When I first stumbled across the Instagram account, Fros and Beaus, I thought it was the sweetest Instagram account that I’ve seen in a very long time. Typically, natural hair accounts feature the usual – natural women wearing roller sets, twist outs, fly up dos, and bantu knot outs. Of course those things are always great to look at and admire, but it’s nice to see an Instagram account go beyond natural hair styles and products.
Instagram account Fros and Beaus (FAB) features natural hair women and the men who are in love with them. Women of all different shapes, sizes, and hair textures are gracing this lovely page. Although beautiful, the account isn’t just limited to women who have massive afros. Women with gorgeous locs, braids, twists, sexy tapered afros, and adorable TWAs are more than welcome to be featured on the page with their significant others.
Fros and Beaus Creator and Founder, Joiya Cloud.
Founder and Creator of Fros and Beaus, Joiya Cloud, is a proud naturlista of 14 years. The 33 year old is a Spelman woman and Georgetown Hoya who has been featured in Essence’s online magazine for their “Top Naturalistas” on Instagram feature. She’s a self-proclaimed, self-love advocate who believes life is about how we can get closer to loving ourselves fully and wholly, on a daily basis.
“I’m into self-love. I’m into ‘can you still love yourself without your hair?’ When you chop off your hair during your natural hair journey and it’s in the short stage and you don’t like it, can you still channel your inner beauty, being naked and stripped of your vanity? Can you challenge society’s standards of what it deems “sexy” or attractive? Can you accept that your curls and hair texture are not ever going to be like the girl next to you? Once we conquer this self-love thing, I think that is when we can attract love” said Cloud.
Which brings us back to Fros and Beaus, an Instagram account that features raw and unfiltered couples. The account is so refreshing that I often catch myself smiling while scrolling through the account photographs. I’m not the only one who feels the love. The Fros and Beaus account receives comments like “I love this account. Patiently waiting on my own beau!” and “Love this page. Truly inspires and proves love comes in all shades, shapes and sizes.” Proof that the account is appreciated.
One of the lovely couples featured on the Instagram account, Fros and Beaus.
Although at first glance, Fros and Beaus may appear to be all about women. Cloud assures that it isn’t.
“Today the natural hair community is growing exponentially and women are taking those steps to bravery and have lots of resources and places for encouragement and support to go natural. FAB is actually equally, if not more, about the men. Our ‘Beaus’, as featured on FAB, are gracefully leading this movement and I could not be any more excited about honoring and acknowledging their presence.
Cloud wanted a space in the realm of social media that acknowledged men and their bravery of loving their natural women regardless of what the media and music videos say about her kinky/curly hair. The space is also a place for men who have misconceived notions about natural hair. FAB may be all they need to see in order to change their minds about what’s beautiful. They may feel that it’s okay to love a woman who isn’t typically seen on primetime television or music videos.
A beautiful couple featured on the Instagram account, Fros and Beaus.
FAB, which has over 15,000 followers, was created in the summer of 2014 and was an immediate hit. Cloud was not surprised as she believes that anything that has potential to heal and show love will catch on quickly. She stated that it feels amazing to see how popular the page has become in such a short time.
“It would feel even more amazing to know and see that FAB is changing the way people think; shaping new ideologies and creating a greater understanding between men and women as it pertains to natural hair.” Cloud said.
In the future, you can expect a Fros and Beaus blog. The blog will feature natural hair couples and touch upon in depth conversations of men and their relationship to the natural hair world. FAB is also in the process of creating a stationary line and shirts which will be available on their website.
A fro and her beau, featured on Instagram account Fros and Beaus.
Fros and Beaus would not be what it is today without Cloud’s support from family and friends. Social Media Community Managers, Raena Granberry, Tiffany Jackson, Terrance Dawson, and FAB model, Travarri Johnson, all had a hand in making FAB what it is today. Cloud would like all of our natural readers to know that even if no one should ever decide to love you as you are, you MUST. This Instagram account truly dispels that annoying myth that men aren’t attracted to women with natural hair.
Follow Fros and Beaus on Instagram @FrosandBeaus and search the hashtags #FABvideo and #wethankyouFAB to see inspirational videos about the movement. If there are any volunteer writers/vloggers who would like to contribute to FAB’s soon to come website, please email frosandbeaus@gmail.com. The brand is also looking for Fros and Beaus representatives and correspondents. If you’d like to be apart of FAB, shoot them an email!
Do you believe that men are important to the natural hair community?