These photos celebrate the diverse beauty of hair braiding

This story originally appeared in i-D’s The Get Up Stand Up Issue, no. 358, Winter 2019. Order your copy here

For this series of images, Binx Walton collaborated with photographer Liz Johnson Artur, stylist Sydney Rose Thomas and hair stylist Tasha Miles to shoot some of New York’s finest as a way of honouring the diversity of hair and the beauty of braiding.

London-based photographer, Liz — whose 2019 highlights include staging solo exhibitions in London and New York — is famed for documenting black lives with truth, vibrancy and love. Liz offers the perfect lens for Binx’s vision.

1576080731219-hair-ID001 — Anok wears dress and headpiece Area Resort 20.

Tasha Miles grew up in Jamaica and has been braiding hair since the age of 12. She moved to New York in 2006 and turned her passion for the art of braiding into her profession, recently opening a salon in Cypress Hills, Brooklyn. Working with the aim of making everyone she encounters feel and look fabulous, this story is a counterpoint to numerous hairstylists’ assertions that non-white hair is just too ‘problematic’ to tend to by showing braiding in all its complex beauty.

Binx has brought together these incredible creative female talents to create not only a series of joyful and poetic images, but to celebrate a moment in time, where each and every person can shine, enhancing their natural style and beauty.

Thank you to Anok Yai, Sage Elsesser, Mike, Pink Siifu, Dorrie Agolla, Lex and Xoe Rock Morrison for giving their time, love and trust to help create this project.

1576080755291-hair-ID002 — Mike, Sage and Pink Siifu wear T-shirts Freedom Man. All jewellery models own.

1576080772025-hair002 — Anok wears shirt Loewe. Trousers models own.

1576080790462-hair007 — Xoe wears all clothing models own.

1576080809040-hair016 — Binx wears jacket and glasses Gucci. Top Isabel Marant. Trousers Telfar. Jewellery models own.

1576080830840-hair021 — Pink Siifu wears vest Rhude. Jewellery models own.

1576080873366-hair040 — Binx wears dress Clio Peppiatt Resort 20. Earrings Area. Bracelets models own. Sage wears coat Givenchy. Trousers Martine Rose. Jewellery models Own.

1576080886265-hair045 — Pink Siifu wears shirt and bib Area. Trousers Maison Kitsun. Mike wears jumper Coogi. Trousers Dickies. Sage wears coat Givenchy. Trousers Martine Rose.

1576080897677-hair056 — Lex wears jacket Maison Kitsun. Earrings models own.

1576080909593-hair058 — Sage wears jacket Mooseknuckles. Trousers Supreme. Glasses Andy Wolf Eyewear. Jewellery models own.

1576080923382-hair070 — Binx wears jacket Loewe. Jewellery models own.

1576080938752-hair094 — Pink Siifu wears shirt and bib Area. Trousers Maison Kitsun. Mike wears jumper Coogi. Trousers Dickies.

1576082144026-hair027 — Lex wears jacket Maison Kitsun. Earrings Jennifer Fisher. Nose ring models own. Binx wears jacket Loewe. Jewellery models own.

1576082284739-id-hair069 — Binx wears shirt and trousers Kwaidan Editions. Jewellery models own.

1576082300547-id-hair218JL — Dorrie wears all clothing and jewellery models own.

1576082317186-id-hair319 — Binx wears jacket and glasses Gucci. Top Isabel Marant. Trousers Telfar. Jewellery models own. Dorrie wears jacket Off-White c/o Virgil Abloh. Jumper and skirt Fendi. Jewellery models own Boots Aeyde. Pink Siifu wears vest Rhude. Trousers Maison Kitsun. Jewellery models own. Boots Timberland. Lex wears jacket Frame. Rollneck Balenciaga. Trousers models own. Glasses Andy Wolf Eyewear. Jewellery models own. Boots Aeyde. Mike wears coat Marni. Jumper Coogi. Trousers Dickies. Boots Timberland.

1576082339866-id-hair334JL — Binx wears all clothing and jewellery models own.

1576082353528-id-hair345JL — Binx wears jacket Loewe. Glasses Gucci. Jewellery models own.

1576082543964-id-hair032 — Anok wears dress and headpiece Area Resort 20.

Credits

Photography Liz Johnson Artur
Styling Sydney Rose Thomas

Hair Tashana Miles at The Chair Salon.
Make-up Miguel Ramos using Dior Make-up.
Nail technician Mei Kawajiri.
Styling assistance Milton Dixon III, Josh Williams and Duarte Gordon.
Hair assistance Monique Rennie, Marie Jacques, Danyelle Osborne and Melissa Joseph-Melville.
Special thanks to Sugar Hill Restaurant and Supper Club.
Models Binx and Anok Yai at Next. Sage Elsesser, Mike, Pink Siifu, Dorrie Agolla, Lex and Xoe Rock Morrison.

Lede image credits: Lex wears top Area. Earrings Jennifer Fisher. Necklaces model’s own.