Celebrate African Fashion—and Local Kids—This Weekend in Silver Spring

Take a trip to Africa this Sunday, Dec. 8, via the 22nd annual Golden Scissors Awards' "HairAfrica—The Great Hair Expedition," a series of three hairstyling and fashion shows at the Silver Spring Civic Building (1 Veterans Plaza).

"This year we are paying homage to the African community for the massive contributions it has made to the hair and beauty industry," Glynn Jackson, the owner of Glynn Jackson the Agency, and the organizer of the event, said.

"African culture has influenced so much of what we consider today to be 'popular culture' that we felt compelled to acknowledge this in a grand and over-the-top, historical way," he said.

"Hair is the very fabric that weaves our communities together, and even though we may be different, our similarities are evident through hair," Jackson added.

The awards show—which used to be held at the Washington, DC, convention center, but which moved to Silver Spring three years ago to save on production costs—has been produced for all of its 22 years by Jackson, who said that Silver Spring just seemed like the right place to hold the event.

"Silver Spring ... [shows how] diverse people can live in the same area and learn and grow from each other," Jackson said.

"Downtown Silver Spring is so full of life, and I have watched it grow since we first started having the show at the [Silver Spring] Civic Building three years ago," Jackson added.

"To witness the growth and development of the heartbeat of Montgomery County has been an absolute blessing." 

Every year, the clothes modeled by local children in the children's portion of the event—Golden Scissors Kids—are donated to children in third-world countries. This year, the children's clothes will go to the Dominican Republic.

The show demonstrates how one "[doesn't] need a big show to [have an impact] and to do something great for the community," Jackson said.

Golden Scissors Kids also does some good right at home. The children in the show practice modeling on the catwalk for weeks, and come away from the experience with confidence and a positive attitude, Jackson said.

"I hope, through this platform, ... the importance of giving—to donate one whole outfit"—comes through. "Their contribution makes a difference in somebody’s life," Jackson said.

The children's show is the first show in the event. A second show features the work of professional hairstylists, and the third show—the Golden Scissors Consumer show—is a competition between four hairstylist-consumer pairs.

Admission to the children's show, which starts at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8, is $30; admission to the professional hairstylists' show is $50; and admission to the consumer show is $40. Read more about the event on Patch on Facebook.