November 27th 2023.
Afiya Mbilishaka is an inspiring example of someone who is successful in both hairdressing and clinical psychology. She is a natural hairstylist and partners with N Natural Hair Studio in Silver Spring, Maryland. She is also a professor at the University of the District of Columbia and has a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology.
What sparked her interest in exploring the connection between hairdressing and psychology was a bout of indecisiveness before she left for college. Her aunt encouraged her to do both, referring to Mbilishaka’s conflict between studying hair and psychology, and the result was her own company, PsychoHairapy. Mbilishaka has espoused the idea that Black women’s mental health can be assisted through conversations with hairdressers, and PsychoHairapy is dedicated to offering accessible options in the safe space of the hair salon.
Mbilishaka offers her students a 12-hour, skills-based training program that goes over the history of Black hair, how to see, understand, and empathize with mental illness signs, and how to respond to client concerns of the mental health variety. She said that the program is unique, often leading to breakthroughs once hairstylists realize how vital they are to their communities.
This type of mental health care is growing in the U.S. and in parts of Africa, with initiatives like Tele da Silveira's salon in Lomé, Togo’s capital. Here, hairdressers are being trained to ask open-ended questions to their clients, identify signs of distress, and offer emotional support in areas where mental health counseling is scarce and expensive.
Mbilishaka is a powerful example of how traditional strategies can be repackaged for use today to help with mental health. Her work is paving the way for lasting careers and holistic wellness in the Black community.
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