Hair Is An Extension Of Your Spirit: Native Wisdom + Killers Of The Flower Moon BTS
Ep. 10 interviews an Osage hair artist who worked on Killers of the Flower Moon and has a personal connection to the story, and an indigenous salon owner who educates about decolonizing hair.
When I first approached Selina McManus for an interview, I thought the conversation would center on her work at her salon Native Studio Salon in Oakland, and how she educates clients on taking care of natural hair.
Early in our interview, Selina shared that she embodies the indigenous philosophy that hair is an extension of your spirit. We pivoted the entire interview to explore this belief and how it influences her work.
Then we connected with John Parker, a hair and makeup artist based in Oklahoma who is Osage himself and worked on Killers of the Flower Moon. His connection to the story, which I’ll let you hear about from him in the episode itself, will make your jaw drop.
This episode is one of my favorites this season. It embodies everything I want this show to be. Stories about people, who we are, how it influences how we move through our lives and the world. Stories that are about so much more than hair while showing how that is a lens through which we can explore everything else.
Here’s where you can find Selina and John’s work. Selina’s salon, Native Studio Salon, is in Oakland, California.
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