WE RISE
The Twin Cities Hair & Beauty Expo (formerly Twin Cities Natural Hair & Beauty Expo) is an annual celebration of Hair & Beauty & Culture, which provides BIPOC entrepreneurs and businesses an opportunity to market their products & services to thousands of attendees. This expo cultivates social enterprise and ethnic inclusion, while honoring and celebrating hair as a centerpiece of black culture.
Since its 2017 inception, the Twin Cities Hair & Beauty Expo has consistently gained national attention, spotlighting the underrepresented communities of color within the Minneapolis/St. Paul region. The expo quickly became the largest natural hair & beauty symposium in the Upper Midwest. Striving to influence ethnic beauty, culture and entrepreneurship in this region, our efforts have been highly supported locally, and nationally.
Each year, consumers travel from across the country to join the expo, increasing revenue for local BIPOC businesses and expo vendors.
We recognize the previous limitations of our reach, and are proud to announce a more inclusive space that also honors the creativity of the hairstylist and barber communities as a whole, and celebrates non-natural hair wearers as that may not be conducive for every person’s lifestyle. This name change in no way takes away from our fight to bring awareness to the need for equity in natural hair for people of color, it creates a larger space in the celebration of freedom in Beauty!
This year, the excitement will continue!
You can expect:
• Top education from beauty experts
• Live Entertainment
• Dozens of BIPOC Vendors to patronize
• The opportunity to stock up on your favorite products
• Workshops by Beauty Industry Professionals
• The opportunity to expand your knowledge on Social media, branding, and more
CHRIS BOND
Master Of Ceremony
Mr. BrandCocky himself, Chris is a renowned Branding Specialist & Graphic Designer based in Nashville, TN. With over 20 years of expertise, Chris in one of the most sought after branding professionals in the hair and beauty industry. As an expert marketer and branding coach, Chris’ portfolio in digital and printed media includes over 100 brands with millions of dollars in assets.
DEMI DIXON
Celebrity Hairstylist/Speaker
Celebrity hairstylist and beauty entrepreneur of 22 years, Demi is the CEO of Demi Bella Beauty LLC and a top - level hairstylist in Film, Entertainment, and Television Production. Her mission is to motivate other beauty professionals to live out their dream of breaking into the entertainment industry. She says, “I can teach Entrepreneurs how to transition without leaving money on the table with my proven system! Let’s connect!”
Rosalyn Farrar-Hall
Speaker/Panelist Joining From Atlanta, GA/Washington D.C.
Celebrity Stylist, Natural Hair Care Specialist and Makeup artist. Work displayed on the cover of Raheem DeVaughn’s album cover of The Love Experience” as well as his first two videos. Rosalyn has also done editorial work with Hype Hair and Braids and Beauty Magazine. These days you will find her work on several Roland Martin projects with BET as well as several independent movies and a slew of Tyler Perry projects including BET”s top rated show Sistas S2 and S3.
HEALTH & WELLNESS
DR. ZAKIA ROBBINS-MCNEAL
Speaking on the Mental Health Gap for Women of Color
Tenured Professor,
Author, Therapist
Coach, Public Speaker and COO The Doorstep Foundation, Dr. Robbins-McNeal, hails from North Philadelphia, where her
understanding of the challenge’s children and families face in urban settings developed first-hand. Working in the field of human services for over 20 years, her desire to serve others blossomed originally through dance and then through her numerous research studies.
Dr. LaVonne Moore
Speaking on
Black Maternal Death Awareness
Founder of A midwife-owned practice in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Chosen Vessels provides lactation support and wellness services for women. Our goal is to use the midwife model of care to promote wellness for women by providing health services to address their unique concerns in a female-centered and culturally relevant way. When women are healthier, we all are healthier.
Coach Val
Valerie Fleurantin
Founder
VF Solutions
Coach Val Fleurantin is the Founder of VF Solutions, a company with a mission to reduce health disparities among black and brown people. Coach Val struggled with her own health and well-being as a black woman living in North Minneapolis. After listening to a radio segment about the health disparities of Black and brown people in her community, she wanted to make a difference, creating VF Solutions. Since 2014, She has been creating an inclusive and welcoming space that focuses on accessibility to health and wellness. Coach Val is a CDC Certified Lifestyle Coach and group fitness instructor who’s worked in top industry fitness companies. Seeing the need for a fitness space where Black women feel comfortable, she created Afrokaribe. Afrokaribe connects her Afro Caribbean dance roots, contemporary music and cardio/strength. Before starting her company, Coach Val had a career in systems engineering and worked for Metronic and Target.
TEXTURED NATION HAIR SHOW
Charisma Shannon
Charisma's Creations
Stylist
Textured Nation Hair Show
For our Textured Nation Hair Show, we are also honored to feature the talent of Charisma Shannon of Charisma's Creations! The Twin Cities may know her as the realistic hair extension specialist, but don't box this Diva in! She's got you on the Natural Hair tip, as well!
Kanika Baker
Kanika Baker
licensed/certified
Cosmetologist and Trichologist
-Owner of The Real Mane Event Hair Extensions Studio located in Brooklyn Park, MN. Kanika is a licensed/certified Cosmetologist and Trichologist Practitioner, registered with the American Medical Association/National Provider Registry. She offers services catering to and geared towards those who are experiencing various forms of temporary and permanent hair loss. Kanika is a licensed stylist for over 20 yrs and has over 30 yrs of experience with hair extensions
Jai B.
Jai B. of the
Jai B. Experience
Color Educator and Artist
For the past 20 years, Jai B. has been mastering her craft as a healthy hair, natural hairstylist that specializes in color. She is a Pulp Riot educator & artist and recently signed with War Paint international as a bridal hair artisan. She is the co-owner of The BeYoutiful Experience Salon in South Minneapolis, and her desire is to unite beauty professionals of color to provide luxury services to the community. www.thejaibexperience.com
BEAUTY EXPERTS
Ponchitta SashaWoo
Ponch Cosmetics
Panelist
Joining from Houston, TX
The CEO & Founder of Ponch Cosmetics, a botanical beauty & skin care line providing gentle and safe botanical beauty products for women and men. Ponch Cosmetics was created with three principles in mind: Safety, Affordability, and Effectiveness.
FEVA DANIELS
Panelist Speaker
Joining from St. Louis, MO
A master hairstylist, platform artist and beauty Instructor of over 20 years, her work has been featured in hair shows, fashion shows, and music videos. Mrs. Feva is the founder and owner of the Hair Relics brand, which includes Hair Relics Beauty & Nail Salon and Hair Relics Advanced School of Beauty & Image.
NICOLE PACINI
Natural Beauty Expert
On our beauty panel, we're honored to have The Minneapolis Entréepreneur herself, local influencer, author and Naturalista, Nicole Pacini!
MN STATE REPRESENTATIVE
Rep Rena Moran
Representative Rena Moran was elected in 2010 as the first Black legislator to represent St. Paul, representing the communities of Rondo, Frogtown, Summit-University, Thomas-Dale, Midway, a portion of the North End and Cathedral Hill. She is the current chair of the Ways and Means Committee. As a State legislator, Representative Moran has focused on protecting children in the child welfare system, strengthening schools, reducing educational disparities, and fighting for affordable housing, economic opportunity for all, and women's rights. During the 2019-2020 Legislative session, Representative Moran introduced the Crown Act, HF3103. Representative Moran is also a founding member of the House People of Color and Indigenous Caucus, the United Black Legislative Caucus, and the Black Maternal Health Caucus. Her greatest achievement is that she's a proud mother of seven and grandmother of eleven.
FINANCIAL LITERACY
NIKI SMITH
Speaker Joining from Chicago, IL
Niki is a highly sought after Business Guru, Beauty Instructor, strategist, and Finance coach. She founded the brand, Knowledge by Niki, which is driven by her commitment to empower salon owners to build their bottom line without being overworked so they can start experiencing life beyond the chair.
PAST EVENTS
BRONZE SPONSORS
VIP VENDORS
education
Learn top-level first hand exposure to industry professionals to increase business IQ and product knowledge
advocacy
Receive relatable and valuable education for better business practices and effective branding strategies
innovation
Stay current with innovative natural hair trends with cutting-edge styling and care techniques, resources, and tools
inclusion
Develop relationships with hundreds of attendees who shape the perspectives of the natural hair industry