Nadine Mustafa You stumble across an Instagram page now and then that is so aesthetically appealing that you can’t even take your gaze away from it. Nubia Suarez of NYC’s Rëzo salon, popularly known as Nubia Rezo, has that influence on individuals. How this woman trims and twists curls is captivating if you will call it that. Suarez’s dedication to showcasing texture in all its splendor has earned her a niche cult of curl aficionados. Nubia Suarez is the kind of hairdresser we need to see more of, focusing solely on trimming, styling, and designing forms and styles for curly-haired ladies. She adores locks on another profound level.
She develops a bond with her customers, which inspires her urge to share their tales and enlighten others about the benefits of naturally textured hair. Suarez portrays a pleasant vision of coils that the public must see; in a time when women are disadvantaged at the workplace for “uncombed” natural curls and young ladies are being dismissed from schools for having their loose curls out. In a friendly, warm, and beautiful setting of Cairo’s new downtown, Nubia narrates the inspiring story behind her career and opens up on how her upbringing had a lot to do with her mesmerizing success of today’s.
What drew you to this industry?
Years and years ago, I was a hairdresser working in the States. Back then, the chances to be successful were much harder for women than that for men. However, I constantly found myself driven to take on challenges. I’ve always had a thing for natural curls, and I cherish almost every set of locks as if it were a true masterpiece. Apart from the fact that I enjoy this business, it has evermore been about making a difference and supporting women to embrace, accept, and express their real curls. On an intimate level, I lost my hair to Alopecia which is a condition in which hair falls out in little spots that are often undetected when the body’s immune system attacks the hair follicles due to stress and anxiety. I constantly questioned myself, my identity as a woman, and my acceptance of my hair loss. Since then, hair has become much more important to me. I’ve discovered that to understand natural hair texture, you must first know where it originates from, as well as the suffering and culture associated with all of it. You need to grasp all the facts to be able to trace back when this textured hair stigma emerged from.
How did you create your brand?
Since I don’t allow myself to fall into the trap of self-pity and tragedy, I started to go to different companies for hair restoration. Only to find me with women with texture hair, loosening their texture because of what society tells them. I worked with the best companies for over thirty-five years, restoring, trimming, and styling hair. These companies were focused on empowering textured hair through different curl techniques and products. Fast forward, six years ago, I started my own business, the Rëzo Salon.
What does Rëzo stand for?
Rëzo in Spanish means ‘to pray. To pray for all the communities around the world, to discover the beauty in them, and the uniqueness that will never allow any society or beauty industry to put a label on them.
What was your motive behind the creation of Rëzo Cut?
Although (the white elephant in the room) I don’t have textured hair, I fell in love with textured hair long before these communities even knew about their textures. Whenever I approach a woman of such hair, she finds it hard to believe when I say how beautiful she looks. That’s why I wanted to support women and guide them to love and embrace their nature no matter what. I didn’t see why not care for something beautiful, rich, and cultural even if I don’t fit the criteria. I love all kinds of textures, and most importantly, I respect each one.
How was your relationship with your hair growing up?
When I was a little girl, I always wanted to have long hair. I recall putting on my hoodie and tying it from the top to create this Rapunzel-length bouncy hair, but my oh my!
Storytime: When I was about six years old, I went on a trip to the coast back in Colombia. To reach the coast; we had to take the bus, in which there was this family and a little girl with an afro. My family and hers became friends along the way. I was fascinated the entire time by how her hair was holding up in a perfect round afro shape. Especially when we went to the beach together, the little curious kid in me whispered ‘push her’, and so I did. We played, and I pushed her in an innocent attempt to figure out why did her hair look so different from mine. That was my first encounter of ever coming across textured hair.
Your favorite technique in cutting hair?
After 16 years of practicing as a curl expert at some other hair salons while also caring for my Alzheimer’s-affected mother, I recognized just how resilient she was. She used to trim roses in circles, and after she passed away, I wanted to completely immerse myself in something that I enjoyed and that connected me to her in some sort of way. The more I looked at a picture that I had on my station, the more I realized that I had been working in the same circular motion as that of a rose resemblance. As a result of my mother’s inspiration, I invented a curly cut method known as the Rëzo cut, which is a dry trim in the pattern of a rose that brings richness, symmetry, and structure to curls. We can increase the dimension with this technique relying on the texture and thickness.
Who inspired you to create your brand identity?
My parents. In my homeland Colombia, my father was a very humble man who worked as a farmer. He ceaselessly taught me to appreciate nature and the value of becoming a self-sufficient lady on my terms. My beloved mother, who was a major wilderness, had a thing for blossoms, especially roses. She is a constant inspiration and motivation to this day.
How would someone embrace their natural curls?
You must be yourself, express your emotions and never be afraid of showing your natural beauty. Be confident and let the world shed the light on you. See, when you have enough self-love, you don’t need validation from anyone else.
What is your advice for women who don’t dare yet to wear their curls, twists, and coils?
It’s a preparation process of completing oneself. You will find it much easier to embrace your natural self with maturity over time. The most important thing is to take good care of it, to keep your hair healthy and thick, choose products that nourish and lock moisture in. So rather than sulfate-laden shampoos that dry up your hair, buy products that contain essential oils such as argan, jojoba, and coconut. Allowing your curls to be who they are most healthily is to embrace them. All your styling products and control put a lot of unwanted strain on your follicles. Permit your hair to rest between showers and conditioners so that you can reap the benefits of your scalp’s base oil.
What is your favorite hair product?
I have created my product – the Rëzo hair care – that works for every hair texture. The reason I wanted to do this goes back to bringing everybody to the same table. It’s hydrating, making sure it helps strengthen the hair from the roots, and most importantly, it’s vegan.
What do you love about Egypt?
EVERYTHING! I love the weather, the music, the people, and how they can embrace moments and live each day to the fullest. I am far from home; yet it feels very familiar here, which brings me comfort and warmth.
