WATCH PART 1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqlE8Ke9uK0&t=15s LISTEN TO PART 1 - https://open.spotify.com/episode/4hHyO6ZvKBsj8HicNPnBCQ?si=Xwr6cSQDQwS97fN_z-8dpw WATCH PART 2 - https://youtu.be/bi9KHGvSyeY Join me on this special BONUS crossover episode of Texture Talks and Mixed Up Podcast as I sit down with hosts Emma Slade Edmondson and Nicole Ocran, of  The Mixed Up Podcast and multi-passionate creative Oneness Sankara to discuss and debate CANDIDLY the issues with the curl...

I speak to professional Rugby Player, and Junior Doctor Simi Pam, who after realising the serious harm the sport was inflicting on her natural coils, was forced to make serious changes to protect her afro, leading her on a journey where everything from her femininity and sense of self to her understanding of what professional help was available was challenged. Playing any sport will always have a natural impact on how you are able to care for and maintain your natural hair, especially when...

I speak to Lekia Lee Founder of Project Embrace about how we feel about our hair, the rituals and routines we practice, the terminologies we use, and our perceptions of beauty, start incredibly young.  As children we take in our surroundings in a very matter-of-fact way, often times internalising what we see, experience, or hear and carrying these themes long into adulthood, without necessarily even realising their impacts. I talk to Lekia about her childhood journey with her hair, her self...

Teresa Richardson has spent over a decade building one of the few black, female led trichology clinics in the country that specialise in afro and curly hair, with her daughter Eleanore Richardson.   On this episode we will be talking about Teresa Richardsons journey from afro hairdresser to highly esteemed consultant Trichologist and worked tirelessly against all odds to create a clean, safe environment for our community to get the help they need and deserve.   We also unpack why trichology...

Having the freedom to explore new hairstyles is a huge part of a black womans creative self expression. However, when working in TV and Broadcast Media, creating content promoted to millions of viewers from both inside and outside of your own community, the question of how you want to be perceived and understood is one that will have to be asked. During this interview I will unpack the experience of popular black British female TV Presenter, Scarlette Douglas, who much like many of us, wants...

For many men they often feel unable to be as vulnerable and open with their thoughts and feelings as their female counterparts. This feeling of quiet isolation is only further exacerbated in the black community, but with mental health becoming more of a topic of conversation for black men than it's ever been before, more spaces for discussion and vulnerability are presenting themselves.    On this episode we will speak to Mark Maciver, to get his perspective as a barber and mental health...

Black women spend much of our lives trying, testing and playing with different hairstyles, looks, lengths and colors. We have become masters at shapeshifting into different environments, oftentimes altering our appearances in order to fit into the spaces we find ourselves in. Whether wearing a straight wig for a corporate workplace, or laying your baby hairs for an upcoming date, have we ever considered the real reasons behind why we make these choices, or thought about the long term impact...

Fola Evans-Akingbola is both a critically acclaimed actor and activist for the rights of her community. As a curly haired woman of color working in film and TV Fola, has been forced to experience feelings of frustration and isolation simply due to having a curlier hair texture than her straighter haired colleagues on set.   From constantly having to guide and direct stylists on how to simply do their jobs due to their lack of experience with her curl pattern to have to go as far as to create...

I speak to Actor, Writer-Director and Star of Critically Acclaimed TV Show "Dreaming Whilst Black" Adjani Salmon, who joins me to discuss his loc journey both personally and professionally in depth! For many of us in the black community wearing our natural afro hair, especially in western environments comes with a range of hurdles in itself, from being forced to explain yourself, your aesthetic and your culture to those around you who are curious, to having to constantly consider how you...

The afro and curly haired community invest millions into their hair care routines, products, styling and maintenance every year, with the number only increasing.   There are hundreds of new potential vendors, ranges of products, hair stylists and brands for us to choose from, with more launching every day, targeting our community as customers for whatever hair care solution they are selling. In the midst of all of this, how do we know who to trust?    With the hair industry still functioning...

For years retail environments for black hair care products and services have been lacking the same upmarket aesthetic and customer service promoted by the beauty industry targeting those outside of the black community.   With black consumers now suffering issues of abuse, neglect and racism when buying the hair care products they need, it's more important than ever to lift up, promote and support black owned businesses serving the community.   I speak to CEO of natural product discovery box...

WATCH THE EPISODE ON YOUTUBE https://youtu.be/dYVV-XgNF1s If you enjoy the show, please sign the petition for Texture Talks to be adapted into a TV Show! https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/adapt-texture-talks-into-a-tv-show Listen to this emotional recap of Season One from Paige Lewin, Founder and Host of the Texture Talks Podcast, the UKs only active podcast for the curly and afro haired community as she talks candidly about how creating the podcast has changed her life...

WATCH EPISODE https://youtu.be/ZmD0TNQYKZE If you enjoy the show, please sign the petition for Texture Talks to be adapted into a TV Show! https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/adapt-texture-talks-into-a-tv-show On Episode 027 of Texture Talks, I will be doing an in depth Q&A Session with Enitan Agidee, NHS Trained Afro Trichologist Science Hair Coach and owner of  a multiple award winning product line of hair care products. Enitan is also the founder of the Healthy Hair Studio based...

If you enjoy the show, please sign the petition for Texture Talks to be adapted into a TV Show! https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/adapt-texture-talks-into-a-tv-show On Episode 026, of the penultimate episode of Season One of Texture Talks, I will be speaking to Tanisha Shedden, a Counselor Coach and speaker but also a transracial adoptee who was raised by white parents.   This made her natural hair Journey very unique , together we unpack the cultural impact for black children and...

If you enjoy the show, please sign the petition for Texture Talks to be adapted into a TV Show! https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/adapt-texture-talks-into-a-tv-show On Episode 025 of Season One of Texture Talks, I will be speaking to Natural Hair Care Influencer, _QueenLike_ aka Sarah Jorge who shares her experience growing up in Germany and learning how to love her natural curls with little to know resources, education or representation around her. ​ From next to no places to shop to...

If you enjoy the show, please sign the petition for Texture Talks to be adapted into a TV Show! https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/adapt-texture-talks-into-a-tv-show On Episode 024 of Texture Talks, I will be speaking to Juniper Johnson, a West African American artist based in Florida and the creator of an exciting project called "Heavy is the Head" that aims to honour and showcase the rich history of Black hair, celebrating diversity and self-expression within the Black...

If you enjoy the show, please sign the petition for Texture Talks to be adapted into a TV Show! https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/adapt-texture-talks-into-a-tv-show On Episode 022 of Texture Talks, I will be speaking to Sadia Kabeya, an English rugby union player who plays for England internationally, and has been vocal in the press about her experiences as a black woman playing a sport that is known well for being for a predominantly white, middle classed audience, and how this...

If you enjoy the show, please sign the petition for Texture Talks to be adapted into a TV Show! https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/adapt-texture-talks-into-a-tv-show On Episode 022 of Texture Talks, I will be speaking to Angela Stewart, a Professional Hair and makeup Artist that specialises in Afro Hair.   For over a year she's been teaching the joy of Afro Hair Knowledge to Film schools and independent learners alike, and I wanted to understand what led her onto this journey as an...

WATCH EPISODE NOW - https://youtu.be/Piwn3w3sJwQ On episode 021 of Texture Talks, I will be interviewing Badria Ahmed, Founder of Holy Curls, a UK-based textured hair care brand for waves, curls, coils and everything in between, that is boldly moving in a new direction.  As from 2022, they have removed all references of typing hair in numbers and letters (3a/4b etc). This system, as you are aware, was created by Andre Walker and has been the go to hair typing system in the industry....

On episode 20 of Texture Talks I'll be joined by Keziah Dhamma, Founder and CEO of Swirly Curly Hair Care Products, who much like many of us in the afro and curly haired community, struggled to find products, routines and advice about her curls that actually worked. ​ In addition to creating this incredible product line born of her own challenges with her hair, Keziah has also invested her time heavily in education, launching her very own Curl College,  and Swirly Curly method to help break...

On episode 019 of Texture Talks me and Spoken Word Poet, Author, Coach and Creative, Oneness Sankara, who dedicates her life to supporting Women of African Heritage to find abundance, joy, peace & self love.   We will be discussing some of the problematic issues tied to using words with harmful historical context when naming products and brands. ​ With a particular focus on the challenges around the term "Coolie" when naming locs as a prime example of how words that seem harmless can...

On Episode 018 of Texture Talks I will be speaking to Skye Richards, a young, vibrant and incredibly knowledgeable business owner and founder of Alyisum Beauty, a natural range of hair and skin care products, talking about how to REALLY read product labels to help us truly understand what is going onto our skin and scalp and into our hair. ​ Skye prides herself on understanding the ins and outs of the ingredients in her products, ensuring they are the best quality for afro and curly hair, and...

WATCH FULL EPISODE NOW https://youtu.be/pjn8N6xLOCc On episode 017 of Texture Talks I'll be talking to Marsha Martin, the founder of a support group called Black SEN Mamas created to uplift, connect and connect black mothers like herself with neurodivergent children. ​ As the creator of an incredible hub of info, advocacy & support, for the community of Black Mothers and sole carers, of SEND/neurodiverse children, in the UK, me and Marsha will be discussing, the challenges faced by SEN...

On episode 16 of Texture Talks I'll be joined by Author and Model Zainab Kwaw-Swanzy, about the challenges that come with dating and romance when you're a part of the afro and curly haired community. ​ We also discuss some of the nuances when dating both inside and outside your own culture, and debate the concepts around preference vs prejudice when it comes to what men want.   As the writer of an amazing book celebrating the cultural history of Black hair, A Quick Ting On The Black Girl...