Wash Day
Passing on the Legacy, Rituals, and Love of Natural Hair
By Tomesha Faxio
Acquired and edited by Sahara Clement
Penguin Random House
NAACP IMAGE AWARD WINNER · A visual homage to Black culture, Black rituals, and the generational bonds that strengthen the Black community.
In this stunning book, documentary photographer Tomesha Faxio explores the power of “wash day,” a day that Black women dedicate to washing, detangling, conditioning, and styling their natural hair. The significance of wash day goes far beyond hair care—it’s an opportunity for Black women to pour love into their curly, coily locks and, when they have children, pass on this sacred ritual to the next generation.
Wash Day celebrates the unique bonds between Black mothers and their children through intimate photographs of their hair-care routines and insightful stories that detail their natural hair journeys. Faxio brings you into the homes of twenty-six families, illustrating the ways that these mothers have used wash day to instill love, acceptance, and confidence in their children about wearing their natural hair. Through hours spent with their children, typically at the kitchen sink, each of these mothers resists generations of hair discrimination by creating a space for empowerment, all while finding their own sense of self-acceptance along the way.
Praise for Wash Day
“Among beauty rituals shared by Black women worldwide, wash day may be among the most common . . . [In Wash Day] the dynamic photographer Tomesha Faxio captures an arresting and intimate collection of photographs and essays celebrating this time-honored, yet often under-appreciated cultural touchstone.”
—The Grio
“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
“Faxio’s beautiful, tender images—especially of a mother’s hands washing and styling their children’s hair—are a loving and relatable celebration of our sacred ritual of caring for and sharing with one another.”
— Natasha Tarpley, bestselling author of I Love My Hair!
“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.”
— Kahran and Regis Bethencourt, authors of Glory: Magical Visions of Black Beauty
“Author-photographer Tomesha Faxio has crafted a love letter by weaving interview texts with documentary images; she blends them in an eye-catching layout that will resonate with natural hair enthusiasts and those who are curious for a warm introduction to the terms, tools, and processes that go into textured hair.”
— Joseph L. Underwood, co-curator of Textures: The History and Art of Black Hair
“This book is a beautiful and necessary testament to such a treasured part of Black motherhood and childhood. 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.”
— Lori L. Tharps, co-author of Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America
“Wash Day is a warm hug for those coming-of-age moments that left you questioning your hair and beauty. Tomesha’s work captures the stories that will help heal a generation. A joyful, honest read that doesn’t leave you tender-headed, but tender-hearted.”
— Mechal Renee Roe, author of Happy Hair
