The natural hair advocate untangling stigma and instilling self-love

Love Songs with Danny Painter

Celine Bocks is not a hairstylist, but a healer. For decades of South Africa’s history, natural hair was stigmatised and treated as inferior. People of colour are still impacted by this today. “Growing up with kinky hair was a difficult journey because people are just looking down at you,” Bocks says. Now, she’s fighting back with the most powerful weapon – love. Bocks started the Citrusdal Natural Hair Beauties group with her sister to instil dignity and worth in her community. Through this initiative, Bocks offers workshops where girls are taught how to nurture their hair. “The best hair is healthy hair,” she says. Untangling harmful perceptions, Bocks is sending lies about cultural identity down the drain and helping youth embrace themselves.