What changes when we stop treating Black women’s hair like a trend and start honoring it as identity?

In this deeply personal, often politicized conversation, we unpack Black hair in life and in the coaching industry—from the “petting-zoo effect” and microaggressions to workplace “professionalism,” branding shoots, and who gets to call what “distracting.” We name the history (from enslavement to the natural hair movement and the CROWN Act), share stories of unwanted touching and respectless curiosity, and celebrate hair joy, self-expression, and reclaiming our crowns—without apology. This episode is not about shame; it’s about correction, care, and liberation.

In this episode:

• The history and politics of Black hair—and why Eurocentric “professionalism” was never neutral
• The “petting-zoo effect”: when curiosity turns into dehumanization
• How microaggressions around hair show up in the coaching and corporate space
• Why “put-together” looks different for Black women—and deserves to be respected as such
• Guidance for non-Black coaches on affirming clients without causing harm
• The line between appreciation and appropriation when it comes to protective styles
• How affirmation during branding shoots can empower clients to show up fully
• The importance of boundaries, consent, and self-definition in how we wear our crowns
• The CROWN Act as progress—and why cultural change still matters beyond policy

 Heart Check:

For Black women: Where have you policed your own hair to feel “safe” in white spaces? What would showing up whole look like, starting with your crown?

For White Coaches: What comments or “jokes” have you made about Black women’s hair? Who can you apologize to and how will you show up differently next time?

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