In the Hair Braiding project, Kris Cheaye, a Junior at Smith College, and Abria Simmons, a Senior at the University of Maryland, are collaborating to explore how hair braiding enhances signaling quality of functional near infrared spectroscopy for individuals with afro-textured hair. This student-led initiative aims to bridge the gap between scientific research and equity by including hair braiding as an accommodation, making the study accessible to individuals with diverse hair types, and overall make studies more diverse and inclusive.
In this tutorial, Kris Cheaye ‘26, a research assistant for the MIND Lab, guides us through the hair braiding process to enhance accessibility in fNIRS studies. The step-by-step instructions are tailored to achieve reliable signals in individuals with curlier hair. Additionally, they emphasize the importance of accessibility in scientific research and the necessity of accommodations.
fNIRS figure from Kwasa, Jasmine et al. “Demographic reporting and phenotypic exclusion in fNIRS.” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37229429/
Curl Pattern Chart from https://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/hair/hair-care/curl-types