Hairstylist Jawara Proudly Ignores the Idea of What's Traditionally Beautiful

BEYOND THE LIMITSHairstylist Jawara Proudly Ignores the Idea of What's Traditionally Beautiful For Allure's June/July issue, Jawara sculpted high and mighty works of art with locs, twists, and braids. Through each style, he continues to shape the future of hair. 

By Paige Stables

Photography by Sølve Sundsbø

May 20, 2022

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Hairstylist Jawara is in perpetual motion. "I love to approach the unknown," he says. And he doesn't hesitate to do so. When you discover his artistry, you are greeted by the unconventional. Hair is sculpted into seemingly impossible shapes — and it's a masterpiece.

His creative mind is heavily influenced by Black culture. Born in New York and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, his view of beauty is a reflection of the Caribbean and everywhere he has traveled throughout his life. "I consider myself an expressionist of love and things that I adore," Jawara, who is also Fekkai's international stylist partner, tells Allure. "And I admire Black women. That is one thing that will never change," he adds.  

This admiration is alive even in his subconscious. Jawara had a dream one night of four melanated women with eccentric hair living in a world with no discrimination. Just beauty. For Allure's June/July issue, The Melanin Edit, he turned this vision into a magnificent reality.

"I created these towering shapes where the hair is [worn] proudly, like an award," says Jawara. It’s the beehive taken to new heights, with a mixture of protective styles — locs, twists, braids —blended into one. Look closely and you'll also see a few streaks of silver paint.

Left: Elissa Poppy dress. Right: Elissa  Poppy sleeves, bandeau, and skirt.

Below, "this otherworldly woman is in movement," says Jawara, and the only direction she’s going with metallic-painted highlights is above and beyond.  

Loewe dress. Jessica McCormack necklace.

Jawara sculpted braids and locs into bends and crowns reminiscent of trees, then froze them with an intense gust of hairspray. The organic silhouettes send a message of new life and changing seasons through the hair, says Jawara. And it's an invitation to branch out and see what happens.

Left: Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello dress and necklace. Model’s own earrings. Right: 16Arlington dress. Annoushka bracelets

Jawara’s mission and his challenge to us: Ignore the idea of what's traditionally beautiful as it pertains to hair. There’s no one-way direction for creating volume — and there are limitless definitions of beauty.

Left: Bottega Veneta blazer, trousers, belt, and earrings. Right: Balmain dress. Fernando Jorge necklace. Deve earrings.

A version of this story originally appeared in the May 2022 issue of Allure. Learn how to subscribe here.

Read more stories from The Melanin Edit:

• Chlöe Takes Her Place Among the Hip-Hop Feminists
• It's Time to Broaden Our Views of Women Who Wear Locs
• The Afrofuturist Beauty Renaissance Is Happening Now

Now watch our cover star Chlöe take us through her beauty evolution:

Paige Stables is a beauty editor at Allure. Previously, she worked at Hearst Magazines, where she covered beauty for Cosmopolitan, Seventeen, Good Housekeeping, Prevention, and Woman's Day. Paige received a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from the University of San Diego in California, during which time she interned... Read moreBeauty Editor

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KeywordsMelanin Editrepackagehairblack hairstylesphoto shoot