they're the founders of curlfest, a gathering meant to empower women of color now in its sixth year. for me it's a transcendent experience. >> for many students these changes with mean the difference between being bullied and being accepted by classmates. >> i want to remind everyone at home that bloom county is under a red flag warning. >> interpreter: over the past year i made the decision to wear my natural hair on air, documenting my journey with the hashtag free the curls. my story becoming a part of the conversation that we've been following for years. one surrounding the regulation of natural black hairstyles. the issue even reaching schools like this high school in louisville, kentucky when the dress code policy banned dreadlocks, twists, and afros longer than two inches back in 2016. >> it felt very personal to me because i've worn those hairstyles. >> reporter: the school backed down on the policy, saying it was a misunderstanding and a lesson learned. >> the u.s. navy is now allowing women to wear ponytails, free hanging braids as well as locks. >> reporter: even the milit