Black and Latinx genderqueer hairstylist Madin Lopez founded ProjectQ in 2012. The LA-based non-profit provides free haircuts and self-empowerment workshops to LGBTQIA+ youth experiencing homelessness. Like many folks with the service industry, Madin lost work when Corona hit. But they were determined to continue helping their youth, so they shifted to a new isolation-friendly empowerment method: Creating products for people of all genders with curly hair in a line called ProjectQurls. All of the proceeds go to ProjectQ.
First in the lineup is Qo-Wash, a cream shampoo for all genders that moisturizes your hair while cleansing. Next is Edge Qontrol and Shine Pomade, a dualistic product that can tame pomp strays, and get edges laid. Lastly, the Qurl Qream is specifically designed for hair types 2b-4c. The Qurl Qream leaves your hair with a non-oily weight, that makes your curls POP without a case of the crunchies.
Over the past 7 years, ProjectQ has been a hub of community service. Clients know that supporting their stylists helps them be able to giving free haircuts to Queer Youth Of Color experiencing homelessness.
Proceeds from the PojectQurls product line will go directly to ProjectQ’s youth training program. ProjectQ is training existing, previously homeless youth to in the ways of queer hair and social justice, which will enable them to find work and fight for their communities. As always, the endurance of our young queer people is built in to the structure in which ProjectQ exists.
We will all get through this together, as a community. Let’s support the spaces that we want to see standing when Mx.'Rona takes their exit.
To find out more about ProjectQ programming, community service, and ways to get involved with ProjectQ, visit ProjectQ.me
Follow ProjectQ:
Instagram: @Project_Q_, @ProjectQSalon
Facebook: Info page, Salon page
