R umbie Mutsiwa believes in the transformational power of hair. As a hairdresser specialising in curly, wavy and afro hair, she has seen many defeated-looking clients enter her Sydney salon, Rumbie & Co. When they leave, she says: “Their eyes have been opened and they see themselves and feel good about their hair for the first time.
” Her knowledge of curly and afro hair has seen her take on an educational role backstage at Australian fashion week , where expertise is sometimes lacking. “What has my heart burning is when models [with curly hair] come into set and their hair is barely touched,” she says. “So they’re not feeling confident when walking on the runway.
” View image in fullscreen Hairdresser Rumbie Mutsiwa wields a hairdryer with a diffuser attachment. Photograph: Jessica Hromas/The Guardian In recognition of her work in the industry, Zimbabwean-born Mutsiwa was last week named one of Australian fashion week’s 2024 “changemakers” alongside the Indigenous model Elaine George, Outland Denim’s founder, James Bartle, and the fashion archivist Kim Russell. Here Mutsiwa explains how to prep four runway looks for curly and afro hair.
Preparation: hydration is key “By nature, curly hair requires moisture,” Mutsiwa says. This means applying hydrating products such as a leave-in conditioner to clean, dry or semi-dry hair. She says to apply a conditioning spray for fine or looser textures and a cream for thicker and curlier textures.
Frizz is an indica.
