Kayra Theodore’s ‘Untied’ Hair Show: Reclaiming Her Haitian Heritage
Above: Kayra Theodore’s “Untied” hair show 2026, Photo: Quacey Bull
Inspired by a piece the Managing Editor Of Black Kos (dopper0189) wrote about Kayra Theodore’s “Untied” Hair Show in Friday Aug. 7th’s edition of Black Kos. Thank you, Dopper!
Kayra Theodore’s “Untied” hair show 2026, Photo Courtesy of Tati Alston
When model and hair artist Kayra Theodore walked into her sixth-grade class with bows in her hair, she became the victim of bullying.
“I was the only Black kid in the class and all the kids made fun of my hair. They’d say, ‘You look like a child,’ and ‘You look like a dinosaur.’ That made me reject my Haitian culture, because [bows] are very prevalent in Haiti. Bows in Haiti represent neatness, order and rules.”
So it was only fitting that, for her first hair show, she showcased her journey of accepting her hair and embracing her culture.
“With my expression of hair, it means freedom. I thought it was really important to reclaim what those students made me feel ashamed of and to also show my own interpretation of what bows symbolize to me. I’m untying all the trauma and shame and expectations.”
Kayra Theodore’s “Untied” hair show 2026, Photo: Quacey Bull
Titled “Untied,” the show explores different interpretations of bows. The presentation began with a little girl dressed in a school uniform walking in and taking a seat at a desk set in the middle of the room. “In the beginning, there’s a little girl, who is my younger self before I go on this creative endeavor, and I’m just imagining,” Theodore explained.
As the show went on, each hair look was progressively grander than the last. “It starts to build up,” she explained. “I’m getting more creative and free. It’s from structure to freeing. My sketches and ideas are getting broader and grander.” Then came the finale look: a bridal veil of hair, fully flowing with no structure, symbolizing Theodore fully being herself in the world.
She hopes that “Untied” encourages people to freely and unapologetically exist as themselves. “I hope that people can be inspired to let go of anything,” she said. “Let go of all those expectations and just fully lean into who you are without anyone’s idea of how you should be.”
Kayra Theodore’s “Untied” hair show 2026, Photo: Quacey Bull
Kayra Theodore’s “Untied” hair show 2026, Photo: Quacey Bull
Kayra Theodore’s “Untied” hair show 2026, Photo: Quacey Bull
Kayra Theodore’s “Untied” hair show 2026, Photo: Quacey Bull
Kayra Theodore’s “Untied” hair show 2026, Photo: Quacey Bull
Kayra Theodore’s “Untied” hair show 2026, Photo: Quacey Bull
Kayra Theodore’s “Untied” hair show 2026, Photo: Quacey Bull
Kayra Theodore’s “Untied” hair show 2026, Photo: Quacey Bull
Kayra Theodore’s “Untied” hair show 2026, Photo: Quacey Bull
Kayra Theodore’s “Untied” hair show 2026, Photo: Quacey Bull
Kayra Theodore’s “Untied” hair show 2026, Photo: Quacey Bull
Kayra Theodore’s “Untied” hair show 2026, Photo: Quacey Bull
Kayra Theodore’s “Untied” hair show 2026, Photo: Quacey Bull
Kayra Theodore’s “Untied” hair show 2026, Photo: Quacey Bull
Kayra Theodore’s “Untied” hair show 2026, Photo: Quacey Bull
Kayra Theodore’s “Untied” hair show 2026, Photo: Quacey Bull
Kayra Theodore’s “Untied” hair show 2026, Photo: Quacey Bull
Kayra Theodore’s “Untied” hair show 2026, Photo: Quacey Bull
Kayra Theodore’s “Untied” hair show 2026, Photo: Quacey Bull
Kayra Theodore’s “Untied” hair show, 2026, Photo courtesy of Alizayuh Vigil
Hair artist Kayra Theodore backstage at her hair show “Untied”, 2026, Photo: Alizayuh Vigil
https://fashionista.com/2026/08/kayra-theodore-untied-hair-show
https://www.essence.com/hair/kayra-theodore-first-ever-hair-show-untied/
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