WHEELING – Students and their families who need extra help with taming and styling their hair will get the opportunity for expert advice this month.

Ohio County Schools will sponsor the 5th Annual Textured Expo from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 25 at at Bridge Street Middle School

Textured hair is defined as “hair that naturally possesses a distinct shape, wave, curl, or coil pattern, ranging from loose waves to tight, dense coils.”

“There’s always a need for this, as Ohio County Schools is so diverse in every aspect of the school,” explained organizer Unique Murphy, Communities In Schools site coordinator at Wheeling Park High School. “There is always a student who comes from a foster care situation with a family who has never had to deal with textured hair.

“Other students maybe don’t have access to the supplies, or a parent who doesn’t know a proper hair stylist.”

Those attending the expo will get a chance to meet local hair stylists and barbers, as well as other businesses in the community that could be of assistance to them. They will demonstrate how to properly style, care for and maintain textured hair.

Stylists will showcase the products they use, and these will be available for sale at the event.

Among the vendors present will be Just Me, Stradwick’s Fade Cave, the Alpha clothing store; Two Times: Clothing & Collectibles; the Luxury Lifestyle Groom Lounge; Green’s Photography, the Why Don’t You Stay A While organization; the Wicked Beauty Studio; and Visionary.

Some social services agencies also are expected to be present.

“This year we are incorporating small businesses and community resources,” Murphy said. “After many people had their SNAP benefits cut, we noticed many students were increasingly in need. We wanted to make sure they knew what resources were available.”

She noted the most important thing about the event is participation. The Textured Expo has grown each year, according to Murphy, and she always plans for at least 60 to 80 people to attend.

“I hope they see that people care about them, and that they learn something from the event,” she said. “I hope they learn how to do hair, about the resources available to them, or just see how much effort goes into this and how much we pay attention to their needs .

“I want them to see we are willing to provide a conscious effort because we don’t have to. It is just that we see a need and we have made a note of it.”