Kenty Lichtenberg of Be Your Own Brand and Maya Williams – Thomas CEO of Re-flourish at the kick-off event of Beyond The Curl In St. Eustatius.
ST. EUSTATIUS--A two-day workshop exploring the connections between black hair, African ancestry, Caribbean heritage and personal identity is being held in St. Eustatius on October 13 and 14.
The first Statia edition of Beyond the Curl is led by Sharday Benett in collaboration with the Slavery Memorial Committee, with St. Maarten-based facilitators Kenty Lichtenberg and Maya Williams-Thomas contributing to the programme.
The workshop builds on Our Hair, Our Legacy, a St. Maarten-based initiative launched in June 2026 that used photography, storytelling and historical reflection to explore the ancestral significance of Black hair.
Participants will explore the history of black hair and head wrapping, the impact of slavery and colonial beauty standards, the development of natural hairstyles, and the role of hair in cultural identity and self-expression. Discussions, creative activities and practical demonstrations are also planned.
Lichtenberg, founder of Kerai Kreative Style and Be Your Own Brand, will lead workshops and presentations, while Williams-Thomas, founder of Reflourish Haircare, will contribute knowledge of natural hair care and confidence-building.
“For us, the initiative represents an opportunity to ensure that the stories connected to black hair are not lost between generations, it represents the collaborative spirit of women working together to bring history together while promoting our identity,” said both Maya and Kenty.
The initiative aims to help participants connect their personal experiences and family traditions to the wider Afro-Caribbean story, while encouraging cultural knowledge to be passed on to future generations.
The Slavery Memorial Committee’s support reflects the importance of education, remembrance and dialogue about the lasting impact of slavery and the preservation of
cultural heritage.
