The Art of Coiffure

We hope you're experiencing a safe, fun and relaxing summer. Recently there has been some attention surrounding  H.R. 2116 or the Crown Act. In fact on July 3, 2022, some organizations cited and celebrated the day as National Crown Day.
 
In the Black community, hair is one of the most significant ways we visually express our heritage, personalities, spiritually and style. Visiting the beauty/barber shop for us is more than just enjoying the service of a professional stylist; it's a time of bonding and sharing with other members in our community. 
​ 
Hair adornment is an interesting cross-curricular subject and cool way to  explore the elements/principles of design. Read further to discover some colorful resources you can use to develop some wonderful art lessons and activities.

Hair Animations

The animated features below tell heart-warming stories centered around coily textured hair. In addition to discussing the basic meaning of the story, young artists can compare the styles of the  animations and create a simple flipbook animation featuring hair.

​Picture Books That Celebrate Textured Hair

Fortunately, there are a wonderful selection of vividly illustrated children's picture books featuring characters with a variety of  hairstyles/textures and adventures related to hair styling.  Young artists could create a drawing and story about their own hair experiences.

​Works of Art Featuring Cool Hair 

Use the collection of fine art below to begin a conversation about how visual artists feature hair styles in their work. Young artists can choose one of the works as a source of inspiration to create their own work. Or they can curate a collection of works of art that display interesting hair styles. Click on each image to learn more about the artist and their work.

Elizabeth Catlett, Madonna , 1982 lithograph, 53 x 40.5 cm. (20.9 x 15.9 in.)

Kevin A. Williams (WAK), Still on My Mind, (detail)

Sonya Clark, Hair Wreath, 2002, Human Hair and Wire

Laetitia Ky is a young artist and aspiring fashion designer from Ivory Coast, in West Africa

Andre D. Wagner, "I’ve been photographing Cedric for probably over 8 years now. He’s 16 and going into his sophomore year of high school. It’s an honor to witness this young man grow and I can’t wait to see what he does over the next few years."

​More Art Resources to Explore

Click on the products below to discover more creative ideas related to hair styling and expression. Comment below to share your favorite hair story, lesson and/or product.

African Comb Sculpture Art Lesson

$3.99

This lesson is a great way to introduce young artists to African culture and help develop their sculpting skills. Inspired by sculptural African combs and Adinka symbols, this lesson will enhance your overall multicultural art curriculum.

This Resource Includes:
-Teacher Prep Tips
-African Comb Sculpture Art Lesson with step-by-step photos
-Adinkra Symbols Sheet

Shop

Red Rose Portrait Art Lesson

$3.99

This cool art lesson is inspired by the picture book, A Sweet Smell of Roses written by Angela Johnson and illustrated by Eric Velasquez. While it is designed for young artists in grades 6-12, it can be tailored to use with younger students. 

This Resource Includes:
1. Lesson Preps/Presentation
2. Red Rose Portrait Lesson with step-by-step photos
3. ​Simple Rose Tutorial Sheet

Shop

Barbershop Sign Father's Day Card Art Lesson

$5.50

Thanks for purchasing our Barbershop Sign Father’s Day Card Art Lesson. Inspired by the hand painted barbershop signs from West Africa, this art lesson is a great tool for young artists in grades 3-8 to practice their portrait drawing skills.Explore our website to find more great art tips and resources.

This Resource Includes:

• Lesson Prep/Tips
• Barbershop Sign Father's Day Card Art Lesson (with step-by-step photos)

Shop