World Afro Day’s Social Impact Finalist: CURLYTREATS Founder, Vinna Best

CURLYTREATS Founder, Vinna Best nominated for the Social Impact Award by World Afro Day 2018. 

This award recognises individuals, who are showcasing Afro-textured hair for the community and wider society. They are positively shaping the way in which Afro hair is perceived in the media and they are making bold changes to empower the community and leave a lasting legacy.

As one of the most celebrated natural hair and beauty entrepreneurs in the UK, CurlyTreats Fest Founder, Vinna Best challenges traditional beauty standards. 

Since 2013 launching UK biggest natural hair event, CURLYTREATS Fest, her contributions have helped to redefine the meaning of beauty in the UK. 

There is diversity in beauty: recognition of the difference in hair textures, age, race, culture and gender is needed – all of which should be celebrated. 

In February 2018, Vinna won ‘Influencer of the Year’ at the Black Beauty & Fashion awards; the award acknowledges Vinna’s valuable contributions to the industry, as well as her entrepreneurial spirit.

Vinna recalls her initial return to natural at aged 14, at a time when a lack of hair care products dedicated to the needs of afro hair textures made the return a difficult one to sustain. 

Over the next decade, she would transition between hair relaxers and natural hairstyles, finally dispensing with relaxers at aged 25.

In 2016, Vinna participated in the Macmillan Cancer Support ‘Brave the Shave Challenge’, to honour her late mother, Rita Andall.

Vinna believes the annual World Afro Day addresses issues of diversity, education, representation, discrimination and inclusion, through celebration and normalisation of the beauty of afro hair – both within and outside of the black diaspora.