About this Event
SOUTH FLORIDA, IT’S TIME TO RECONNECT WITH YOUR ROOTS!
The 12th Annual Curlfriends Expo, presented by LuNiche, returns with Rooted Kickoff — an unforgettable celebration of natural hair, beauty, culture, community, and the people who make it all thrive.
Join us Saturday, September 5, 2026, for an afternoon created for curls, coils, locs, braids, and textured-hair lovers throughout South Florida.
Whether you’re searching for new products, expert hair advice, styling inspiration, Black-owned brands, or simply a beautiful space to connect with your community, Rooted Kickoff is where you need to be.
From textured hair care to beauty, fashion, fragrance, and self-care essentials, this experience is designed to connect, inspire, and empower.
Come ready to shop, learn, connect, discover — and leave feeling rooted, inspired, and refreshed.
WHAT YOU’LL EXPERIENCE
✨ Curated natural hair, beauty + lifestyle vendors
✨ Hair brands + product discoveries
✨ Live demonstrations + educational experiences
✨ Natural hair professionals + textured-hair experts
✨ Interactive beauty experiences
✨ Shopping from local + emerging businesses
✨ Giveaways + special surprises
✨ Community, culture, connection + photo-worthy moments
FEATURED EXPERIENCE: THE LOC LAB
Loc’d? This experience was created with you in mind.
Step inside The Loc Lab, featuring Shanice Robinson of Caribbean Styles, and experience loc education in action.
Watch a live retwist + style transformation from start to finish while learning directly from a Master Loctician.
At The Loc Lab, attendees can experience:
• Live retwist + style transformation
• Loc-care tips + education
• Healthy loc + maintenance guidance
• Ask a Loc Expert
• Live final reveal
Whether you already have locs, are considering beginning your journey, or simply want to learn more about maintaining healthy locs, The Loc Lab gives you a dedicated space inside the expo to learn, ask questions, and connect with an expert.
FEATURED EXPERIENCE: TEXTURE DEFINED
Your hair is more than a curl type.
Meet Adea McKnight of The Curl Spot, our featured Master Stylist + Textured Hair Specialist, inside Texture Defined — an interactive experience designed to help you better understand your individual hair.
Go beyond the surface and discover more about the characteristics that influence how your hair looks, feels, responds to products, and should be cared for.
Inside Texture Defined, attendees can experience:
• Personalized hair assessments
• Texture + hair-care education
• Guidance on density, porosity + individual hair characteristics
• Product + routine guidance
• Healthy hair + maintenance tips
• An opportunity to ask a textured-hair expert
Come with your questions and leave with a better understanding of your hair, your texture, and your routine.
MEET OUR PRESENTING SPONSOR: LUNICHE
Rooted Kickoff is proudly presented by LuNiche.
LuNiche will be joining us inside the expo, giving attendees an opportunity to experience the brand in person as part of this year’s 12th Annual Curlfriends Expo.
Visit the LuNiche experience during Rooted Kickoff to discover the brand, explore their fragrance offerings, and connect with the team behind our 2026 presenting sponsor.
We’re excited to welcome LuNiche not only as the brand helping us bring this year’s experience to life, but as part of the experience our attendees will get to enjoy throughout the day.
MORE THAN AN EXPO
For 12 years, Curlfriends Expo has created spaces where natural hair, beauty, entrepreneurship, and community come together.
Rooted Kickoff continues that legacy with a fresh experience designed to help you discover new brands, learn directly from beauty professionals, experience interactive activations, shop, and connect with people who understand your hair and your journey.
Meet the people behind the brands. Discover products created with textured hair in mind. Get advice from professionals. Watch beauty happen live. Shop businesses from our community. And spend an afternoon centered around us.
From Broward and Miami-Dade to Palm Beach and surrounding communities, we’re bringing Curlfriends together for one vibrant afternoon under one roof.
Event venue & nearby stays
Downtown Event Center - Fort Lauderdale, 416 Northeast 1st Street, Fort Lauderdale, United States
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.