My Work & Impact
What I've founded, co-founded, and contributed.
Each of these has its own story and, for some, its own team. Here's my part in them.
Jaha Hair Studio
My natural hair salon. It grew to a team of 10 stylists and served more than 20,000 clients.
Jaha Natural Hair Academy
Professional education in natural hair care, for stylists who wanted to learn it properly.
My Hair, My Way
A consumer education project to help people understand and care for their own natural hair.
Natural Hair Industry Convention
Co-founded with Angela Walker after years of seeing natural hair specialists passed over at hair shows. It started with about 50 people at a restaurant in Silver Spring, Maryland, and grew into conventions in Baltimore and Atlanta, retreats in Jamaica and Grenada, and trainings in cosmetology schools. Today it continues as the Natural Hair Industry Collective.
@naturalhairindustry →S.T.R.A.N.D.
Stylists Training, Researching, and Networking with Dermatologists. Co-founded with dermatologist Dr. Chesahna Kindred to teach cosmetologists about hair loss, scalp conditions, and when to refer clients to a dermatologist. More than 100 cosmetologists trained and certified, working with more than 20 dermatologists.
thestrandnetwork.org →PeterKINdred Hair & Scalp Wellness Center
Co-founded with Dr. Chesahna Kindred, bringing natural hair care and dermatology together in one place.
Natural Hair Industry Convention highlights
Ten years of bringing professionals together
- 2014Silver Spring, MarylandThe first gatheringAbout 50 people from the industry, brainstorming a convention for natural hair.
- 2015Baltimore, MarylandNHIC 2015
- 2017Atlanta, GeorgiaFourth annual conventionHundreds of stylists and nearly 40 technical and theory classes, per Global Cosmetic Industry.
- 2019Atlanta, GeorgiaNHIC 2019Sessions on hair discrimination and the CROWN Act, and a panel on hair loss in Black women.
- 2021OnlineVirtual conventionBusiness education led by Susan L. Peterkin, Diane Bailey, and Anita Hill-Moses.
- 2022Montego Bay, JamaicaNatural Hair Industry Retreat
- 2023Hanover, MarylandConvention and the Master Pioneer AwardStyling, business, community, and dermatology programming.
- 2024GrenadaNatural Hair Industry Retreat
Press
In the news
- Jamaica ObserverA profile of Susan's career, from Kingston to S.T.R.A.N.D.2026
- Caribbean National WeeklySusan's work raising awareness of hair loss in Caribbean women.Read the story
- Going NaturalMeet the owner of Jaha Hair Studio.Read the feature
- ESSENCENatural hair experts on hair discrimination and the CROWN Act.Read the story
- Global Cosmetic IndustryCoverage of the 2017 Natural Hair Industry Convention.2017
- WCLKThe Local Take on natural hair issues and rights.2019
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