More Than Just Hair
A Look Back At Our Textured Hair Care Event
Contributed by the FYRC Team - a dedicated Speak Up for Kids program
Overview
On January 25th, we held our Textured Hair Care event and, like every year, it was one of those days that reminds me why programs like this matter so much. This is one of my favorite events we do all year because the impact is something you can see happening right in front of you.
On paper, this event is about hair care. We bring in professionals who teach youth and caregivers how to properly care for textured hair. They learn how to wash it, detangle it, protect it, style it, and what products actually work. These are skills many people learn growing up from family members but for many of the youth we serve, that just was not something they were ever taught. So something that seems small to some people is actually a really important life skill.
“But if you were in the room, you’d know it was about so much more than hair.”
It was about confidence.
It was about identity.
It was about dignity.
What We Saw
In my role, I often help youth with big life things like school, jobs, and housing—but events like this remind me that confidence and self-esteem are just as important as any other life skill we teach.
We watched youth start the day a little unsure and leave smiling, standing a little taller, and feeling more confident in themselves. We watched caregivers ask questions, take notes, and really try to learn so they could better support the youth in their homes. We watched stylists not just do hair, but teach, encourage, and empower.
Special Moments
One moment that really stuck with me was watching one of the girls look in the mirror after her hair was finished and just smile at herself for a minute. It seems like such a small thing but moments like that are exactly why we do this event. Another youth spent a long time talking with one of the stylists, asking questions about products and how to take care of their hair on their own. Watching that confidence and independence build in real time is something you cannot really measure on paper but you can see it happening right in front of you.
The Environment
One of my favorite parts of this event every year is the environment in the room. So much of what our youth experience involves appointments, court, school meetings, paperwork, and deadlines. This event feels different. People are laughing. They are learning. They are talking. Youth are trying new styles. Caregivers are learning alongside them. For a few hours, it is just a group of people taking care of each other and learning something new together.
And those moments matter.
Why It Matters
When a young person feels good about how they look, it affects how they walk into school, how they walk into a job interview, how they walk into the world. Confidence like that carries into so many other areas of life. That is why we consider this a life skills event, not just a fun event.
Thank You
I also want to take a moment to thank the people who made this possible. Our stylists—who volunteered their time and shared their knowledge. Our student chapter from Spanish River High School—who helped make all of this possible and help everything run smoothly. Events like this truly take a community, and we are very lucky to have the one that we do.
Final Thoughts
We are already looking forward to the next one. Because sometimes teaching a young person how to care for their hair is not just about hair. Sometimes it is about helping them see themselves in a new way. And that kind of confidence can last long after the event is over.
If you are a caregiver, volunteer, stylist, or community member who would like to be a part of events like this in the future, we would love to connect with you. Events like our Textured Hair Care workshop truly take a community, and we are always looking for people who are willing to share their time, skills, and knowledge with the youth we serve. If you would like to get involved with the Foster Youth Resource Concierge Program or support future life skills events, please reach out to us through Speak Up for Kids or email christina@speakupforkidspbc.org. Together, we can continue to give our youth not just resources, but confidence and support as they move toward independence.
