Report for BLK’s Free Your Crown Campaign

Overview

The #FreeYourCrown survey, conducted by BLK to inform the Free Your Crown campaign for National Crown Day (July 3, 2025), provides critical insights into the attitudes, behaviors, and experiences of Black individuals regarding their natural hair. The survey reveals widespread pride and confidence in natural hair, alongside challenges like judgment and rising haircare costs. This analysis interprets the results, connects them to the campaign’s goals of celebrating self-expression, promoting the CROWN Act, and supporting Black stylists, and offers recommendations to maximize the campaign’s impact.

Survey Results

  • 1. How often do you wear your natural hair?
  • All of the time: 60.9%
  • Sometimes: 21.6%
  • Never: 6.8%
  • Depends on my mood: 10.7%

  • 2. How confident do you feel wearing your natural hair in public?
  • Very confident: 79.5%
  • Somewhat confident: 10.5%
  • Indifferent: 5.6%
  • Not confident at all: 4.4%

  • 3. On social media, do you showcase your natural hair?
  • All the time: 57.2%
  • Only if the style is cute: 13.9%
  • Never: 10.6%
  • Occasionally: 18.3%

  • 4. How likely are you to immediately wear your natural hair around someone you are talking to/dating?
  • Very likely - take me as I am: 83.2%
  • Not very likely - I am shy: 12.1%
  • Neverrrrrrrr: 4.7%

  • 5. Have you ever felt judged for wearing your natural hair?
  • Yeppp: 22.5%
  • Never: 60.2%
  • Kinda: 17.4%

  • 6. Have you ever changed your hair (natural or otherwise) because of others’ opinions?
  • Yes: 13.1%
  • No: 81.5%
  • Thought about it but didn’t: 5.4%

  • 7. What’s your go-to hairstyle?
  • Natural (Twist/braid out, slick back, wash-n-go): 29.0%
  • Weave/wig: 14.6%
  • Silk Press: 5.9%
  • Perm/Keratin Treatment: 5.6%
  • Braids: 16.6%
  • Locs: 14.1%
  • Other: 14.1%

Analysis

  1. Frequent Natural Hair Adoption:
  • A robust 60.9% wear their natural hair all the time, and 21.6% wear it sometimes, totaling 82.5% who regularly embrace natural hair. This reflects a cultural shift toward self-acceptance, aligning with the campaign’s celebratory focus.
  • 10.7% choose based on mood, suggesting flexibility driven by context (e.g., professional or social settings), which the campaign can address by showcasing versatile styles.
  • 6.8% never wear natural hair, a small group possibly influenced by external norms or personal preference, presenting an opportunity for empowerment.

  1. Strong Public Confidence:
  • 79.5% are very confident wearing natural hair in public, and 10.5% are somewhat confident, totaling 90% with positive confidence levels. This supports the campaign’s emphasis on pride, as seen in the GRWM-style influencer content.
  • 4.4% are not confident at all, a minority who could benefit from the campaign’s encouraging messaging and community engagement.

  1. Robust Social Media Visibility:
  • 57.2% showcase natural hair all the time on social media, and 18.3% do so occasionally, totaling 75.5% with regular visibility. This positions Instagram and TikTok as ideal platforms for the campaign’s Reels, Stories, and #FreeYourCrown hashtag.
  • 13.9% share only when the style is “cute,” indicating aesthetic or social pressures that the campaign can counter by celebrating all hair expressions.
  • 10.6% never showcase their hair, potentially due to shyness or fear of judgment, which the campaign’s inclusive sticker pack and CTA can target.

  1. Confidence in Dating Scenarios:
  • 83.2% are very likely to wear natural hair around someone they’re dating (“take me as I am”), reflecting bold self-acceptance that the campaign can amplify through storytelling (e.g., comic’s first date scenario).
  • 12.1% are not very likely due to shyness, and 4.7% say never, indicating a small group who may need support to embrace their hair in intimate settings.

  1. Experiences of Judgment:
  • 60.2% have never felt judged, signaling increasing societal acceptance of natural hair.
  • However, 22.5% felt judged (“yeppp”), and 17.4% felt “kinda” judged, totaling 39.9% with some judgment experience. This underscores the ongoing relevance of the CROWN Act.

  1. Resistance to External Pressure:
  • 81.5% have never changed their hair due to others’ opinions, showcasing strong autonomy that the campaign can celebrate as empowerment.
  • 13.1% have changed their hair, and 5.4% considered it but didn’t, totaling 18.5% influenced by external opinions, suggesting a minority face pressures that the campaign can address.

  1. Diverse Hairstyle Preferences:
  • 29% prefer natural styles (twist/braid out, slick back, wash-n-go), the top choice, followed by 16.6% for braids, 14.1% for locs, and 14.1% for other, reflecting a preference for natural and protective styles.
  • 14.6% choose weave/wig, 5.9% silk press, and 5.6% perm/keratin, indicating some opt for non-natural or straightened styles, which the campaign should inclusively represent.