@essence: On a rainy April day in Los Angeles, Ms. Carolyn Smith decided she was ready to let go of decades of grief. Inside North Hollywood’s Braidhouse, the hum of dryers and styling tools faded into the background as barber Geoffrey Cathcart carefully cut away 20 years of matted hair through the Create to Heal initiative. What unfolded was more than a haircut. It was release, restoration, and renewal. Led by Don’t Forget About Me in partnership with ESSENCE and Myavana, Create to Heal is turning care into community for survivors rebuilding after the devastating 2025 Los Angeles fires. Read more about their initiative at ESSENCE.com.

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Wednesday 06 May 2026 16:05:29 GMT