Photography by Derrick Reed/@ptseventyeight. Makeup by Sineca Butler/@iamsinderella_
No matter your thumb-tacked location on the global map, a common thread that will continue to connect sistas is our hair…
Long locs short story: I started my journey with afro puffs and pigtails as a kid; entered the world of perms, weaves and whatever else during my teen and college years; and braved the big chop by my mid-20s.
Today, I’m a seven-year dreadlocked gal who’s wildly obsessed with everything maintenance- and accessory-driven for locs — especially on editorial fronts.
A connoisseur of hair and beauty articles home and abroad, Black Beauty & Hair has been a primary source of inspiration for me to recreate cutting-edge hairstyles that complement my creative career.
Updos, curly cues, wavy layers and braided loc styles: You name it, I slay it at least once during the week. My dreadlock styling options are endless for one key reason: I love primpin’ (or fumbling with my hair as grandma calls it) my locs in the mirror — for hours some weekends. Sad, but true.
Oh! I’m also an award-winning journalist and fourth-generation farm girl.
Complete weirdness, right? But stick with me.
I’ve always appreciated the countryside of my U.S. peach-producing state, Georgia, which is where sweet tea, “hey, y’all,” black hair and hip hop carries cultural clout.
Well to celebrate my Deep South fashion, beauty and tresses in between newspaper reporting and magazine writing, I developed digital platform Southern Styles & Steeds (southernstylesandsteeds.com) during 2013.
It’s basically a modern cowgirl-meets-Erykah Badu hodgepodge of my personal fashion and loc lifestyle. Merging my adoration for contemporary country Western wear with today’s innovative loc styles and accessories, I’ve also created this beautifully bizarre fashion sense and space where women of every walk of life can find something to relate to — whether urban or rural in beauty and hair.
My pioneering blogazine helped catapult my digital writing and wardrobe styling career. A year after launching it, I landed my first major styling gig with award-winning, international photographer Bryan Schutmaat (www.bryanschutmaat.com) and London-based ad agency M&C Saatchi (mcsaatchi.com). Check out the creative project here (http://southernstylesandsteeds.com/editorial-work/).
From there, I became publicist and stylist for fellow loc star and larger-than-life entertainer Khia Thug Misses (www.khiathugmisses.com). Yes, My Neck, My Back Khia.
Living in what’s now considered the “Hollywood of the South,” I currently create original content in fashion, film and TV for award-winning national newspaper The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (www.ajc.com).
And when I’m not typing (which is rare), I’m constantly networking with hair and beauty colleagues at international events like Bronner Bros. International Beauty Show (http://bronnerbros.com/) and Taliah Waajid’s World Natural Hair Health & Beauty Show (http://www.naturalhairshow.org/) in Atlanta, Georgia.
So, here we are. Connecting to Black Beauty & Hair Magazine’s mission, I look forward to sharing tips, tricks, dos, don’ts and why-the-hell-nots this year to maintaining healthy locs.
Candace Morrow, a.k.a. Cowgirl Candace
Remind me of Khia's locs long pretty and healthy! Dope article
You are too AWESOME! Glad to call you my Homegirl!
Thanks so much! #ForTheHomeTeam #YouRock
Looking forward to your tips and tricks. Continue to excel and make major moves.
Today I read many of your works. Really enjoyed them and learned a few things. You are fabulous!