Wash Day

“A beautiful love letter to natural hair and the rituals Black women have created for the special time set aside to lovingly care for Black hair in a culture that for far too long derided natural hair and demanded conformity. The images are quite lovely as are the stories of these families.”—Roxane Gay, New York Times bestselling author   “Wash Day is a captivating and essential exploration of the cultural and emotional significance of natural hair within the Black community. It beautifully intertwines narratives of identity, heritage, and self-love, making it a vital read for understanding the deep-rooted connection between hair, history, and heart. This book is like sitting down with good friends, sharing stories about our roots and the beauty we carry on our heads.”—Kahran and Regis Bethencourt, authors of Glory: Magical Visions of Black Beauty “This book is a beautiful and necessary testament to such a treasured part of Black motherhood and childhood. Honoring the wash-day process through such carefully documented photographs, coupled with the stories of women from all over the country, is such a tender and loving celebration. It is amazing to witness such an important cross-generational exchange which will undoubtedly unlock precious memories for many readers. We are so often only shown the final product when it comes to hair but it's the process that is so meaningful.”—Danielle Prescod, author of Token Black Girl “In Wash Day, Tomesha Faxio has captured the bonds between mother and child, cherished family traditions, and the beauty of Black natural hair, all in one gorgeous book. Although photographs and words lay static on the page, the lively images and heartwarming stories presented here offer a vivid and immersive experience into a rite of passage that will ring familiar and true for Black people across the diaspora.”—Lori L. Tharps, co-author of Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America