The Monday after next may be a bank holiday, but rather than try anything rash such as a trip to the seaside or a spot of DIY, I'll be making my annual pilgrimage to the Afro Hair & Beauty Show. There is something strangely powerful about walking into a space as huge and grand as Alexandra Palace and seeing it filled to bursting with black people (this year, they're expecting more than 15,000 visitors).
Seeing that number of black people under the same roof is a rare enough sight in this country, but the cherry on top is knowing that every single exhibitor knows what they're talking about when it comes to black hair and beauty. It's like the typical black shopping experience, only in reverse.
The result is a feeling of mild euphoria that starts when you get up and decide what to wear (think Saturday night, not Monday afternoon), builds as you make your way to north London (clocking fellow show-goers en route), and peaks when you walk through the doors. The UK black hair and beauty market is said to be worth £15m, but while on average women spend £50 at the show (for men, it's £20), the event is about more than just selling products. Hair and beauty advice, trends and a touch of checking out the competition (and I'm not talking rival hair products here) are as crucial an element as lugging home bags of samples that you'll never use.
This is the show's 21st year. The first show, at the Grosvenor House Hotel, had just 30 or so exhibitors. This year, there'll be more like 100. But size isn't the only difference between then and now: "Every year you see something different," says Paula Lester, territory sales manager for Europe for the black-owned afro hair firm JM Products. "People are braver. The advent of extensions has also changed things, and many more stands are catering for natural hair. It's a wonderfully creative environment, and very entertaining."
And, let's face it, it beats DIY.
· Afro Hair & Beauty Show, Alexandra Palace, London N22, May 25-26, 10am-7pm, 020-8678 7555 for ticket details (afrohairshow.com).
