Inhairitance Natural Hair Salon celebrated its 1 year anniversary this past June. For the occasion, I sat down with Abisara Machold its founder for some girlie chit chat. We spoke about self-esteem, politics and of course natural hair! [Click here for more on the event including photos]
FWAC: Congratulations on your 1 year anniversary. How do you feel?
Machold: I feel amazing! I really feel deeply blessed. I have to try not to cry. At certain moments, I’m like wow it’s been one year and the market has grown so much and I see so many more women going natural in Montreal. I think so many ladies have been empowered during this process. We are so happy to be part of it – to give and share our knowledge and help people in that way.
FWAC: Why did you launch Inhairitance, where did that crazy idea come from?
Machold: That crazy idea came from being a complete product junkie and from being natural for 17 years. And then moving to Canada (from Berlin), and I was like: “wow I love this place, I love Montreal, but how is it possible that I can’t find anything for my natural hair?” and that gave me the idea. So it came out of a lack and out of a need.
FWAC: When somebody comes to your salon what can they expect?
Machold: You can expect a free consultation where we really analyze your hair and your hair’s needs, as well as your scalp. We look at the situation on your scalp because that’s where the hair grows out. That’s why it’s so important to keep a healthy scalp! You can expect excellent service and expertise on natural and curly hair. We only specialize in that one niche, which means we only use natural products (at least 95% natural) and only deal with curly textures. So we know what we are doing.
Abisara Machold and I being candidly photographed during the interview.
FWAC: What would you say to a lady who is considering going natural but is still hesitating?
Machold: I think I would tell her it’s a move she will never regret. I would also tell her that we are here to assist her, you are not alone, you have many sisters who have gone that way before and who are going through it with you right now. It’s a mind change and you will start loving yourself and embracing your hair more and more everyday. It’s a very liberating and powerful journey. So I completely encourage any woman of color or not, to embrace what nature gave them because it is beautiful.
FWAC: What is your position and your view on the natural hair movement. Is it a trend? Or is it here to stay?
Machold: I’m completely convinced that it is not a trend, it is a liberation movement. I can see it worldwide. It’s not only in Montreal – we can observe this movement in the States, in Europe and slowly in Africa and in the Caribbean as well. People are embracing it. I think it’s a movement that is so much larger than natural hair, it’s about health, it’s about coming to terms and being at peace with who we are and looking for assistance from people who share that experience. I also think it’s very political, it seeps into your work field, your romantic relationships as well: how does your man view your new hairdo that is short, how does he deal with that? Is it still considered feminine or is it not feminine anymore because it’s shorter? We ask ourselves all these questions because we still want to be beautiful to our partners, so it becomes very political in that sense. It’s not only about hair, it’s about how you can be accepted in today’s society for who you are without having to fit into a normative setting that forces you to be something that you are not.
FWAC: When you look at the market today, what are you the most proud of?
Machold: I’m the most proud of: sharing knowledge, people coming to our salon and telling me how much of an inspiration it is to actually have this place that they can come to. I created Inhairitance to be a secure place, where it’s not only about hair but also about self-esteem issues, self values, about black women who are fully coming into themselves realizing that they are beautiful the way God made them. To be part of the process and to assist people on that journey, that’s my biggest joy and pleasure.
FWAC: My FWAC readers are dying to know if there is a cause that is dear to your heart?
Machold: There are so many. I think self-love and empowerment of every women in general, but especially for my curly and black sisters, all the brown girls in this world for sure. We just need a little extra push and self-love because we’ve been taught to not love ourselves and to feel incomplete. We’ve been told to try to fit into certain categories that we simply don’t fit in. My biggest wish is to see sisters like we see today celebrating their beauty inside and out. This really touches me to my core because I grew up in a society where there were no role models at all.
Didn’t make it to the event? Here is what you missed: Blog / Facebook
Stay Conscious + Chic!
