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It’s Wash Day, and Zara is not excited about wearing her hair in the same styles Mama usually creates. But once Mama takes Zara on a cultural journey, helping her understand the significance of each hairstyle and how to wear each style with pride, Wash Day will never be the same. For Black women, Wash Day isn’t just a routine — it’s a ritual. From the products we choose to the spaces we create the time we spend caring for our hair connects us to ourselves, our culture, and the people we want to be.
Zara’s Wash Day is by author Zenda Walker, a best-selling, award-winning author, licensed cosmetologist, and marketing executive. She is passionate about beauty education and helping people to discover the magic of textured hair. “Creating a story of joy and celebration was my way of shifting the energy and changing the narrative for Black and Brown children. I wanted to celebrate us and uplift us with our heritage, by way of our ‘hairitage,'” says author Zenda Walker.
With a foreword by Academy award-winning actor and New York Times best-selling Lupita Nyong’o, Zara’s Wash Day is an empowering picture book celebrating traditional Black hairstyles! The book was an instant hit and sold out at the Essence Fest July 2024.
Zara’s Wash Day was illustrated by Princess Karibo, a self-taught illustrator from Nigeria. “I had an amazing experience illustrating ‘Zara’s Wash Day.’ Bringing the story to life through art was a privilege, and I enjoyed every moment of depicting the diverse and beautiful aspects of black hair. It was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the rich textures and styles of black hair in a visually engaging way” says Princess Karibo.
Know Your Hairitage: Zara’s Wash Day is a semi-biographical story about how the hair texture and cultural styles of people of African descent are linked to a colorful and layered ancestral story. This new and expanded edition of the Writer’s Digest award winner includes a tutorial on creating Fulani-inspired Afro Puffs, and an expanded glossary of terms.
“Every picture of a smiling child that is sent to me, is healing, and encouraging because the message of love, protection, empowerment and knowledge is being received exactly how it was intended.” Zenda says.
“Zara’s Wash Day” is the first book in the Know Your Hairitage Series. Zenda continues the series with in the Fall with “Zion’s Crown“, which tells the story of two young Black boys learning to be proud of their textured hair and will be released on September 10, 2024.
“Know Your Hairitage: Zara’s Wash Day” is sold at https://knowyourhairitage.com/zaras-wash-day-book, and Target.com.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR
Zenda Walker is a best-selling, award-winning author, licensed cosmetologist, and marketing executive. She is passionate about beauty education and helping people to discover the magic of textured hair. Originally from the Bronx, New York, Zenda enjoys traveling, spontaneous dance parties, exploring and developing beauty trends and chocolate desserts. She is co-founder of Bounce Mobile Fitness Club, LLC.—a fitness business specializing in rebounding workouts. Zenda resides in New York with her daughter, Zara.
Princess Karibo is a self-taught illustrator from Nigeria, West Africa. She enjoys working on traditional art by day and digital art projects by night.
