A couple of weeks ago, I had the honor of attending the 4th Annual Fabulously Unique Natural Hair and Beauty Expo in Tampa, FL. Here are just a few reasons why I’m looking forward to attending again next year, and why you should too!

Atmosphere

From the moment I walked in, I could feel the good vibes radiating! I don't know about you, but the atmosphere at a gathering is a key component for me. Let’s face it, if no one else at an event is having fun it's going to be a lot harder to enjoy yourself there.

I know how hard it can be to cultivate a warm and welcoming environment- especially when it's hot and humid outside (side eye at Florida). Despite the odds, FABU had things down pat.

I was greeted with a smile that I wore for the rest of the day!

With over 30 booths to visit, I was happy to find that each vendor was indeed unique. Not only were there products and brands representing all different hair types, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that this event wasn't just about hair.

Black Girl Sunscreen, and various other (non hair related) retailers were also present.

After that, I stumbled upon a live tape up session - courtesy of A Cut Above the Rest.

Yes, fellas, they looked out for you too!

If you were like me and didn't intend to make any purchases (lol, a joke), you could plan on attending one of the many educational workshops that were scheduled throughout the day, ranging from topics of how to grow and style your hair to womb wellness and much more.

There was always something going on at the main stage, including a live performance by local artists @pretti_emage.

#blackgirlmagic

If none of that suit your fancy - you could go grab a bite to eat in the concession area, unwind in the pamper lounge or get your creative juices flowing with Yolanda Renee @ETCBlogMag during one of her paint and sip party sessions! (wine sold separately**)

And if you felt like balling out, you could upgrade your ticket and get the VIP treatment. They had cupcakes in the lounge- nuff said.

My point is, there was literally something for everyone which leads me to my next favorite thing about this expo.

FABU luh da kids!

I was thrilled to see so many younger faces floating around at this event, taking everything in with their big, bright eyes.

This is certainly not an event that requires you to get a babysitter, and if anything, I would make it a point to bring your little ones so they can know what it's like to be surrounded by black excellence.

The Expo had complimentary child care services available inside the venue for up to two hours of occupancy. So if you ever needed a break to go explore on your own or your kid needed a break from you, FABU had you covered!

If I had experienced anything like this when I was younger, I'm sure I would have been eager to embrace my natural hair BEFORE it got damaged with chemicals and heat.

This idea is what young author and CEO Lexi P. shared with me as one of her missions during my time at her booth. Shedding a positive light on natural hair at an earlier age lays a sturdy foundation for the budding naturals of the future. It's never too soon to learn about self-love.

Networking

I met sooo many beautiful people at this event! I also saw a few familiar faces, hey girls heyyy!

From a blogger's standpoint, I basically felt like I was at a career fair, but in the best way. People were exchanging information left and right which reminded me that I need to finally invest in some business cards. Needless to say, it felt great to be surrounded by a bunch of other black creatives and driven entrepreneurs.

I felt this great sense of pride after hearing many of their stories about how they built their businesses from the ground up and how they got to where they are today. These vendors were beaming with authenticity, proudly showing off the fruit of their labor, and rightfully so.

As an added bonus, many of the products on sale at FABU were generously discounted in price, including the founder Rochelle Graham-Campbell’s brand Alikay Naturals which retails at Target, Walmart, and CVS.

Inspiration

My biggest takeaway from this day was the amount of inspiration I received from the bloggers and creators I admire in this industry. Not only did I get a picture with Will @willnotwilly, but I jotted down some gems from the blogger panel that I know ring true no matter what phase you may find yourself in when building a brand.

Thomas Adriana @thomasadrianna1, shout out to Orlando creatives, made sure to emphasize the importance of staying true while on this journey.

Celebrity hairstylist Susy @africancreature, the hands responsible for Beyonce's famous "lemonade braids", shared her experience with doubting her abilities and pushing through anyway.

I love that she talked about embracing your narrative, trusting the process and capitalizing on what makes you unique. People will talk, but as long as you know who you are and do everything in your power to reach your goals, no one can get in the way of you achieving greatness.

So there you have it, a gorgeous day filled with learning, laughs, and empowerment. Did I mention that entry was only 10 dollars??? Though you can't put a price tag on what you gain from an experience like this.

The FABU Naturals Hair and Beauty Expo is definitely an event to look forward to for years to come!

A special thank you to Alikay Naturals for having me and shout to my godmother for attending this event with me. My heart is full, my hair is moisturized, and my skin is glowing!

See y'all next year? Fingers crossed.

Xoxo,

D