Season 4, Episode 6: Healing from hair loss with Dr. Monte Harris

Don't get your edges snatched. Hair loss has reached alarming rates for Black women, and it can often be preventable or treated through designing an integrative wellness plan. Facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Monte Harris, describes his professional approach to addressing hair loss in Black women through a culturally sensitive journey of self-discovery, from reducing stress through meditation, reconnecting to African ancestry, and the medical procedures of hair restoration and transplantation.

Website: www.harrisface.com

Season 4, Episode 5: Healing through African Spirituality with Baba Sekou

African spirituality is not only what our ancestors practiced for millennia, but includes modern methods for taking care of yourself and your family. In this episode, Dr. Afiya had a conversation with Baba Sekou Olayinka, a Babalawo, which is an initiated priest in the spiritual system of Ifa amongst the Yoruba people of Nigeria. He provides spiritual consultations and readings, as well as educates families on Iwa Pele, the Yoruba concept of good character. The episode emphasizes that the path to good health is having strong spiritual roots and good character.

IG: @speaktoafter

Website: www.speaktoafter.com

Season 4, Episode 4: Building self-esteem through hair with Auntie Arlette

You know that auntie that always keeps it real, blesses you with gifts and advice, and loves you unconditionally? Well, Arlette Pender is not only a master pioneer of the natural hair industry, but she also volunteers her time and money to be the auntie to hundreds of girls learning to love themselves. In this episode, listen in to this storyteller share the highs and lows of her personal life and how she figured out a way to help communities feel loved through their hair. 

Instagram: @hairloks

Website: www.hairloksbyarlette.com

Season 4, Episode 3: Braids in Tech with Lonye Ford

Yes, you can wear braids at the Pentagon! Black women in high positions are often faced with a decision about what hair is considered professional. Lonye Ford, a cybersecurity expert, chronicles her impactful career as Black woman in the military and rising through the ranks of cybersecurity. She highlights each achievement with being intentional about her hair each stage of the way for her success.

Season 4, Episode 2: Understanding the CROWN Act with Professor Wendy Greene

Black hair is often policed; we've all seen the stories of kids being kicked out of school and people losing their jobs because of the appearance of their hair. The CROWN Act ensures protection against discrimination based on hairstyles by extending statutory protection to hair texture and protective styles in the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and state Education Codes. Professor Wendy Greene has dedicated her legal career to civil rights, racial and gender equity, and appearance discrimination. In this episode, she breaks down how she advocates for the CROWN Act at the local and national level to #FreeTheHair !

Instagram: @naturallaw77 and @professordwendy

Season 4, Episode 1: The beauty of mental health advocacy with Kyra Pinkney

Taking care of your mental health does not need to get ugly. Kyra Pinkney (Beauty Influencer and Mental Health Advocate) shares the intimate details of her journey in managing mental illness and how she transformed doing her hair and makeup in front of thousands online into a mental health ritual to compliment her therapy.

Instagram: @kyraariana_

Season 3, Episode 8: All About Depression with Dr. Benson Cooke and Dr. Nathalie Mizelle-Johnson

Major depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the United States that impacts millions of people on a daily basis, and yet it is often misunderstood. In this episode, Dr. Afiya sits down with her colleagues/co-authors Dr. Benson G. Cooke and Dr. Nathalie Mizelle-Johnson to discuss their recently released book, "All About Depression." These experts explain the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for depression at the individual and community level, including utilizing the space of hair salons and barbershops to treat depression.

Get your digital copy at: https://he.kendallhunt.com/product/all-about-depression

Season 3, Episode 7: Black Women's Mental Health with Dr. Huberta Jackson-Lowma

What is the psychology of Black women? Dr. Huberta Jackson-Lowman has dedicated her career to answering this question. She is the immediate past president of the Association of Black Psychologists, an international organization dedicated towards liberation of the African mind, empowerment of African character, and illumination the African spirit. In this episode, Dr. Afiya and Dr. Huberta Jackson-Lowman discuss all things Black women's mental health.

Season 3, Episode 6: Hair Stress with Dr. Evelyn Winfield-Thomas

Do you have hair stress? Hair stress is defined as the physical (hormonal, hair and scalp conditions) and psychological (anxiety) effects of persistent and improper hair care and styling practices used to transform hair from its authentic state to achieve and maintain a desired unnatural texture and appearance. In this episode Dr. Afiya and Dr. Evelyn Winfield-Thomas (a psychologist, university administrator, and hair researcher) discuss the complexity of hair stress in the lives of Black women.

Season 3, Episode 5: Black Identity with Dr. William Cross

What is the process of "becoming Black"? Several theories and measures have emerged in the field of psychology in attempts of answering this very question. In the episode, Dr. Afiya worked up the courage to interview the esteemed Dr. William E. Cross Jr while he was in a busy lobby between sessions at the Black Psychologists conference. Dr. Cross is a theorist and researcher in Black identity development. He is best known for his Nigrescence Model, first detailed in a 1971 publication, and his book, Shades of Black, published in 1991. Cross’ Nigrescence Model expanded upon the work of Black psychologists who came before him, and created an important foundation for racial/ethnic identity psychology. Throughout his career, Cross has been concerned with racial identity theory and the negative effects of Western thought and science on the psychology of Black Americans, specifically the need for “psychological liberation under conditions of oppression.”

Season 3, Episode 4: Mood disorders with Dr. Lisa Whitten

It is not often that a psychologist shares the complexities of their own mental health with the public. However, mental health professionals have a responsibility to be self-aware about mental illness and seek treatment for themselves through therapy and self-care. Dr. Lisa Whitten (psychologist and Black hair researcher) discusses her life as a psychologist with a mood disorder, specifically bipolar disorder. This episode highlights how hair can be used as both a trigger for mood disorders and form of treatment.

Season 3, Episode 3: Sankofa Journey with Dr. Mawiyah Kambon

Psychology can take you on a journey to discover yourself, your purpose, and to change our world. In this episode, Dr. Afiya engages in a meditative conversation with Dr. Mawiyah Kambon on the history of Black psychology and the process of merging psychology with African spirituality. Dr. Mawiyah Kambon is a licensed psychologist, past president of the Association of Black Psychologists, and founder of the Sankofa Journey African travel company. She took Dr. Afiya on her first trip to Africa about 10 years ago. Dr. Kambon will be leading her next Sankofa Journey to Ghana and Benin from May 26 - June 8, 2020.

Websites: www.sankofajourney.com and www.onipa.com

Season 3, Episode 2: Social Media Psychology with Dr. Nina Ellis-Hervey

We need to use what is happening on social media to push us to have the hard conversations in person, especially as relates to Black beauty and mental health. You may know her as the YouTube beauty vlogger BeautifulBrwnBabyDol with over a million followers on social media, but Dr. Nina is also a tenured professor of psychology, licensed psychologist, and certified life coach. In this episode, Dr. Afiya and Dr. Nina have a phone session focused on the process of becoming a psychologist, the role of psychologists on social media, the psychology of natural hair, and exciting new projects coming out.

YouTube & Instagram: beautifulbrwnbabydol

Website: www.drninaellishervey.com

Season 3, Episode 1: Wholistic Mental Health with Omikunle Ekundayo

Soulcare can take you to places beyond what you have imagined, if you are willing to make the investment. Wellness is a lifestyle that has deep African roots like meditation, yoga, secure emotional support, and a live food diet. In this episode of PsychoHairapy with Dr. Afiya, Omikunle Ekundayo (formerly known as Ashley Freeze) takes us on a journey of how she discovered her life purpose as a mental health therapist and healer as a millennial traveling the globe and her inner world.

IG: @omikunlewa , @theomiwalicenter , @thesoulcareretreat

Website: www.omiwali.com

Season 2, Episode 6: Yene Damtew

Hair is a language, it is the first thing a woman says before she speaks. Yene Damtew is fluent in the language of hair as the owner of Aesthetics Salon in Arlington, VA and as one of the two personal stylists to the Obama family for the past decade, as well as several celebrity clients across the country. In this episode, Dr. Afiya and Yene Damtew discuss the politics of hair and hair care.

Instagram: @yenedamtew and @aesthetics.salon

Website: https://www.aesthetics.salon

Season 2, Episode 5: Dr. Kari

The hair doctor is in! Trichologists are professionals in the the branch of medical and cosmetic practice concerned with the hair and scalp. Dr. Kari, a trichologist and hairstylist, is known throughout Hollywood by some of her clients (such as Brandy Norwood, Meagan Good, Willow Smith and Ava Duvernay) as having a healing touch and she launched into fame as the creator of The Goddess Locs. Dr. Afiya and Dr. Kari tap into the medical, spiritual, and educational importance of hair care practices and offer ideas into building a business as a celebrity hairstylist.

Instagram: @drkariwill

Website: www.drkariwilliams.com and www.mahoganyrevolution.com

Season 2, Episode 4: Wade the Barber

With about 80 million Americans facing hair loss, Wade the Barber found his entry point in resolving hair loss issues for men of all hair textures through his unique hair units. His transformation videos of men’s hair replacement have taken the Internet by storm and globally popularized his special techniques making him a sought after master educator and entrepreneur. Dr. Afiya chatted with Wade Menendez on the signficance of restoring confidence to men experiencing hair loss and the power of barbers to transform lives.

Instagram: wadethebarber

Website: www.wadethebarber.com

Season 2, Episode 3: Shani Crowe

Remember Solange’s breakthrough hit “Don’t Touch My Hair”? Well, Solange had to make an exception for the master braider and interdisciplinary artist, Shani Crowe, to create gravity defying braids with her hair. In this episode, Dr. Afiya sits down with Shani Crowe at Sankofa Cafe in Washington DC to reflect upon the powerful connection between mind, body, and spirit in the art of braiding.

Instagram: crowezilla

Website: www.shanicrowe.com

Season 2, Episode 2: Skye Charlie

The struggle is real! But, you have to keep the faith. Skye Charlie and Dr. Afiya reflect on the power of vision in growing a successful career in the hair care and the fashion industries.

Instragram: @the_afropolitan and @businessofblackhair

Season 2, Episode 1: Angela Walker

Did you eat today? Or drink enough water? What about exercise? Hustling in the hair care industry does not mean that you should neglect your own health. Dr. Afiya and Angela Walker (owner of N Natural Hair Studio and Professional Experience Curator) engage in a chat on how to be business minded while engaging in self-care in the natural hair industry.

Instagram: @angelagonesocial @nnaturalhairstudio @naturalhairindustryconvention