Those with thick, curly hair understand how time-consuming and costly maintenance can be. From protective styles, finding products that work and dreaded wash day, having kinky or curly hair can be a frustrating journey of trial and error.
College Curls is a Georgia State student organization with the mission “to promote healthy hair while keeping self-love at our center. We are passionate about learning new hair techniques, and sharing useful tips to our members to ensure proper hair care maintenance.”
The organization currently has about 48 members, aside from the 10 e-board members that hold positions such as president, vice president, marketing directors, programming chairs, operations advisors, financing and communications.
Current organization president Kaylyn Becton is a senior majoring in childhood education. She joined College Curls after transferring to Georgia State from the University of West Georgia.
“I really just wanted to get more involved on campus at ga state. I looked through [the Panther Involvement Network] and was like, ‘College Curls? That sounds cool.’ They didn’t have anything like that at West Georgia. First, I started out as a regular member. Last year, I was a programming chair,” Becton said. “The reason I wanted to be president this year was to redirect [College Curls], refocus it and get more involvement.”
Perjah Roberts, a criminal justice major with a minor in psychology, joined the organization while in the midst of her own natural hair journey. She joined last year and is now the vice president.
Andrea Wilborne, one of three programming chairs, found a second home in College Curls after transferring to Georgia State like Becton.
“I remember looking at organization’s instagrams and I found this one,” Wilborne said. “I saw posts where they had curly hair of the week, and I like how they gave confidence and showed different hair types and different types of beauty. That’s what made me really like College Curls.”
Once a member, students can either pay $15 for standard dues, or pay an extra $10 to receive a T-shirt. Once the dues are paid, new members are invited to the organization’s GroupMe. There are also special privileges for members, such as a trip to Curl Fest and giveaways.
Although College Curls typically focuses on topics most related to women of color, anyone can join.
”We’re open to all ethnicities and we’re gender-neutral,” Wilborne and Roberts said. “There are other people not of color who have curly hair, so we want to reach out to everyone.”
Another important topic to College Curls is community service. In November, they will host College Curls Week, which will be available to all students regardless of membership. There will be workout activity sessions and an opportunity to make products from scratch.
College Curls Week will also feature two panels: one on entrepreneurship and beauty influencers, while the other will focus on natural hair in the workplace.
The organization has already closed membership applications for the fall semester; however, they will reopen in the spring semester as an opportunity for more students to find support during their hair journey.
“Be unapologetically you and love yourself. That’s what College Curls is about,” Becton said.
