The “Beyond the Chair” event, planned to take place on July 19th,2025, is meant to give hairstylists the spotlight they deserve. The event is a gala that celebrates the creativity, culture, and hard work of hairstylists, especially braiders, who help shape how we look and feel every day.
Happening at The Living Rooms in Ngara, Nairobi, from 2 pm to late, the event is organized by Braiding Nairobi, a platform born out of an initiative to tell the real stories of women in Kenyatta Market. Braiding Nairobi is an application that makes booking a hairstylist quick, easy, and convenient for customers. The gala is being held to mark the platform’s first anniversary.
Braiding has been a big part of African culture for years. Styles like cornrows, braids, locs, and twists are fashionable, but more than that, they are a personal and cultural statement. They show pride, identity, and history. However, the people who create these styles are often not given credit or recognition. Beyond the Chair, therefore, hopes to change the narrative.
The event will feature a live runway show with unique hairstyles and designs, live braiding demonstrations, and a gala at night to celebrate African art, beauty, and culture. Stylists are expected to work with models in showing their utmost creative work, turning the stage into a celebration of hair as art.
The organisers aim to make people understand that hairstyling is more than a side hustle or informal job. Stylists often learn the craft from a young age and support their families through their work. Braiding is a creative career that takes time, practice, and passion, and it should be appreciated for what it is.
Showcasing their work and designs would help change how people view the beauty industry. It opens doors for stylists to work with brands, media, and fashion teams. It also shows young people that being a hairstylist is something to be proud of.
Since launching in 2023, Braiding Nairobi has shared real-life stories online, videos, interviews, and photos of hairstylists from Kenyatta Market, doing amazing work. Beyond the Chair brings that community to life and creates a space where hairstylists can connect, grow, and be celebrated.
This won’t be a one-time event. Braiding Nairobi hopes to make it an annual tradition and maybe even take it to other cities in the future.
As Nairobi counts down to July 19th, it’s clear that this is the moment to give overdue credit to the hairstylists who support ladies’ confidence, shape their style, and use their hands to create art every day.
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