Fros, Fades, and Braids

By Sean Qualls

Price: $19.99

Fros, Fades, and Braids Book Cover Enlarge Book Cover

Fros, Fades, and Braids

By Sean Qualls

Price: $19.99

About the Book

From Coretta Scott King Honor illustrator Sean Qualls, artist for Questlove’s The Idea In You, comes a hip, brief history of the most well-known Black hairstyles and the famous innovators behind them, reminding us of the strength and stature of Black hair and its prominence in hair history. "Qualls has crafted a visually stunning book about the histories and cultural meanings of Black hairstyles in the United States… A beautiful and inspirational book that blends art and informational text to create a visually stunning, accessible history of Black hair." — School Library Journal (starred review)

Hair—that wavy, wooly, curly, and knotty stuff.

Ever since Madam CJ Walker created some of the first Black hair care products, styles like the juicy jheri curl, buzzing beehive, and the fresh fades and braids we know and love today have cemented their coily, curly, and rightful place in hair history. However, Black hair has a rich and detailed past that not many may be aware of, that is, until now.

From Coretta Scott King Honor illustrator Sean Qualls comes a vibrant, captivating, and hip, brief history of the most well-known Black hairstyles, the people who made those one-of-a-kind styles look and feel so good, and the revolutionary hair care products and movements that would influence each generation, reminding us that Black hair may change, but it will never cease to leave its mark on the world.

Product Details

ISBN: 9780063144279
Imprint: HarperCollins
On Sale: Jan 20, 2026
List price: $19.99
No of pages: 64
Trim Size: 7.700 in (w) x 9.250 in (h) x 0.400 in (d)
BISAC 1: JUVENILE NONFICTION / African American & Black
BISAC 2: JUVENILE NONFICTION / Social Science / Customs, Traditions, Anthropology
BISAC 3: JUVENILE NONFICTION / Health & Daily Living / Personal Hygiene

Sean Qualls

Biography

Sean Qualls is a Brooklyn-based artist, illustrator, and author. His work is a mixed-media combination of painting, drawing, and collage. He is the author and illustrator of Fros, Fades, and Braids but has illustrated many picture books, including The Idea In You by Questlove; Before John Was a Jazz Giant, which received a Coretta Scott King Honor; The Poet Slave of Cuba, a Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books Blue Ribbon book; Dizzy, an ALA Booklist Notable Book and a Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal, and Child magazine best book as well as a Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books Blue Ribbon book and an ALA Booklist Editors’ Choice; and Emmanuel’s Dream, which was a Schneider Award winner and an Amazon Best Book of the Month. You can find him occasionally DJing in and around New York City. Visit him at seanqualls.com.

Reviews

Embark on an informative tour through the history of African American dos… As conversational as a stylist chatting with a client, this work of nonfiction has narrative flair and pizzazz. ..Vivid, empowering, and culturally rich.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

About the Book

From Coretta Scott King Honor illustrator Sean Qualls, artist for Questlove’s The Idea In You, comes a hip, brief history of the most well-known Black hairstyles and the famous innovators behind them, reminding us of the strength and stature of Black hair and its prominence in hair history. "Qualls has crafted a visually stunning book about the histories and cultural meanings of Black hairstyles in the United States… A beautiful and inspirational book that blends art and informational text to create a visually stunning, accessible history of Black hair." — School Library Journal (starred review)

Hair—that wavy, wooly, curly, and knotty stuff.

Ever since Madam CJ Walker created some of the first Black hair care products, styles like the juicy jheri curl, buzzing beehive, and the fresh fades and braids we know and love today have cemented their coily, curly, and rightful place in hair history. However, Black hair has a rich and detailed past that not many may be aware of, that is, until now.

From Coretta Scott King Honor illustrator Sean Qualls comes a vibrant, captivating, and hip, brief history of the most well-known Black hairstyles, the people who made those one-of-a-kind styles look and feel so good, and the revolutionary hair care products and movements that would influence each generation, reminding us that Black hair may change, but it will never cease to leave its mark on the world.

Product Details

ISBN: 9780063144279
Imprint: HarperCollins
On Sale: Jan 20, 2026
List price: $19.99
No of pages: 64
Trim Size: 7.700 in (w) x 9.250 in (h) x 0.400 in (d)
BISAC 1: JUVENILE NONFICTION / African American & Black
BISAC 2: JUVENILE NONFICTION / Social Science / Customs, Traditions, Anthropology
BISAC 3: JUVENILE NONFICTION / Health & Daily Living / Personal Hygiene

Sean Qualls

Biography

Sean Qualls is a Brooklyn-based artist, illustrator, and author. His work is a mixed-media combination of painting, drawing, and collage. He is the author and illustrator of Fros, Fades, and Braids but has illustrated many picture books, including The Idea In You by Questlove; Before John Was a Jazz Giant, which received a Coretta Scott King Honor; The Poet Slave of Cuba, a Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books Blue Ribbon book; Dizzy, an ALA Booklist Notable Book and a Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal, and Child magazine best book as well as a Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books Blue Ribbon book and an ALA Booklist Editors’ Choice; and Emmanuel’s Dream, which was a Schneider Award winner and an Amazon Best Book of the Month. You can find him occasionally DJing in and around New York City. Visit him at seanqualls.com.

Reviews

Embark on an informative tour through the history of African American dos… As conversational as a stylist chatting with a client, this work of nonfiction has narrative flair and pizzazz. ..Vivid, empowering, and culturally rich.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

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