Writer &
Beauty Culture Expert
AYANA BYRD is an author, journalist and screenwriter. She is the author of the award winning social history book Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America and Naked: Black Women Bare All About Their Hair, Skin, Hips, Lips and Other Parts. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, Essence, Elle, Fast Company and other publications. Ayana has appeared in numerous documentaries and panels to discuss beauty culture and the representation of Black women in popular culture.
PROFILE
I’m Ayana Byrd
In third grade, minutes after learning what a “journalist” was at Career Day, I inexplicably declared that I would become one. And then, years later, in 1995, I graduated from Barnard College and got my first job at Vibe magazine. Today, I’m an author, journalist, screenwriter, and expert on the intersection of race and hair culture.
my work
Bookshelf
Work
with Me
Ayana is a 25-year veteran in the editorial space and author of four books.
Ayana has given talks on the intersection of race, capitalism and beauty culture on film, college campuses and in international destinations.
From book development to script feedback, Ayana creates and refines content across genres.
