Don’t Touch My Crown

Don’t Touch My Crown is a dynamic day-long event celebrating Black hair and culture. Featuring a conversation with hair artist Helena Koudou of Slayed in Braids, beginner friendly hands-on braiding and hair wrapping workshop, jewelry making workshop, a day-long Black-owned Women’s Market, and closing out with a sweet, soulful, and spiritual selection of tunes DJ’d by Lovie.

Schedule of Events

11 AM – Market Begins

11:30 AM – Headwrap workshop with Grey’s Wraps

1 PM – Panel Discussion with Helena Koudou

2 PM – Braiding Workshop with Helena Koudou (Ticket Required)

3 PM – Jewelry Making Workshop with Jam+Rico

4 PM – DJ Set with Lovie

6 PM – Market Ends

About Helena Koudou

As an Ivorian American hair artist based in New York City, Helena Koudou established herself as a reputable brand under the name “Slayed In Braids.” Combining her business marketing background with a passion for hairstyling, she’s collaborated with various photographers, models, and stylists throughout New York City, earning a prominent reputation within the industry.

Her hairstyling journey began at the young age of sixteen, where she honed her craft at a family-owned salon. This provided her with the opportunity to build her clientele base while simultaneously collaborating with other creatives. Her work has been featured in several publications such as Vogue, Paper magazine, Elle UK, and Vanity Fair, and has attracted notable clients such as Amandla Stenburg and Christina Jackson. In addition to her salon work, she’s partnered with companies such as R29 Unbothered and worked with SONY in Los Angeles, further expanding her reach and influence in the industry.

About the Jewelry Making workshop with Jam + Rico

In this hands-on session, you’ll delve into the art of basic jewelry wire wrapping while crafting your very own custom charm necklace. Under the guidance of jeweler Lisette Scott owner of Jam+Rico, you’ll learn essential techniques to transform simple wire into stunning wearable art. From mastering various wrapping styles to selecting and arranging charms that reflect your unique style, this workshop offers a perfect blend of education and expression. Join us for an unforgettable experience where you’ll not only learn a new skill but also leave with a one-of-a-kind piece that tells your story.

Jam + Rico is a colorful and unique jewelry line that is inspired by the Caribbean. Lisette is a force to be reckoned with and she has taken the industry by storm since creating Jam + Rico in 2016. You may have seen Jam + Rico online, at pop-ups and with collection launches at Moda Operandi Inc, Target and currently Claire’s. Lisette was also part of the Natural Diamond Council’s Emerging Designer Diamond Initiative to create an exclusive collection using diamonds. Lisette is also Co-Founder and Events Chair of Black in Jewelry Coalition. Jam + Rico has been featured in Vogue, Forbes, Elle and was recently worn by Academy Award winner Ariana DeBose, Ashanti and many others!

About the Headwrap Workshop with Grey’s Wraps

Learn about headwraps in different countries, what makes our hair special, and modern western headwrap types. Jasmin from Grey Wraps will be showing several ways to wrap allowing time in between each transition to answer questions and assist guests in completing their own wrap.

Jasmin McKenzie, artist and owner of Grey’s Wraps, is a first generation Jamaican-American brand based out of New Jersey. After launching in 2021 Grey’s has been featured in several festivals, music videos, and most recently in promotions for Bob Marley: One Love.Jasmin creates handmade headwraps and bodywraps to celebrate the ancient indigenous cultures of the past with modern influences of the present.

About DJ Lovie

Lovie’s music discovery was born in the digital music age: a young lover of local radio and after-school MTV marathons, her early mixes took shape in the form of burned CDs she made for friends. In relocating from her hometown of Washington, D.C. to New York in August of 2020, Lovie’s unique selection swiftly ushered her into New York’s local music scene. Within a year, she’d earned a Lot Radio residency; and has since become a staple at notable venues throughout the city, a resident of the beloved Coloring Lessons by muscle cars, and a cofounder of Brooklyn’s sweetest party, Soul Connection. Lovie’s sets guarantee a sweet, soulful, and spiritual selection, as she interweaves soul, disco, and house into a sound that creates warmth, and makes you move.