Reclaiming Nappy with Rikki-Richelle and Rachel Topping
Co-Written with Asha Abdul
Rikki-Richelle and Rachel Topping are rebelling: against convention—against “respectability” in the way we talk about, support and disengage with under-represented hair textures. They represent the 4C clan: the tight coils. The high porosity, the moisture-defying, shrink-prompting coils we so love to remedy. Still fresh into their own natural hair acceptance journey, sisters Rikki and Rachel co-founded the Nappy Head Club because they felt a transformation within themselves. “As we began to explore and proudly rock our 4C naps, we wanted to share that feeling with as many 4C women as we could.” The goal, they say, is to “source information, tools and community” to reclaim the term “nappy.”
A large part of the selection process for the CRWN Muse initiative is aesthetic intelligence: how does a platform, artist or Muse compile and disseminate their message both astutely and aesthetically on their platform? The Nappy Head Club’s social media presence is a careful curation of intentioned editorial work—both original and sourced—featuring only kinkier textures, often accompanied by darker skin tones, and moves though waves of color-specific progressions throughout the feed. The approach is distinct, intentioned and successful. Their secret sauce is palette-selection, the emphasis is on a collaborative effort, and instinct. “Curate until it feels right, use graphics to break up and redefine your message in an interesting way, and organize and preview before posting!”
Their online platform hosts a Conversation series with prolific and modern feminine voices covering topics from otherism and safe spaces to individuality in the corporate world and black business ownership. Nappy Head Club also features a commerce space featuring original accessory and fashion concepts—an interest close to the sisters’ heart. Tees, tops, scarves, hoodies and more either touting the word NAPPY or other proclamations of the “nappy faith”: “make Brooklyn nappy again”, “always black, never sorry,” and “black without apology.” Our favorite designs feature works from past Muses Chioma and Learon Coleman.
In metamorphosing the word “nappy”, Rikki and Rachel challenge the notion that “nappy” and “bad” are synonymous. Instead, they have created a unique space out of consciously investing in and highlighting emerging models, creative direction and photo talent. This Club, both uniquely exclusive and inclusive, is what happens when a media company takes its time to source, redistribute and promote black imagery made for and by black talent, and the final product is a thoughtfully curated collection of efforts that is artful, intellectual, multidimensional, invitingly kinky and deliciously contrastive—a goal ahead of its time.
Keep up with the Muses:
