Trinity: A trendsetter teaching girls of color how to embrace and care for their hair.
Want to learn about hair care? Girl Scout Trinity can help. To earn her Gold Award, Trinity leveraged her own experience as inspiration to launch confidence-boosting hair care workshops for girls of color. Trinity’s “Me and My Hair" hair care workshops were hosted at libraries and open to the public. But her work didn’t stop there, she also wrote a hairstyle book, which can be found at several libraries.
“Black girls,” Trinity says, “aren’t a part of the ideal form of beauty, so sometimes we damage our hair to fit the trend.” She continues, “My hair was falling out from me straightening it and not taking care of it properly. I was trying to keep up with the beauty standards and trying to be like everyone else. I want to show other girls of color that they are not alone and that they have someone to help them.”
Trinity hosted two “Me and My Hair” hair care workshops. Both workshops had many attendees from different backgrounds. She then went on to read her book and spread her message of self-esteem to kids and families across her Alabama community. To make sure her message stuck long after the workshops, Trinity left each attendee with a brochure and led a self-love pledge. “I gave workshop attendees a hair care brochure to remind them of the hair care tips and different hairstyles they can try. I authored and illustrated a children’s book that includes several beautiful natural hairstyles for girls of color. I also created a pledge that teaches children that they should respect everyone’s hairstyle choices. All book reading attendees recited the pledge with me.”
The idea for her workshops came to Trinity after experiencing her own struggles while learning how to care for her hair. Trinity’s ultimate purpose in creating her workshops, which were open to the public at libraries in Huntsville, Alabama, was to inspire girls of color to embrace their natural hair and to guide them on their self-love journey.
Knowing this, Trinity set out on a mission to share her story and inspire confidence in girls of color, reminding them that they don’t have to change a single thing about themselves and that they’re not alone. Neither was she. After connecting with troop leaders and mentors, Trinity created project timelines, a website, and promotional content. She also found locations and hosted her workshops while writing and illustrating her own book of hairstyles for girls of color to try.
During the process, Trinity recalls, “I led my team by being humble, patient, and a great leader. I had to communicate and work with everyone’s schedule to make sure that the workshop and book readings would be successful. Leading my first big project was challenging but having so much support made it easier.”
Trinity’s experience left her with the biggest reward, “I learned that I could be impactful. Seeing how interested and excited the girls at the workshops and the students I read to were made me feel proud. I love that I can impact so many girls for years to come.”
Reflecting on her experience, Trinity says that her workshop helped girls expand their knowledge, cherish their natural beauty, and build new friendships. Alongside important hair care tips, girls learned to be comfortable with who they are—nearly every girl who attended the workshop left feeling more confident about wearing their hair naturally.
One attendee noted, “I learned about the different textures of hair and learned about high and low porosity.” Another said, “I learned how to take care of my hair as I get older,” while a third expressed that she learned to “love [her] hair the way it is.”
Gold Award Girl Scout Trinity's journey to host workshops and uplift girls of color in her community left her with joyous memories to last a lifetime. She hopes her work helps girls from different backgrounds feel far more represented, supported, and inspired to embrace their natural beauty—not only today, but as they continue to grow into themselves and make their mark in the world.
