The hair connoisseur behind Houston’s KnkyHair Showcase
By: Samantha Dorisca
Multidisciplinary artist Salma Ekambi’s hairstyling journey began at the age of 8 as she learned to grow healthy hair from her Morocoonan Arabic mother. As a pre-teen, girls flocked to her apartments each homecoming season for spiral curls. In her heart, Ekambi knew she would become a hairstylist when she grew older.
At the age of 30, Ekambi has extended her platform to showcase unique perspectives on black hairstyles with the production of the KNKYHair Showcase, making its first splash in Houston on February 25th, 2021.
With the third showcase set to debut at an undisclosed date in July, you can expect avant-garde hairstyles curated by Ekambi.
Model Ken’Nadi Broussard I Knky Hair Showcase.
The showcase is an extension of the Black History Project (BHP) created by Ekambi in 2013 to produce a home for the black community.
“There was spiritual warfare happening against our people eight years ago with the rampant slaying of children and tactical things happening to our race. Spiritually, I felt I needed to reclaim time allocated to us to remember our history and shed light on individuals in real-time, people who deserve their flowers now. I wanted our audience to take away a renewed sense of encouragement,” said Ekambi.
Ekambi has operated behind the shadows of past BHP productions, placing the spotlights on black talents. Ekambi made her first attempt to enter the limelight in 2020, which was unfortunately cut short due to the pandemic.
Ekambi revived the showcase in February on a smaller scale, teaming up with photographer Megan Sumpton and Houston-based stylist Ashanti Minix.
An ode to the 1997 American classic B.A.P.S., the showcase boasted an array of daring hairstyles. A crowd favorite, bejeweled pigtails worn on 23-year-old plus-sized model Ausha Simone. Simone shared her sentiment for black hair.
“Since I was little, I would sit in between my mom's legs and she would start putting blue magic grease and applying barrettes. My hair reminds me of a tree. It keeps growing stronger and healthier. Black hair is a reminder of how we keep growing no matter the circumstances and what struggles we face,” Simone stated.
This year's showcase was held in honor of Ekambi’s mother who passed away in 2017. Upon the passing of her mother, Ekambi took a step away from creative ventures to pursue commercial work in order to ensure expenses were paid. The death of her mother encouraged her to push forward despite the magnitude of her loss and to continue producing the event. “My sole motivation for producing this event is the pride that my mom had in me for doing it,” Ekambi revealed.
Curating the showcase presented financial challenges, as Ekambi raises funds from a collection of bookings year-round to ensure the production of the showcase does not come at the expense of the community.
Her efforts were not in vain leaving a profound impression on many who were in attendance, including 32-year-old Houstonian Terrance Rice who shared, “It is always good to get our people together and celebrate ourselves. Our hair is part of the foundation of who we are as black people. When I got my hair twisted, I felt I was no longer going to be bound to the perceptions of how black people should be in the world. I wear my hair naturally with pride no longer fearful of the backlash because of how I am.”
The KNKYHair Showcase grants Ekambi a stellar entrance into the creative realm producing a space where her community is able to relish and reflect on their roots.
The third showcase will be held on a larger scale meaning more glitz, eye-catching fashion, and intricate hair looks to relish in! For updates on the next showcase, RSVP here.
