Teresa Hardaway, two years ago, was a designer starting her Master’s Degree at the University of North Texas. She needed to find a study for her degree. After jumbling through different options, Hardaway came up with a study that would resonate with thousands.
Teresa Hardaway, founder of Project Naptural. Naptural is defined as the new age description of chemical free African American hair. (Photo Credit: Teresa Hardaway)
Project Naptural is a study that turned into a brand. Natural, which Naptural comes from, means to have chemical free hair. The acid-like product of a perm helps to smooth out African American women’s hair to a state that isn’t natural. Naptural is becoming a more common approach to kept hair– a new age fashion twist.
“I didn’t invent the name Naptural. The community of [chemical free] natural hair did. I’ve just used and enhanced it,” said Hardaway reassuringly.
Two years ago, Hardaway started by calling forth focus groups of African American women to have meetings about their hair on campus. She simply would ask the women what hair they had and what they thought of their hair. These groups would have life changing discussions on the struggle of being an African American and having natural hair. The African American women voiced their concern of trying to be successful and their hair being called “nappy” or “unkept”.
“The meetings were intended to be an hour and turned into four,” Hardaway smiling said, “They were deeply moved by it.”
Realizing the need for women of color to embrace their natural hair state. Hardaway expanded her blog site into much more. The blog helped showcase her journey from her hair being chemically relaxed to chemical free hair. Currently, the site helps women with written out stories, tutorials and informative vlogs. The blog also coincides with the Project Naptural’s numerous social media sites like Twitter.
The monumental moment, so far, for Hardaway was the University of North Texas Exhibit. The exhibit was held in the Union from January 15 to February 6, 2016. This exhibit was an expansion of the focus groups that Hardaway was used to. However, this exhibit reached thousands. The exhibit gave an opening for all races and genders to understand the need for racial understanding of African American women. Hardaway states that she had people of all races ask her questions about the project. She explained how majority of the viewers didn’t even know it was an issue for African American women. Other African American women were moved by the exhibit and caused tons of emotion.
Onlookers at the Opening of the UNT Exhibit. Middle, Teresa Hardaway, founder of Project Naptural.
“When I saw the exhibit right in the middle of the Union, I was moved to tears. Not tears of sadness but of joy. Joy for the acknowledgement of my people,” said Junior Tatyana Parks.
Including what she did at her focus group, Hardaway put two blank white boards for races to input their hairstyles and what they felt about them. There was an overloading amount of data.
Writers on the poster boards at Project Naptural Exhibit. These boards are used for people to write what hairstyle they have an how they feel about it. (Credit to Teresa Hardaway)
“There is so much data that I am still in the process of going through,” Hardaway stated.
Now, a Master’s graduate and currently a professor at UNT, Hardaway is branching out even more. Hardaway is expected at different forums and panels this year nationally discussing Project Naptural. Also, Hardaway is working on expanding a mobile application, specifically for African American women. This site will help African American women that are natural by giving them selections on hairstyles and stylists near them. Hardaway is driven by her success due to the people she is helping. She feels that this project can resonate with everyone.
“I felt there was a need and I went with that,” Hardaway says. “I feel that people shouldn’t just go off of what something is doing for them. People should help each other. This project could open doors for other communities as well. We as mankind should help.”
If you are interested in helping, Project Naptural’s mobile application is in the works and needs donations. Visit Project Naptural for information.
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