Episode 1: Hair Equity

This episode we will discuss and learn about hair equity.  Hairstyles have cultural roots.  It can be easy to dismiss and think, “Well, it’s just hair.” When people spend time in hospitals, they often experience disruptions in their normal routines and engagement in the activities of daily living or ADLs. I talked with two professionals, Lauren Justice an OT and Kim Regis, who is the Vice President of operations at Nationwide children’s hospital in Columbus Ohio.   They formed a hair equity initiative and launched a program to that increased staff awareness and education, as well as, taking stock on current hair supply inventory.  Their work is not only an example of occupational justice with focus on equal access to grooming but also a paragon of what can be accomplished on multidisciplinary teams. Click here for more information on the hair equity programs at Nationwide Children's HospitalSome common hairstyle vocabulary:Box braids are a stye of hair-braiding.  This type of hairstyle is a "protective style" (which means it is a style which can be worn for a long period of time to let natural hair grow and protect the ends of the hair) and is  used as a way to protect textured hair against split ends and damage from heat and humidity.  It is considered  "boxy" because of square-shaped hair divisions.   A do-rag is a scarf or cloth worn on the head, typically with its ends or corners tied together in the back.   It dates back to the 19th century when poor laborers and slaves needed something to tie their hair back with. Later during the  Harlem Renaissance and Great Depression, in the 1930s, do-rag evolved into a hairstyle preserver.There are two types of lace fronts,  a full lace wig and a lace front wig is the base. The difference is in the name, lace front wigs contain lace in the front of the wig.  It is attached to the front edges of the head, along the  hairline where there is often a lace panel. Full lace wigs are pasted to the head entirely, they tend to have a slightly stronger durability. A sew-in is a hair extensions made up of small cornrow braids that are used as anchors then attached with hair wefts by use of needle and weaving thread.A silk press is a method of straightening natural curls without  a chemical relaxer. Instead, this hairstyling technique uses a blow-dryer and flat iron to smooth out the hair. A quick weave is a style where extensions are glued to a protective wig cap before bonding it to the  head. It's a protective style that can be done at home.