From writer Jamila Rowser and artist Robyn Smith comes a captivating graphic novel love letter
to the beauty and endurance of Black women their friendships and their hair. Wash Day Diaries
tells the story of four best friends—Kim Tanisha Davene and Cookie—through five connected
short story comics that follow these young women through the ups and downs of their daily lives
in the Bronx. The book takes its title from the wash day experience shared by Black women
everywhere of setting aside all plans and responsibilities for a full day of washing
conditioning and nourishing their hair. Each short story uses hair routines as a window into
these four characters' everyday lives and how they care for each other. Jamila Rowser and Robyn
Smith originally kickstarted their critically acclaimed award-winning slice of life mini comic
Wash Day inspired by Rowser's own wash day ritual and their shared desire to see more comics
featuring the daily lived experiences of young Black women. Wash Day Diaries includes an
updated full color version of this original comic—which follows Kim a 26-year-old woman
living in the Bronx—as the book's first chapter and expands into a graphic novel with short
stories about these vibrant and relatable new characters. In expanding the story of Kim and her
friends the authors pay tribute to Black sisterhood through portraits of shared yet deeply
personal experiences of Black hair care. From self-care to spilling the tea at an hours-long
salon appointment to healing family rifts the stories are brought to life through beautifully
drawn characters and different color palettes reflecting the mood in each story. At times
touching quiet triumphant and laugh out loud funny the stories of Wash Day Diaries pay a
loving tribute to Black joy and the resilience of Black women.
