The Sculptress
by Vonetta Booker-Brown

Brooklyn locktitian Nekhena Evans sculpts African hair into fierce locks daily. Quite well. And tells Scene exactly how she can stare down any jar of relaxer and make it run for cover.

Well, those aren’t the people you’ll likely see up under the fingers of Brooklyn locktitian Nekhena Evans, owner of New Bein’ Hairlocking Enterprises. She’s in the business of twisting kinky African hair into locks—no chemicals, thank you—just natural, holistic “Be-You”-ty, as she calls it. And please don’t call them dreadlocks in front of Evans—you’re likely to be schooled on that (“there’s nothing ‘dreadful’ about locks,” she says). As she holds court in the middle of her envy-inspiring Clinton Hill space, Evans will let you know that she’s not down with the assembly-line program of some hair care businesses. 

 “There’s a natural hair care crisis right now…there’s no caring in hair care,” she says, as old-school Stevie rocks softly in the background. “When you come in, you spend two to three hours with me; people need that. They’re coming in to relax, get rid of the stress and gain some spiritual upliftment.”  Evans mentions a young woman who told her of an in-and-out-in-10-minutes hair salon experience. “What many [salons] are interested in is clocking dollars, clients in and out of the seat and a quick and fast method. Locking is so much more than that.” 

Evans, a deep, smooth-skinned woman who surrounds herself with incense and ankhs, regularly adorns her own shoulder-length raven locks with crystals and copper, and speaks of the “Knew Age” (in which people will become more in tune with spirituality and inner consciousness), is also the author of Hairlocking: Everything You Need To Know. She started New Bein’ in 1991, twisting folks’ hair on evenings and weekends while holding down a job as a social worker during the day. Becoming jaded with the system, she was blessed enough to go full-time with New Bein’ in 1994. Interestingly, Evans sees a parallel between locks and social work. “The core of all those people’s issues was that basically, they didn’t know who they are. And when people come to me to have their hair locked, I’m trying to apply their self-identity.” 

Evans’ own consciousness came about at a young age. As a girl coming up in Brooklyn's Marcy projects, she happened upon an Essence short story in which the female author described a Rastafarian crush. The year was 1972, and 15-year-old Evans was mesmerized. “I thought, ‘That’s them dreadlocks—them Rastas!’ It was so powerful; I really wanted that.’” Moms wasn’t trying to hear it, though—neither were most people at the time, although Afros were then in vogue. “The few people who [wore locks] were definitely considered eccentric, militant,” she recalls. “People would look at them and be like, ‘Whoa, they are out there, they are real revolutionary.” 

The image of that Rasta man stayed with Evans, though—through relaxers and Jheri curls until she finally locked her hair 12 years ago. She’s twisting Alex’s hair now, a 22-year-old Bronx brother who’s locking his hair for the first time. “In the past six years, there’s been an explosion [of people locking their hair]—especially here in Brooklyn,” she says as she twists and secures each section of his wavy hair with a small silver clip. “I think that individually and collectively, the consciousness of it in the world has advanced.” 

What does the future hold for Evans and New Bein’ Hairlocking? Well, girlfriend plans to raise things to a new level. Although New Bein’ Enterprises already includes lines of care products, hair adornments, hairlocking training and is the sponsor of Intertwined, a hairlocking conference held annually in Brooklyn, Evans plans to keep expanding.  “In six months, I don’t plan to be here,” she says, waving an ankh-ringed hand around the living room.” Aside from getting a bigger place, she plans to parlay her interests in jewelry crafting, body adornment, interior decorating and writing into future business ventures as well.  “I could have been in a storefront, but that’s not me—that’s not what New Bein’s about.” Nope, no hair salon drama here—just  fabulous locks.

You can contact New Bein’ Enterprises at (718) 638-5725, or visit it online at www.newbein.com.