My name is Afiya Hopson, and I am the CEO and founder of the Hair?Braid It! (H?BI) brand in Trinidad and Tobago. With more than twelve years of experience as a stylist, I specialize in healthy hair extensions. I have a particular passion for braiding, viewing it as an art form distinct from other hairstyles; one that demands both patience and passion. I began practicing hair-braiding at the age of thirteen. After I started sporting my own braided hairstyles, people began requesting my services. Over the years, through trial and error, workshops, books, and countless videos, my skills evolved from a hobby into a profession. Today, I own a salon in Trinidad, where I host regular workshops and rent suites.

In 2017, I published the first H?BI Manual, an introductory guide to braiding techniques that spurred the creation of online classes, enabling stylists worldwide to refine their skills. In 2020, I released my second manual--the HD version--featuring modern styles and heat-styling techniques. I earned my BSc. in Industrial Engineering in 2013. In 2014, I also obtained my Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ), demonstrating my ability to deliver a wide range of hairstyles at the highest standard. Combining my engineering background with my styling expertise, I have educated more than three hundred women in my workshops, all of whom have made remarkable progress. To date, I have sold over 2,000 copies of my manuals to audiences around the world.

My goal is to continue learning and educating in this field that I love. I hope to see hair extensions, styling, and braiding gain greater prominence in cosmetology programs. The H?BI brand is about more than just a hairstyle. It is a medium used to distinguish a woman of a different calibre; a woman of flavor and of variety, who can harness her inner goddess and embrace being that glamourous woman we were all created to be.

My team and I at H?BI strive to break barriers, ensuring that not only are our hair extensions of the highest quality, but that our methods and customer service are second to none. We are steadily building a customer-driven, customer-centered brand by developing standards and guidelines that everyone can follow. Our mission is to redefine beauty industry stereotypes on a global scale, promote hair extensions as a healthy and protective style dispelling the myths that surround them, and further develop industry knowledge for future generations. H?BI takes the art of braiding and styling to new heights of excellence.