EPISODE 33 | Ugly Before it's Pretty: The Evolution of Black Women's Love for Hair Texture and Ourselves

WITH PEKELA RILEY

Joining me in this episode, is Pekela Riley.

Artistpreneur, founder of True & Pure Textures natural hair extension line and salon owner of Salon PK (Jacksonville, Florida).

Pekela’s artistic aesthetic is supremely creative, edgy & elevated; I would define it as 'texture-futurism'.

She founded the phenomenal True + Pure Texture haircare extension line out of the frustration of women of colour damaging their own natural hair to blend with silky mainstream extensions prevalent in the market.

Through the years of knowing her and her work, I am truly enjoying watching PK have a lifelong, unapologetic love affair with the magic she makes with textured hair.

Here's what we talk about:

• Meaning behind her name, Pekela

• Her zone of genius

• What makes her great at what she does

• Her insecurities growing up

• Her personal beauty & fashion style

• The overlap of being an artist and an entrepreneur

• Viewing pivots in business as a "style-shift

• How she gets into the zone when creating her artistry

• Introvert or extrovert and how it plays in her creations

• Managing expectations: "It's ugly before it gets pretty"

• Her view on mentorship and the mentors in her head

• The reason why she felt bringing True + Pure Texture to the market was necessary

• The evolution of Black women's expectations on hair texture: "It's too silky, it's too shiny. We want more of who we are"

• What makes True + Pure Texture special: the quality of microtextures

• What ethical sourcing looks like for hair extensions

• Reversing the taboo of wig-wearing: an extension of our expression

• The importance of boundaries & self-care

• Got 15 mins: Makeup vs hair

• Where to find Pekela @pekalariley and @trueandpuretexture

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