TheBlack diasporais a powerful entity.
Through the lens of beauty, Afro-diasporic women share countless threads of connection and experiences.
Anaelle describes Haitian beauty as both an external and internal value, with emphasis on the natural.
Design by Ingrid Fraham
“When I think of how beautys viewed in Haiti, I think of nature,” Anaelle tellsAllure.
“Because the comparisons and the compliments always have to do with nature.”
I just remember feeling like they would do [these] things as they were living their day-to-day.
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("[I’m] not buying that $30 papaya mask!")
I truly see it as a privilege… “My mum never really complimented me on my beauty,” says Nenna.
It wasn’t the main goal for me, it was just always studying and playing, having fun.
What Nenna means is that her darker complexion has not always fit into traditional Thai beauty standards.
Still, Nenna’s mother taught her to take care of her skin, regardless of her complexion.
That’s what I did when I was younger."
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Now, she turns to her Nespresso for her beauty needs.
“I don’t understand why people are so scared of aging,” she says.
“I think [it’s] beautiful.
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You’ve lived life, you know?”
“I know a lot of Garifuna people do this as well, not just me.
I know a lot of women back home make their own hair masks.
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And I think that’s probably a Caribbean thing too, becauseCardi B does that with her daughter.”
Alexa attributes this DIY approach to beauty to a lack of access to expensive products back home.
“We always found a way,” she says.
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“[It’s] a survival thing but it works!
I really believe that God created all things on earth for a reason.
Alexa describes batana oil as a multi-purpose, multi-beneficial oil used by all members of her community.
“I use it before I go to sleep at night.”
“Every time we go back home, we bring a bottle [back]…
I havelocs, [and with locs] you have to oil your scalp all the time.
However, The Gambia still has a stronger influence on her approach to beauty than Sweden does.
You will not see us in any marketing, you will not see us represented, period… “[Her] idea of beauty is intelligence,” says Lovette.
“Also the way you carry yourself is kind of seen as beautiful,” Maame adds.
I think it definitely goes beyond [the] physical.”
“Jewelry is the only thing that’s really passed down in my family,” she says.
“Jewelry is really important to us.
It’s the one thing I think me and my sisters especially keep close.
Having the jade necklace from my grandma, or like the jade ring or the jade earrings.
For years, he was excluded from the Chinese cultural immersion his siblings experienced.
His upbringing bred a new beauty tradition of strong individualism.
“And I think that comes back to how she was raised.
