The 21Ninety Awards have long been a celebration of the women shaping beauty, wellness, and lifestyle culture from within the community. This year’s awards marked a shift from recognizing products to honoring people whose work builds space, confidence, and representation for Black women. Within the Beauty category, the Best Natural Hair or Protective Stylist award highlights stylists and digital voices redefining what it means to care for and celebrate textured hair.
Protective and natural hairstyles are an expression of heritage, resilience, and creativity. Recognizing those who excel in this space means celebrating innovators who inspire women to love and understand their hair on their own terms.
First Place: Kenidia D Quinones
Kenidia D Quinones, known online as Curling Me Krazy, has become one of the most respected names in natural hair styling and education. Based in Florida, the stylist and content creator has built a thriving platform that celebrates curls in all their individuality. Her videos, which feature precision cuts, curl definitions, and styling tutorials, have made her a trusted figure in the textured hair space, where she champions authenticity and self-love above all else.
Quinones’ relationship with natural hair began as an act of self-acceptance.
“I shaved my hair off ten years ago to actually embrace my hair,” she shared with 21Ninety. “When I started doing that, people would say, ‘Oh my gosh, how did you do that?’ I felt confident enough to say, ‘This is who I am, this is my essence, this is my culture, my roots. Why not share it with the world?’”
Her philosophy centers on freedom of expression and redefining beauty standards.
“It’s not about having to straighten your hair to feel pretty,” she said. “You can feel beautiful with braids, with a sleek ponytail, or with your curls out. Our hair is versatile, that’s the beauty of it.”
Beyond the chair, Kenidia continues to pour into her community through Curlsgiving, an annual event she created to bring together natural hair lovers for education and connection.
“My next goal is to teach,” she said. “I want to inspire others to do this work with the same passion, to help people feel their best in their natural state.”
Second Place: Esther Etienne
Miami-born stylist and entrepreneur Esther Etienne has built a reputation on precision, innovation, and empowerment. The owner of Etienne Glamour Salon Suites in Atlanta, Etienne has created a space where women can experience private, luxury styling, and where other beauty professionals can grow their own businesses.
Her journey began humbly, doing hair for friends and family before enrolling in cosmetology school. “Doing hair was not always a passion of mine,” she said in an interview. “Once I became pregnant, it forced me to become more independent. I started doing hair at home, never thinking it would grow this big.”
Etienne’s signature techniques, particularly her seamless closure sew-ins and invisible part installs, have earned her a devoted clientele. Her work merges the polish of protective styling with a commitment to hair health, allowing women to experiment with their look without compromising the integrity of their natural strands.
Through Etienne Glamour, she’s expanded her influence from behind the chair to business ownership and mentorship. The salon suite model she developed empowers other stylists to build independence, offering a space that’s both professional and personal. Her approach embodies a modern vision of beauty entrepreneurship: one rooted in skill, service, and community.
Third Place: Aisha Strickland
Chicago-based stylist and educator Aisha Strickland has long been a leading voice for women with tight curl textures. As the founder of Black Girl Curls and co-creator of Black Curl Magic, Strickland’s mission is to simplify natural hair care while celebrating the full spectrum of curls, particularly those often left out of mainstream conversations.
A licensed cosmetologist and curl specialist, Strickland’s expertise lies in bridging professional technique with accessible education.
“Being recognized in this way means so much,” she shared with 21Ninety. “Not just for me personally, but for the entire community of Black folks who have fallen in love with, learned to care for, and now confidently show up in the hair that grows from their scalp. To me, this recognition marks a shift in how we feel about ourselves and how the world sees us.”
Her journey began as a beauty blogger before she ever picked up a stylist’s shears.
“My journey was fueled by curiosity and frustration,” she said. “After transitioning from relaxed hair, I couldn’t accept that my wash day went from two to three hours to six to eight hours. That frustration landed me in beauty school. I wanted to understand hair from the inside out—not only for myself, but so I could help other naturals cut through the noise, care for their curls, style them with confidence, and choose products that actually work.”
Through her salon, The Curl Society Studio, and her digital platforms, Strickland provides styling services, workshops, and resources that help both clients and fellow stylists better understand textured hair. Her instructional content has become essential for those seeking real guidance for tight curls, and her influence extends into product development and brand partnerships with companies like CurlMix, Innersense, and 4U by Tia.
As Black Girl Curls continues to grow, Strickland is expanding her reach through both digital and in-person education.
“This year we launched a beginner-friendly digital mini-guide for naturals who want to learn how to care for, style, and choose the best products for their hair with confidence,” she said. “For professionals, I created The Tight Curl Pro Exchange—a dedicated digital community designed to help stylists who work with (or want to work with) tight curls gain confidence and evolve their skills alongside a supportive network of peers. Looking ahead to 2026, I’m excited to bring this work offline with in-person workshops and events created for both consumers and pros—continuing to bridge education, culture, and confidence in natural hair care.”
About the Awards
The Best Natural Hair or Protective Stylist honorees exemplify what it means to merge creativity with cultural responsibility. Through their artistry, business acumen, and community-building, Kenidia D Quinones Alamo, Esther Etienne, and Aisha Strickland are redefining the landscape of Black hair care, on and offline.
Their recognition is part of a larger shift within the 21Ninety Awards, which now focus on people rather than products. This year’s honorees were selected not only for their talent, but for their ability to inspire others, create community, and embody 21Ninety’s mission to empower Black women through beauty, wellness, and lifestyle.