Araya Parris is known for being a breathtaking Naturalista who embraced her hair well before being natural became common in Hollywood.

During Essence Festival’s Beauty Carnival Virtual Experience, she had some advice for ladies getting reacquainted with their natural curls, coils and kinks for the first time in years.

And when you pass the mirror instead of saying ‘Oh my God I look crazy,’ speak affirmations to yourself, [say] you look cited incidents of her friends, who are now at home with their natural hair due to COVID-19 salon closings, saying that they look “like a hot mess” with their natural hair—she thinks they look cute.

Parris, who has been natural in Hollywood for nearly a decade, has been a source of inspiration for other stars such as Naturalista Danielle Brooks, and for non-celebrities alike.

TOPICS: Beauty Essence Festival 2020 Hair Natural 2020efvirtual bcfest2020 essence festival Essence Festival Beauty Carnival natural hair Teyonah Parris