BLACK BEAUTY SCHOOL

BEAD + COWRIE

PRODUCTION

BEAD + COWRIE IS A BLACK OWNED BEAUTY BRAND THAT IS REDEFINING BLACK BEAUTY AND HAIR STANDARDS WHILE CREATING SALON INDUSTRY CURRICULUMS THAT PRIORITIZE INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY ABOVE ALL ELSE.

WE ARE UNAPOLOGETICALLY HONEST ABOUT BLACK (bipoc) AND BLACK LGBTQIA+ HAIR EDUCATION AND AESTHETIC. WE CURATE COMFORT, STYLE, AND SAFE SPACE FOR ALL BLACK FOLX.

Black Beauty School(BBS) is a 4-6 hour hands-on class that helps attendees understand how race and privilege contributes to Black Hair discrimination and how we systematically change this mindset over time in the industry. At the same time we also develop the practical skill sets that will help to make your salon a more inclusive, diverse, and safe space. This is a class that engages both the hairstylist and the hair model.

Black Beauty School is a Bead and Cowrie Production taught by Curry, Master Hairstylist and Colorist. Curry is Aveda trained with an extensive background in Black hair, entertainment, the arts, and Black culture. At Bead and Cowrie we are unapologetically honest about Black hair education. We love beautiful Black aesthetics supported by knowledge and foundation, while curating comfort, style and safe space for Black folxs. We are redefining Black hair and it’s curriculums beyond the white gaze. Bead + Cowrie, Inspired by whimsy, Black pop culture, Theatre, and our forever religion. Us.

BBS offers 3 modules: The Basics, Texture + Haircolor, and The Currly Cut. Please email for infomation on class schedules about Texture + Haircolor and Currly Cut.

We focus on 3 main goals the 3 R's with BBS:

Redefine- You must retrain and redefine your minds eye surrounding Black beauty. It means removing outdated and boring Eurocentric foundations and not using white hair standards as comparison to Black hair. Black hair stands on its own and is beautiful on its own. It does not need to be reinterpreted or softened or made to be more appealing for the white gaze.

Repetition- Learning and understanding Black hair and techniques in the same way that we under white hair will take time and practice. This is not an overnight change.

Remember that patience is key. This is uncomfortable but necessary work and it should be. You must be wiling to put in the soul work and not just the sole work. The salon industry has a lot of work and unpacking to do when it comes to Black hair. The Black humans who come to sit in your chair are not just money for you to earn but are humans that need to be poured into and loved above all else in an industry that has excluded us from its foundations for so long.

Black Beauty School - Class Schedule - The Basics

Homeroom will consist of Introductions, panel and discussion The first hour and a half of BBS is committed to round table discussion. Here, stylists will listen to Curry and BIPOC hair models about their experiences in the salon and growing up.

First Period covers your foundations - Black Hair terminology, consultation, at the Shampoo bowl, along with detangling, sectioning, tools, scalp foundations and treatments. We will also discuss products used in house vs supplemental product, tools, and retail that may need to be purchased to accomodate a more diverse salon clientele.

Second Period covers:

Blowout and Trim, shape and foundations

Currly Cut, shape and foundations

If you wish to cover both modules in one session this will extend class time and price

Third Period is Style and Finish. Covering twist and set vs to go styling, Iron Work, and Wash n Go. We will also discuss what lived in hair looks like, weather, how to set proper client expectations, Home care and mantenance.

School is out and Real world application. Here we will touch on key items we covered in the class and ultimately ask: When you are given the opportunity to style Black hair how will you choose to value its existence and humanity of the person sitting in your chair.

Black Beauty School is based in Nashville, TN.we are currently doing COVID compliant classes. Online Classes are coming soon!