As part of Black History Month, the Coil Care Project launched its very first quarter by bringing the Kitchener-Waterloo region together for two special events. Sponsored by CYPT and Canadian Service Corps, the initiative featured a community dinner on February 20th and a workshop on the 27th, both grounded in the theme ‘Rest as Resilience’ and designed to create space for joy, restoration, and cultural pride among Black people across the diaspora.
Rest as Resilience — inspired by the book Rest as Resistance by Tricia Hersey — is the act of choosing to pause, to fully exist, and to be celebrated. With that chosen theme, the project expresses resilience through hair and all that it encompasses. Having Black hair means carrying a curly and growing part of your identity every single day. Its diversity of textures, coils, kinks, locs, and lengths is extraordinary, and honouring it requires intentional knowledge and care.
Black men and women in Canada and across the Western world have experienced systemic pressure to conform to beauty standards that were never designed with them in mind. Taking charge of their natural beauty has always been a response to that erasure, a quiet and powerful declaration that Black hair is worthy of celebration on its own terms.
Through the Coil Care Project, our team recognized that Kitchener's Black community deserved a local space to address hair care aesthetically and holistically. Tackling health concerns, dispelling misinformation, and offering free consultations, these events were designed to be that specific place. A moment to pause and reflect, a place to heal and unlearn.
The dinner provided an opportunity to present a statement: Haircare is Healthcare. The theme brought a reminder of how powerful pausing and eating together is. The connection to scalp health and the somatic experience of oil making at our workshop carried the essence of what was discussed during the dinner. This very article acts as a time capsule, intentionally tying everything that took place together.
Haircare is Healthcare.
All these components live to affirm that statement through experiences. Hair care is not only about appearance but also about the maintenance of the body, the regulation of stress, and the setting of intentions. To care for Black hair is to also care for more than what's seen. It tends to one's health, physically, spiritually, and culturally. In this way, the statement becomes true: Haircare is Healthcare.
An evening at The Catalyst
Walking into The Catalyst, the atmosphere was immediately welcoming. With a dress code set, guests arrived dressed to the nines, adding to the sense that this night was a night worth remembering. Delicious Nigerian cuisine served by Yembol's Catering and local mouth-watering ice cream donated by Fourall Ice Cream had attendees raving for days after the dinner.
Beyond the dining tables, coil stations with Joyce Achayo, founder of Studio 86, Vensssa Lewis, founder of Niya's Coily World, and Vanessa Okoree from vanessaxCornor allowed attendees to engage directly with Black expression. At the photo booth and throughout the event, Taijasa Jordan captured the night's spirit and essence behind the lens.
Aisha Mohamed, the night's host, enthusiastically guided us through the agenda. Setting the intentions, Toffumi Akinlalu started the night off with an original spoken word, followed by a reflection on her connection to hair and self-expression.
One of the most celebrated highlights was the joyful, affirming showcase of Black hair in all its glory and diversity. Styled and braided by Rofiat Showumi of Esar Studios, with assistance from Aisha, Deborah O., and Najma, the braiding day took place at Studio 86, graciously provided by founder Joyce Achayo. With no hesitation in her support of hosting the braiding day, Joyce states, “Creating a space where Black hair is celebrated and where people feel safe and seen is exactly the vision.”
Amongst the audience, local leaders and elected members of the community came together in support. Regional Councillor Colleen James spoke on her personal experiences of being a Black woman in politics. She lent her leadership to appreciate and recognize the entire team. Green Party MPP Aislinn Clancy honoured the night by expressing the importance of community gathering, extending this statement by presenting a Certificate of Recognition to Najma and Aisha Mohamed, affirming the Coil Care Project's contribution to the Kitchener-Waterloo community.
Rest, care, and scalp health
The workshop hosted at the FACS Youth Room carried on the dinner's message, diving into the dimensions of overall health, scalp care, and rest. Benedicta Efua Akinsowon, founder of Benola Organic, certified Hair Care formulator and Type 4 expert, facilitated participants in discussions on diseases and conditions linked to hair and scalp health, including conditions such as Malassezia.
By offering free consultations and workbooks, she shows her consistent dedication and commitment to health within our community. She further expresses, “I truly enjoyed the workshop and had a wonderful time meeting everyone.” In a world filled with so much information, attendees had the grounds to bring forward concerns, insights, and questions about their hair. Not only did they walk away with personalized advice, but they got to take home curated hair oils, care kits, and essentials.
It's been truly an honour to host and work alongside our core team, volunteers, and the EmpowerHer on bringing our community together for moments filled with care and presence. We truly appreciate all the hard work and dedication each person brought to supporting this quarter. It is because of you that this was possible.
In the spirit of giving back, Joyce Achayo, of Studio 86, has collaborated with the Coil Care Project in creating a promotion for all attendees who showed up and showed out in quarter one: enjoy 20% off on cuts and silk presses, and 15% off all braided hairstyles, until May 30th, 2026, using code #Coily86.
This article attempts to put into words the events of the first quarter, “Rest as Resilience.” What isn't captured is the possibility of what could have happened if you were present. The conversation that may have shifted you, the way you may have seen yourself, your hair. When our community comes together, each person shares something only they can bring. With this first quarter coming to an end, lots of emotions can be felt. And through emotions comes possibility, paving the way to experience more joy and future connections. The only question left is, will you be there?
In community,
The Coil Care Project team