essays, and expert advice, we explore how we care for our hair — and how it shapes every aspect of our lives for the better. Start reading here.

Love,

Jessica Andrews, senior content director, Shopping

Jessica C. Andrews (she/her) is the senior content director of Shopping. With more than 15 years of experience, her areas of expertise include fashion, shopping, and travel. Prior to joining PS, Jessica held senior roles at Teen Vogue, Refinery29, and Bustle and contributed to The New York Times, Elle, Vanity Fair, and Essence. She's appeared on "Good Morning America," NBC, and Fox 5 New York and spoken on various panels about fashion, hair, and Black culture.