Today is National CROWN Day, an annual celebration of natural hair and a call to end hair discrimination. The day commemorates the signing of the CROWN Act (Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair), legislation designed to prohibit race-based hair discrimination in workplaces and schools. While it’s been adopted in more than 20 states, the fight for federal protection continues.
To mark the occasion, BLK—the largest dating and social app for the Black community—has launched #FreeYourCrown, a campaign spotlighting natural hair pride, real stories, and community-powered confidence. At the heart of the campaign is a collective of Black beauty creators who are shifting the narrative around what it means to wear your hair with pride.
The Faces of #FreeYourCrown
This year’s campaign centers on five Black women creators, each offering a unique lens on beauty, identity, and self-expression. Through Reels, TikToks, and in-app content, they’re helping to normalize natural hair in all its forms—not just when it’s polished, but when it’s lived-in, protective, or in progress.
Meet the creators:
- Ariana Lynee: Glam meets realness in her tutorials and get-ready content, where twist-outs and transparency go hand in hand.
- Naomi Nae (@naomii.nae): A Gen Z fave, Naomi is all about showing up boldly, whether she’s detangling curls or dropping gems about inner confidence.
- Janiel Audrea (@goldeyloc_): With bold visuals and loc’d wisdom, Janiel brings a soft power that redefines what elegance looks like.
- Adeline Din (@luxadi_): Minimalist chic with a curl pattern—Adeline makes natural hair feel like a luxury accessory.
- Dani Eliane (@thedanielaine): Dreamy edits, honest reflections, and curls that float like poetry. Dani reminds us that softness is a strength.
Each offers a glimpse into the freedom that comes with embracing your hair in a world that still scrutinizes it. Their visibility is influencing cultural confidence.
Survey Results Reveal Rising Pride and Persistent Pressure
BLK backed the campaign with real data, conducting a #FreeYourCrown survey to better understand how Black users feel about their natural hair in public, online, and romantic spaces.
The results show a powerful cultural shift:
- 60.9% wear their natural hair all the time.
- 79.5% feel very confident wearing it in public.
- 83.2% would rock it proudly on a first date.
- 75.5% regularly showcase it on social media.
These numbers reflect a growing sense of self-acceptance, particularly among Gen Z. Still, nearly 40% of respondents say they’ve experienced judgment for their natural hair—a reminder that legal protection and cultural reinforcement are both essential.
A Giveaway That Puts Stylists and Self-Care First
Natural hair care is a labor of love—and often, a financial commitment. To help offset those costs, BLK is offering five women a $500 salon credit as part of their Summer Haircare Giveaway.
Winners can choose any Black-owned salon and any style—natural, braided, protective—no restrictions. To enter, users simply upload a photo of their natural hair inside the BLK Beauty Community within the app.
Beyond Beauty: A Digital Community for Black Women
BLK’s evolution from a dating app into a fuller cultural space continues with the new BLK Beauty Community, a dedicated in-app group chat where users share products, tips, and encouragement.
It’s a space to talk about hair without the pressure to perform. Where product reviews coexist with affirmations, and “what oil do you use?” is just as important as “how do you feel showing up like this?”
For a community whose beauty has so often been policed or politicized, spaces like this matter.
Freeing the Crown, Protecting the Culture
With #FreeYourCrown, BLK is amplifying a movement that demands legal protection and cultural freedom. In a world that still tries to shrink Black expression, showing up fully—twist-out, TWA, frohawk, or fade—is an act of liberation.
So today, on National CROWN Day, if you’re wondering what to do with your hair, do whatever feels most like you. Know that your crown is already enough.
To join the campaign, enter the salon giveaway, or connect with the BLK Beauty Community, download the BLK app and follow @meet_blk on Instagram and TikTok.
Cover photo: Free Your Crown: BLK Teams Up with Black Beauty Creators to Celebrate Natural Hair and Demand Protection / Credit: BLK/ Getty
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