This stunning collection of beautiful photographs and powerful essays by documentary photographer Tomesha Faxio captures the intimate details of “wash day,” a day that Black women set aside to wash, detangle, condition, and style their natural hair. Though wash day is routine practice in Black households, its significance goes far beyond hygiene or self-care. It is an opportunity for Black women to embrace their curly, coily locks and, when they have daughters, pass on this sacred ritual to the next generation.
Wash Day celebrates the bonds formed between Black mothers and daughters through gorgeous photographs of their hair care rituals and insightful stories that detail their unique natural hair journeys. Faxio brings us into the lives of twenty-six different families, illustrating the many ways that Black mothers have instilled love, acceptance, and confidence in their daughters about wearing their natural hair. Through these stories, we learn how some mothers prioritize their children's comfort to teach