Texture on Set, a revolutionary hair production and education event, has made groundbreaking impacts on the beauty and fashion industry. Meet Naeemah Lafond, the artist behind it all.
Lafond’s journey into beauty was somewhat accidental. She honored her love for community service work during and after college, and considered a career in law after an enjoyable job position as a court clerk. Lafond instantly became aware of her calling after a friend invited her to style hair in a test photo shoot. What started as a simple request quickly developed into an overwhelming realization for Lafond:“I felt alive, like blood running through my veins. I felt like, wow, okay, something finally woke me up (…) That photo shoot was where I was, like, I knew what I wanted to do with my life. That test shoot.”
Brooklyn born and raised and of Haitian descent, Lafond garnered tremendous inspiration from the environments and people she was surrounded by and observed. She remembers going to the hair salon with her mom as a child, where she developed an unbreakable gaze as she watched a Haitian hairdresser combing out his roller sets, and Lafond later returning home to practice the same techniques and care on her cabbage patch doll. The “rich cultural space” of her neighborhood Brooklyn and the unique perspectives around her soaked into her mind, influencing her aura and the artistic space she holds for herself.
Poring over fashion magazines in stores while growing up planted a seed in Lafond’s mind, one in which bloomed to focus on the evident gaps within the industry. The way in which art and culture melted together into a seamless blend in this media prompted Lafond to seek out varied perspectives in which to look at hair, especially textured hair, which was often neglected within the beauty sphere. As a Black woman in the industry, she faced discrimination and stereotypical judgments, which prompted a deeper desire to push back on the racism that pervaded these spaces.
Texture on Set was born from the desire to cultivate an event that aimed to be all-encompassing, one in which Lafond could teach and promote “all the things that [she] think[s] we need in order to move forward as an industry. It’s the historical factors, it’s the fashion and the art, it’s the community, it’s the fun, it’s the stripped down conversations, it’s all of that.” Her determination and dedication is evident through this event, which offers space for all of these essential factors to coexist and work towards equity and celebration for the beauty of all hair, and of all people.
The reach and impact Texture on Set has had is due to the boldness and creativity of Lafond, who notes how the brands and celebrities supporting the event help to emphasize the need to show up in spaces that dismantle unjust foundations. Lafond works to bring education and justice to the industry, but also offers significant time and energy towards her role behind the scenes, where she prioritizes giving opportunities to “newbies, the people that are doing things differently, the people that are teaching differently.”
She is recognized around the world for her legendary statements featured on runway productions, editorial platforms, and global advertisements. Her inventiveness and celebration of all hair textures has created striking shifts within creative atmospheres, and her educational skills have led to the growth of diversity within top beauty brands.
Tune into the conversation below to hear how Naeemah Lafond transformed a chance opportunity into a groundbreaking career, becoming a celebrated hairstylist, educator, and the visionary behind Texture on Set. Follow us on Instagram at @readthetease and @volumeupbythetease.
