Afro Hair & Beauty LIVE celebrates 30 years in style Having started life as a trade show, Afro Hair & Beauty Live has evolved into a lifestyle event for young Black women.

Next Afro Hair & Beauty LIVE on 3th - 4th June 2012

Crowds flocked to the Business Design Centre in Islington over the May Bank Holiday weekend to celebrate the 30th annual Afro Hair & Beauty LIVE event. Initially, beginning as a trade show in 1981 it is now the largest Afro Hair and Beauty Exhibition of its kind in Europe, and the turn out reflected the huge demand for Afro Hair and Beauty products within the UK.

Celebrity trends inspired many of the hairstyles presented on the stage, with most including a shot of intense colour, similar to styles sported by music sensation Rhianna. The clear message being conveyed at this year’s show in London was dress up, stand out and be experimental.

The Afro hair and beauty industry is currently thriving within the black community and with the demand for natural products on the rise a diverse range of products were available to cater to the wide range of consumers. Wrap-a-loc, Root2Tip, Beautiful Roots and Organic Root Stimulator provided demonstrations on how to define and style naturally kinky hair whilst brands such as Sensationnel and Sleek exhibited new ways to add length, thickness, and colour to hair.

The Pop up Boutique proved to be a phenomenal success with designers from the UK, France, and West Africa showcasing and selling their eclectic collections of African inspired clothing and accessories. It was clear to see how current catwalk trends inspired the young, fashion conscious ladies who visited the show.

Irene Shelley, Editor of Black Beauty and Hair Magazine, said, "All the women who visited the show got dressed up, most in bright colours, it was quiet a party atmosphere, the girl's came out and the guys were amazed. So it's really an opportunity for people to see and be seen." The on trend colour blocking fad was a major hit amongst fashionistas and also influenced some of the designs showcased in the pop up boutique.

Entertainment at the show was second to none with performances from up and coming RnB artist Duane Lemonte and the girl group, that have taken the internet by storm, R.T.I who look set to follow in the footsteps of Destiny’s Child who also performed at Afro Hair and Beauty LIVE early on in their careers.

The 30th Afro Hair and Beauty LIVE demonstrated that individualism is important, and however you choose to sport your hair, with over 100 exhibitors, there was something for everyone. From every standpoint Afro Hair and Beauty LIVE 2011 was a success and we look forward to another memorable and momentous year in 2012.