Signals

UK – The Halo Collective, launched by a group of young black activists, is encouraging schools and universities to celebrate natural hairstyles through the launch of a guide called the Halo Code.

While many black students and employees still face discrimination associated with their natural hair, the Halo Code aims to protect and champion people in professional environments whose hairstyle is associated with their racial, ethnic and cultural identities.

Marking the first UK-based black hair code, employers who adopt the Halo Code can actively demonstrate a zero-tolerance policy of judgement towards people because of their Afro-textured hair. On its website, institutions such as brands and schools can complete the declaration and read about the requirements and rewards that come with adopting the Halo Code.

As young black people embrace their heritage and identity through braiding, Antonia Opiah, founder of Un-ruly, explains the pervasive inequalities that surround black hair.

Most US-based dating apps have reported increased usage since the beginning of the pandemic, with people changing their behaviour to reflect a more intentional mindset.

Research by Singles in America suggests a move away from casual dating, with 58% of people who use dating apps having shifted to more intentional dating during Covid-19. Among this group, 69% reported being more honest with potential partners and 63% spent more time getting to know one another.

Jeffrey Hall, the associate chair of the Relationships and Technology Lab at the University of Kansas, explains: ‘When you take a single person who is not having their social needs met by all of the people who they would normally see outside of their home, they actually have emotional bandwidth to engage in a much deeper way.’

While the pandemic and global lockdowns have forced people to rely on Socially Distant Dating, many are moving away from casual experiences to an attitude that values the stability of long-term partnerships.