Black Hair in Buckingham

The struggle to find suitable hair salons on or near the University of Buckingham campus has been intense for students with textured or afro-textured hair.

The available options often fell short, leaving many students feeling overlooked.

In the face of this challenge, a determined few decided to turn their hair troubles into an opportunity for connection and empowerment.

Most of the black student’s hair on campus is braided, which is considered protective styling. Unprotected natural hair becomes brittle and breaks in cold UK winter weather, so this style is popular.

Out of necessity and shared experiences, students began to form a cultural community centred around hair care. What started as impromptu gatherings to share tips and tricks evolved into a more formalized network.

Buckingham is made of a predominantly white population and as such the avenues to get black hair professionally done is severely limited. There is one business on campus which is meant to cater to black hair however it has been closed for over six months due to structural damage to the building and leakage.



As the journalist, I found myself not just reporting on their journey but becoming a part of it, weaving my own strands into the colourful tapestry of our shared experiences. This community exemplifies the resilience of people coming together to address a common need, finding strength in their diversity and celebrating the beauty of their unique stories.