For The Culture: Bronner Bros International Hair Show and Competition

Ife Michelle
Mar 2, 2017
3 min read

Braids, fros’, short cuts with dope ass designs, exotic colors and badass weaves; Black culture is comprised of so many amazing things but the versatility, diversity and flawless slay of black hair is one of the key and most recognized components. Every year, to celebrate the greatness that is black hair, Bronner Brothers hosts their International Hair Show, and this year’s celebration of 70 years brought the heat!

So for those of you living under a rock, here’s a little background on the company:

“ In 1947, Dr. Nathaniel H. Bronner, Sr. and his brother, Arthur E. Bronner, Sr. (the original Bronner Brothers) with the assistance of their sister, Emma Bronner began teaching cosmetologists at the Butler Street YMCA in Atlanta, Georgia. Subsequently, the first Bronner Bros. Trade Show was born with approximately 300 in attendance.

Bronner Bros. grew, the show moved from the YMCA to the Royal Peacock Social Club, and later to the Auburn Avenue Casino. The show attracted many well renowned speakers including Jackie Robinson, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Dr. Benjamin Mays. Mr. Bronner combed the country each year to bring positive, motivating people to the show.

Over the years Bronner Bros. continued to gain momentum and moved to the City Auditorium. In 1967, the newly completed Hyatt Regency Hotel and Bronner Bros. signed a ten (10) year contract to hold the annual convention. This would remain the home for the beauty show for the following twenty (20) years.

As the show grew – energetic, satisfied customers and space demands forced the selection of other sites for the show. With the show being such a phenomenal success, expansion included moves from the Marriott Marquis, Hyatt Regency, the Atlanta Merchandise Mart and finally to its present venue, the Georgia World Congress Center. In 1996, delegates convened in the magical city of Orlando, Florida.

In 1993 Bronner Bros. achieved a “new level of success” with the changing of the guard. Bernard Bronner took his seat at the helm of the company as president and CEO. Thus began the second generation of Bronner Bros.

Today, Black-owned Bronner Bros. Enterprise consists of Beauty Products which include BB, African Royale, 4Naturals, Tropical Roots and NuExpressions product lines, UPSCALE Magazine, Bronner Bros. International Beauty Shows, Word of Faith Family Worship Cathedral, and The Ark of Salvation. ”

Now that you understand what it is Bronner Brothers is about, let’s get into the actual hair show.

Picture it:

Black bodies flooding the Georgia World Congress Center Authority, faces beat, outfits tastefully put together weeks in advance, black businesses networking with the public, elevating their brand. As you walk through the venue you see stages adorned with multicolored lights, brightly decorated models and fans congregating to see their favorite barber or hairstylist compete in “Champion of Weaves”, “Fantasy Competition”, “ANDIS

Total Look Barber Competition” and the “Student Rising Star Competition” to earn extravagant titles, prize money, and bragging rights as the baddest Barber/Hairstylist in the country. Runway models with hair influenced by indigenous African people are art in motion. They grace runways with fearless attitudes, queens and kings catalysts of the culture. Make-up artists with flawless faces work to prove they are worthy of being a “BB Covergirl”. Throw in a few celebrities like Rick Ross, Llyod, and K. Michelle and you are set for one bomb ass weekend.

So, let’s recap: Black-owned, gives back to the community, and has represented the individuality and beauty of black hair as an art for 70 years and counting; sounds like the G.O.A.T. to me, but just in case you’re not completely sold, check out these photos from this years’ event: