Tress To Impress

Written by Nasir Harrison. Visuals by Nasir Harrison.

A buzzed head here, and a split-dyed afro there. At SCAD, there are a multitude of crazy and creative hairstyles around every corner. In my humble opinion, the diversity in how people style their hair on campus is one of the most interesting things to see. The eclectic outfits we bees wear that give all the SCAD-day parents heart attacks are the most talked-about, but more often than not, the dressed-down divas are rocking hair that’s just as interesting.

We’ve cultivated a community here at SCAD that allows us to be bold. No box could contain us and our crazy styles, and certainly not one that could dampen our creative spirits. Our hair tells stories and bleeds passion—in all their curled, twisted, dyed, and buzzed forms. What better way to indulge in this audacity than to hear from the lovelies behind the locs?

“My first time stepping out of the box with my hair was in 2020 when I buzzed it,” says Leo Hornberger. “I buzzed it myself in a parking lot! That started my journey of having ‘different’ hair and dyeing it.” For as long as I’ve known Hornberger, his hair has been a staple of his look. From painted with black stars, stickers, and even spider-webs for Halloween, all of these styles show off his beautifully imaginative spirit.

“I always say everyone should buzz and dye their head once! I’ve never felt so much like myself when I do, and I think a lot of people would too if they gave it a try,” says Hornberger.

“I gravitate toward whimsical and colorful aesthetics that stand out,” says Zoe Armstrong.

“I was very introverted when I was younger, and as I got older, I rejected those instincts by making myself naturally pop!” And pop she does–You could spot Armstrong’s gorgeous hair in the thick of a crowd with your eyes closed. It’s so authentically her.

“I love being able to just wake up in the morning and ruffle my hair up and go out the door–messy, layered and fun are the looks I like,” Armstrong says.

“I bleached my hair in 2020 because no one would see it since we were quarantined,” says Lucas Garcia. “In 2022, I started doing finger twists. Then I dyed it purple in 2023 and did braids in 2024.” Garcia is a man of many hairstyles, and each one shows off his endless curiosity and creativity. Similar to Armstrong, Garcia says, “I’m fine with my hair now as a ‘fro’ because it’s less work to maintain.” There’s something so sublime about simplicity.

Pro tip from Garcia: When you wash your hair and go to apply the product, divide your hair into fourths so it’s applied evenly!

Hair experimentation isn’t only reserved for the later years of life, though.

The innate creativity that sits in all our hearts can only blossom in the light of expression, and Dez Alexander cultivated that seed early on in his life. “The first time I stepped outside of the box when it comes to hair is when my mom helped me box dye my black hair purple for the summer when I was 10,” he says. “It didn’t do much, but you could see it in the sunlight, or when it leaked out in public pools.” Even in its purple obscurity, Alexander’s hair quite literally bled out his boldness.

“Love your hair! It’s so important to love the features that make you special!”