Visual art is a fundamental component of the human experience reflecting the world and the time in which we live. This is a sentiment that resonates deeply with multidisciplinary artist, Thobeka Mbatha-Msane, popularly known as Black Rose.
A multipotentialite, the Durban-born creative’s expertise knows no bounds, ranging from music, film, and most notably – hair art.
Merging her love for hair and visual art, Black Rose unearthed her brainchild, ‘Insane Hair Designs’, a company that strives to remind the world that Africa is rich in spirit. An esteemed contributor in her field, the hair artist was part of Honey TV’s ‘Hair to the Throne’ – one of Africa’s most popular hairstyling competitions.
Moreover, Black Rose’s artistic ability to narrate visual stories through hair bagged her a groundbreaking campaign collaboration with Nike for their annual Air Max Day celebration.
We have a chat with Black Rose about the inception of her journey with visual arts, pro hair tips, plans for 2024, and more.
When did your passion for hair begin and what inspired it?
My passion for hair started when I was a young girl. My mother used to braid people’s hair as a student and when she had me, she often did my hair. I don’t think I had much of a choice but to love hair. In high school, I always made a point of styling my hair differently. It was my thing. The real change happened just before COVID, I spontaneously went bald and that started my journey to understanding my natural hair and learning how to take care of it. When lockdown happened, I spent my time doing conceptual shoots and my hair was a big part of that expression.
Talk to us about how you turned your passion for hair into a career and how ‘Insane Hair Designs’ came about.
I have to be very honest, I had no intention of turning my love for hair into a career. I was creating and exploring looks that were to inform who I am as an artist. In the process of doing that, I made a headpiece for myself that people started asking to buy. I then made a prototype to test if I could really sell it as a product. That’s how ‘Insane Hair Designs’ came about. I felt I had to have a different pocket for Hair because “BlackRose” was strictly for music.
Why do you think hair is an important part of our individual identities?
Where I come from, the strength of your hair is the strength of your spirit. I believe it is an Antenna that connects us to the deepest and truest parts of ourselves. The history of our hair tells the story of who we are and where we come from. It is why my work speaks consistently of how Zulu women wore their hair before the modern world took hold of us.
You were part of ‘Hair to the Throne’ season 2. How was that experience and what lessons did you draw from it?
Oh, man! What an experience. The first lesson I learned was “What is yours will always find you.” Friends and family sent me the advertisement for that show, saying I should apply to be a contestant. I told every one of them I am not qualified as I am not a hairstylist, I do not do people’s hair I only do my hair. They all disagreed. I was then approached by the show, they asked that I consider being a contestant and that is how I ended up on that show. It taught me to dream bigger and showed me I am capable of much more. I went home and created my first original Headpiece after shooting that show.
What do you love most about what you do?
It is the greatest honour to find purpose in the work you do. My Art is here to facilitate the remembrance of who we are as a people, in all my disciplines that is the story I am telling. I am so blessed to be able to make a living from my expression of self.
As a seasoned visual artist who works extensively with hair, what are some of your pro hair care tips?
I would say from personal experience patience with your hair and breaks in between styling are very important.
Do you have a holy grail hair care product? If so, what is it?
Olive Oil is the Holy Grail. I swear by it. There is a brand called “Originals” They had this Olive Oil I used all the time when I was growing my hair after the big chop. I’d go to war for that oil.
What advice would you give to hairstylists who aspire to break into the fashion and beauty industry?
When you put yourself into your work it will put you where you belong. Create a distinct signature for your work and it will always speak for itself.
What are your plans for 2024? Are there any projects that we should look out for?
I am hoping life will afford me the chance to create an Exhibition that expresses the audio & visual world I have been creating for a couple of years. I will be putting the pieces together until then.
