Hair Freedom Expo

ABOUT ENABLE WOMEN AFRICA

Enable Women Africa (EWA) is an emerging global not-for-profit organisation founded in Australia with a vision to end hair discrimination and restore cultural dignity for Black and multicultural women and girls. EWA uses hair as a powerful symbol of identity to inspire change, celebrate heritage, and open pathways to opportunity, education, and empowerment.

Our priority area of work includes:

• Raising awareness of hair as an identity, a foundation for leadership.
• Partnering with community organisations, companies and government agencies to address hair discrimination for Black and multicultural women and girls.
• Working with Black and multicultural women and girls to ensure they can wear their hair without stigma; and
• Creating culturally safe spaces for skill building and economic participation.

Event Overview

Enable Women Africa is hosting the Hair Freedom EXPO event to celebrate coily, kinky, and curly hair as a source of identity, pride, and empowerment, creating culturally safe spaces that strengthen confidence, leadership, and economic participation for women and girls. A first-of-its-kind in Australia, acting as a soft launch, and EXPO to convene leaders, educators, industry, and community to address the ongoing impact of hair discrimination on Black and multicultural women and girls across Australia.

AUDIENCE & ENGAGEMENT

Key Attendees:

• Multicultural women & girls (school-aged, youth, and adults)
• Professionals, government agencies, NGOs, students, educators, and leaders
• Salons, hair brands, creatives, and lifestyle influencers

Hair stigma begins at a young age and impacts confidence, participation, and later workplace experiences. At the same time, Australia’s coil, kinky, and curly hair market remains largely underserved, with a loyal and growing customer base actively looking for the right stylists.

We’d be proud to welcome your organisation as a sponsor, stallholder, or show bag partner. This is a clear opportunity to lead with impact while connecting directly to an untapped market segment. In return, your organisation benefits from:

• High-impact brand exposure
• Promotion across digital screens, social, stages and EDMs
• Direct engagement with untapped markets and other attendees
• A feature in our monthly newsletter and social media platforms.

WHY ENABLE WOMEN AFRICA, WHY NOW?

• The African-born population in Australia >500,000, more than doubled in 20 years (ABS data June 2023)
• A growing number of Australians with coily, kinky, or curly hair are living in Australia
• Vibrant, culturally influential, and underserved community

In 2021, the Australian Institute of Family Studies found that 1 in 3 teens report appearance-based discrimination^*.

Hair discrimination, driven by stigma, affects far more Black women and girls in Australia than is widely acknowledged. It is uncommon to see a Black woman in professional settings wearing the hair she was born with, as social and workplace pressures often dictate otherwise. Many women feel compelled to wear wigs to work, while school-aged girls turn to add synthetic extensions to conform.

The personal, social, financial, and environmental consequences of navigating the world this way are profound and far-reaching. The ongoing cost of wigs, creating cyclical ‘hair poverty” among these women and their families. The consequences are significant but they are preventable with the right leadership and support.

EVENT OVERVIEW

• Exhibitor Marketplace: Hair care, beauty, wellness, and fashion brands
• Workshops & Live Demos: Styling, education, and professional tips
• Panel Discussions & Keynotes: Inspiration, career guidance, lived exp.
• Networking Opportunities: community, creatives, & industry