Love the Hair You Wear 2022 at NC A&T

N.C. A&T Alumna Empowers Women to Love the Hair They Wear

This article appeared on https://ncatsualumni.org/ in September 2022.

With the rise of the natural hair movement among Black women in the 2000s, Vecoya G. Banks ‘09 created Love the Hair You Wear (LTHYW), a movement that helps women of color embrace their natural hair in a safe space. 

Launched in 2015, LTHYW is designed to help Black women fall in love with their natural hair roots, increase their self-esteem, and enjoy the company of other natural beauties. The company offers an annual event for women to network and directly connect with natural hair brands that support them. 

Banks, a native of Greensboro, North Carolina, started her natural hair journey during her senior year at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University by watching YouTube videos.  

Based on a 2018 study by Mintrel, 40 percent of Black women are most likely to wear their hair natural without chemicals and without heat styling, while 51 percent of Black women say their current hairstyle makes them feel beautiful. 

For seven years, LTHYW has worked with hundreds of women and has collaborated with a variety of natural hair brands such as Curls, African Pride, CurlKit, Cantu and others. The event features natural hair demonstrations, giveaways, panel discussions and networking opportunities. The event has been featured in Essence magazine, NBC Washington and Great Day Washington. Love the Hair You Wear made its way to Greensboro to empower women in Banks’ hometown. The event was sponsored by Palmer’s, Wakati, Miss Jessie’s and many more.

Our founder, Brittany Hicks serves as the Fund Development Chair for Family & Consumer Science at NC A&T State University, supporting programs like LTHYW NCA&T and initiatives that raise money and awareness for the University. If you, or someone you know, would like to host a student enrichment event in partnership with the board, please let us know!