SANKOFA NATURAL HAIR EXPO
Sankofa Natural Hair, Health& Beauty Expo is a community event dedicated to natural hair and health care professionals and students seeking education and fellowship. Our purpose is to bring together knowledge, wisdom, talents, products, and goods to share with one another in prosperity.
Sankofa is an African symbol meaning “Knowing your history makes a strong presence”. We use the Sankofa title for our beauty Expo to bring us present to the creativity, beauty and knowledge of our ancestors. To show our appreciation, pride and devotion for who we are in the Diaspora representing our journey over history. Our desire to wear natural hair and live a natural lifestyle is paying homage to our ancestors as well as maintaining healthy living for ourselves and our children.
It is our responsibility to continue to improve the Natural Hair Care Industry by educating ourselves and our love ones. Bring a friend and join us in the celebration natural hair, health and beauty. Everyone is welcome to participate in our workshops taught by internationally known and skilled instructors, or shop with the some of most creative fashion designers and product proprietors in the city. You can even showcase your own talent by competing in our Creative Natural Hair Competition.-Nadra Smiley
Sankofa Natural Hair, Health & Beauty Expo 2008
Natural Hair Health & Beauty Expo Exhibitors
Interested in being a vendor?
Download this form Exhibitor Registration Form
Please Email/ Mail Copy To: info@amazonsaloninc.com
Sankofa Natural Hair, Health & Beauty Expo: 5548 South State St. Chicago, IL 60621.
Braiders, Locticians, Lock Stylist and Natural Hair Stylist
This is your great opportunity to showcase your most creative styles at the Sankofa Natural Hair, Health & Beauty Expo. The following information will adequately prepare you and your model(s) for competition. Carefully read all the information below and complete the registration form.
Both The Loc Competition and Braid Art Competition(s) are Total look competitions.
The theme for both competitions is “Revisit, Reclaim and Revive Your Natural Beauty”. That means we are looking for styles that show “Whatever we have lost, forgotten, forgone or have been striped of can be revisited, reclaimed and revived in natural beauty.” We are looking for creativity and flawless skills at their best for natural styles that can be worn in the workplace and or casually. Models must have no chemical straighteners/ alterations to his/her hair. However, semi-permanent color, permanent color, light colors sprays and chalks are allowed.
Competition Schedule:
Competitors and models report to prep/pre-judging area. Check-in with model. This is your allotted time to style, apply models make-up and get dressed in presentation attire. NOTE: Barbers will cut models on stage. On-stage presentation. (Model will be judged on total look). Model numbers will be given during the completion time. Check in time does not guarantee your model's number. (Checking in first does guarantee that your model will have #1.) NOTE: Skits included with your presentation are welcome. Limit your presentation time to 3 minutes. Each competitor will be introduced and allowed time to describe their
hairstyle to the audience as well as to the judges.
VERY IMPORTANT:
The overall appearance of your model(s) is essential. The model(s) will be judged on his/her posture, makeup, attire and presentation as well as his/her hair. Your model(s) should be prepared to walk and display your hairstyle to the audience as well as to the judges. Your model's personality, enthusiasm and demeanor can make a difference in gaining or loosing points. Plan your strategy together and above all, make sure that both you and your model(s) have a great time during your competition event.
Rules that apply to all who enter competitions:
A completed style cannot be entered into any of the competitions. For Loc and Braid competition - 3/4 or less of the model's hair can be finished prior to competition, however, 1/4 of the model's hair must be completed during the competition. The allotted time to complete the style, dress and make-up during the competition is 120 minutes (2 hours). You will be given a 15 minute grace period which will not be granted as extra time. Competitor may enter as many models as desired provided entry fee has been paid for each model. Models can be male or female and must sign release form before entering pre-judging. The model cannot be the stylist nor can the stylist be the model. During stage presentation model will be judged from head to toe. Hair, clothes, shoes, make-up style and presentation will be considered along with overall neatness, technique, creativity and artistic design.. Models clothes should reflect the hairstyle created. The International 30 point scoring system will be used to select the winners. Judging will be done on a visual basis only. The decision of the judges will be final. Only the model and stylist will be allowed in the competition area and prep room. Competitor must supply their own tools needed to style their model's hair (clippers, combs, shears, mirrors, capes, products, etc). Contestants will be disqualified for not following the rules and arriving late.
Creative Natural Hair Competitions
After tallying tickets sales, more than 500 guest and community members passed through the Gates for The Inaugural Sankofa Natural Hair Health & Beauty Expo held September 21, 2008, exceeding our expectations and making Sankofa a success.
“We are extremely proud of our guest loyalty and support, we are also very thankful for all the hard work and dedication put into making the Inaugural Sankofa Natural Hair Health & Beauty Expo a success,” said Nadra Smiley, creator of The Sankofa Natural Hair Health & Beauty Expo. “It is inspiring to see how much support our patrons and community have for us, and how determined everyone was to insure the realization of Sankofa. What a great event!”
The premier Natural Hair Expo in the Midwest, the event showcased ten free workshops taught by world renowned leaders and instructors, a few Expo favorites were Belly Dancing, taught by Dianne “Netsa” Hodges, Healthy Skin, taught by Akua Auset and The Maintaining Your Locks workshop taught by Amazon Smiley. The workshops proved to be very educational.
With clear blue skies, soaring temperatures and dozens of vendors such as Shea Brojae’s LLC, Maune Stephanie Designs, Stella Market & Catering, Trancasi Images, Darcell Loren and Amazon Essentials, just to name a few, offered creative fashions, hair products, art, accessories, food and drinks.
The show was a fun-filled family day complete with live entertainment acts like The Chicago Boys Tumbling Team, thrilling spectators with there daring, energetic acrobatics, Jazz Legend, Maggie Brown; With her 4-octave range, wowed the audience not just singing songs or delivering lyrics, but embodying every note, drawing from its deepest meaning with pure joie de vivre, Talented Spoken Word Artist, Danny Divine, also took to the stage and blessed the mic reciting a few powerful spoken word pieces shedding light on racial and class-based inequality, rounding out the lineup was Singing Sensation Jocelyn gracing the stage performing some of my favorite R&B standards.
The final and long-awaited act to complete the high flying day of fun was capped by the Sankofa Hair and Fashion Show. As models took to the red carpeted catwalk, dynamically modeling, Divine Designs Fashion by Lady Boczeon, along with intricate, lavish, and beautiful hair styles styled by Amazon Salon’s elite staff. Special Guest Natural Uhuri Salon located in St. Louis, MO. Performed a 60’s skating skit to the Erykah Badu album “Nu World Amerykah” showcasing there services and styles. The show did not disappoint, as the crowd cheered and clapped with each models passing.
With the last workshop completed, the last performance, the last model to walk the catwalk and the last minute vendor shopper, Sankofa Natural Hair Health & Beauty Expo ended on a good note. Many hard-working vendors, volunteers’ instructors and stylist put in a huge effort to make sure the Midwest finest Natural Hair Show was a great success. We here at Amazon Salon look forward to the next great summertime community and family Expo, tentatively scheduled for Sept. 2009.
