Afropunk Hair Portraits by Artist Awol Erizku
Punk is dead? The rebellious concert-goers spotted at Brooklyn’s tenth annual Afropunk Festival this past Sunday would beg to differ.
Photographed by Awol Erizku1/28Fatima
“I grew up in an African-braiding hair salon, so I usually stick to the traditional, but I like to put a little bit of a twist to it. Maybe a pop of color or a change in the size and variation.”
Photographed by Awol Erizku2/28Reign
Photographed by Awol Erizku3/28Fanta
“I have eight major locs and eight smaller locs. I roll them up like a cinnamon roll into these clips that I make, because I’m a jewelry designer, and I use my own metal, which is copper-bronze. People are awestruck by it, but really the concept is so easy. It’s a beautification ritual that I do about once a month. I call it the ‘cosmic crown.’ It’s ‘Afrofuturism’ on the head.”
Photographed by Awol Erizku4/28B.Hawk
“My mohawk was inspired by Ice-T and Mr. T—African-American figures who were different and had funky mohawks and weren’t afraid to stand out.”
