Reclaiming care, connection, and culture through hair. We are a community-rooted initiative focused on making hair care accessible, educational, and healing-centered for Black communities in Kitchener Waterloo Region.
We believe that hair is more than just a physical feature; it is a vital part of our identity and well-being. By creating accessible, educational spaces, we are building a foundation for collective healing and cultural pride.
Our work is grounded in the belief that care should not be a luxury but a right. Through workshops, storytelling, and intentional gatherings, we empower Black youth and communities to reclaim their identity and build structures rooted in the community's trust. We are building a sustainable care system that honors the intersection of health and culture.
Our work is grounded in three essential pillars of care, growth, and healing.
We believe communities thrive when there are spaces that hold and protect knowledge, much like libraries. These spaces allow stories, lessons, wisdom, and peace to be shared across generations.
With a focus on restoring identity, reclaiming dignity, empowering through education, and a nurturing community, we equip our youth for the future ahead.
By creating and nurturing such environments, we support emotional intelligence, collective healing, and meaningful community growth.
Reflecting on our journey through the seasons. Check out what each quarter brought to our community.
On February 20th, 2026, the Coil Care Project launched its very first Quarter theme, “Rest as Resilience”. Inspired by Rest as Resistance by Tricia Hersey, the CCP wanted to start their very first quarter with rest, community, and care.
From delicious food and ice cream from Yembol’s Catering and FourAll Ice Cream to the Coil stations featuring Joyce Achayo, founder of Studio 86, Vensssa Lewis, founder of Niya’s Coily World, and Vanessa Okoree from vanessaxCornor, the night brought a night of connection, knowledge, and rest. The main showcase is our runway, which features 8 protective styles you can learn more about on our blog! Truly a remarkable night filled with elected and community leaders, founders, family, friends, and community members.
Facilitated by Najma Mohamed and Benedicta Efua on February 27th, 2026. Extending on the theme Rest as Resilience, participants spent time in discussion with Najma, breaking down what rest means personally, the cause and effect of rest/lack of rest, and the stresses that upend hustle culture.
Catered by Kitchen Wall Hakka in Kitchener, conversations continued into dinner and finally to the juicy part of the workshop. Benedicta started the participant off with basic knowledge through interactive true-or-false and Q&A. After going over safety and basic knowledge of space health, maintaining, and making products at home safely, the workshop began, and everyone made personalized hair oils.
Participants went home with Coil Care Kits that included 4 types of bamboo combs (rattail, detangler, pick, and wide-tooth), satin bonnets, personalized hair oils, and a travel kit with shampoo, conditioner, heat protectant spray, and hair mask.
Special thank you to the Family and Children’s Foundation for hosting us at the Youth Room at the Family Center.
To close out the quarter, we wrote an article in collaboration with Community Edition. The process was something else. With our main writers Aanu and Najma, and Aisha and Rofiat as our editors, our journey with this article began with a workshop on March 12th, 2026, where we talked through the story we wanted to tell. From there through the 23rd, we were on a quest to capture the nuances of our very first events in a word count — full of late nights and plenty of amazement along the way.
Check out the collaborated article with Community Edition using the button below. For the full version, visit their page, which also includes an additional blog on the styles, products, and models involved.
Read the Article
Thank you to Digimillennials for including us in their post “The Reconnection Era: How Canadian Creatives Are Rebuilding Community.” We enjoyed reading it and felt like our community saw us! You’re the best.
Read the PostFor the curls, coils & culture — we’ve teamed up with Studio 86 to bring you exclusive savings!
Enjoy 20% off cuts & silk presses, and 15% off braided styles. Use code #COILY86 until May 30, 2026. Book with Studio 86 through their booking site — 103-7 Grand Ave S, Cambridge, ON, (519) 740-8686. Tag your people & treat your crown!
Benedicta Efua Akinsowon is a Certified Formulator and Marketing & Brand Strategist, and the Founder of Benola Organics and the Crown & Confidence Initiative.
She joined The Coil Care Project: Lines & Links Workshop to teach us about the importance of caring for our scalps and guide us through a hands-on session on how to safely create hair care products at home. Come for the knowledge, leave with your own personalized hair oil.
Celebrating joy and creative action in Waterloo Public Square! Enjoying live speakers, music, art, local organizations and a scavenger hunt.
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