Nadine Sparks didn’t know how to style her hair growing up. She created Unity Wigs and Hair Services in Dartmouth, N.S., to help young women in her community who are struggling the same way she and her family members did. “A lot of our younger people that I get that come in and even older adults I see, from a young age, they’ve learned not to like their hair,” Sparks told CTV News. “That’s a problem for me.” Unity celebrated African Heritage Month with a hands-on hair demonstration Sunday at the Alderney Landing Artisan Market where Sparks taught people to style their locks and empowered them to feel good about their hair. “We never had the proper tools to do our hair or we couldn’t just go to any salon to get our hair done,” Sparks says. “So now when I have people come into my salon, I uplift them and I make them know ‘your hair is beautiful.’ And it is. We have beautiful hair. I just want people to know that.” Sparks says she loves her job because it brings people together and makes them feel good. She and fellow stylist Twyla Downey-Cromell joined forces Sunday to create an interactive program that invited people to learn more about textured hair care, braiding techniques, and cultural hairstyling traditions for African Heritage Month. “I think it’s a big confidence booster, for especially young teenagers,” said Downey-Cromwell. “Just growing up there’s not a lot of representation that our hair is beautiful. Our hair is unique. So I would just like to always build confidence in young girls so that they know that their hair is beautiful.” Downey-Cromwell says young women can do anything if they have the confidence. She says the point is to give them the tools to be creative so they can fall in love with their hair. “It’s a passion of mine to serve the community, make everybody feel and look good,” she says. “I always say, good hair, good mood, good day.” Downey-Cromwell says she loves working with children. She and Sparks are also putting on a March break camp called “Love Your Crown,” to teach kids proper hair care techniques. “There’s going to be ongoing workshops and stuff like that for people of all ages, even moms,” Sparks says. “We’re going to start making moves in the community.” For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
