Textures of being: fostering hair texture inclusivity in Singapore

• Main Author: Shreya, Menon
• Other Authors: Yam Min Yee Angeline
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2023
• Subjects: Visual arts and music
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/168140
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This project revolves around representing the textured hair sub-community in Singapore. Firstly, it is crucial to know that any type of hair that isn’t naturally straight is considered as ‘textured hair’. Textured hair comes with the connotation of being frizzy, unruly, not put-together, unprofessional – so much so that it is often viewed as an undesirable trait. (Banks, 2000). The world we live in has people of various races and ethnicities. Hence it is only normal for everyone to have different physical traits. These include a vast majority of skin tones, facial features, and hair textures to name a few. Unfortunately, heavy western and Eurocentric influences have led to anything but straight hair being looked down upon. This flawed beauty standard is one of the reasons why people with textured hair face severe discrimination be it in the workplace or at school etc. The aim of this project is to address the biasness towards the textured hair community in Singapore by enabling more ‘hair inclusive’ conversations and to develop a sense of appreciation within the public towards textured hair.