I chose a Facebook advertisement to connect with my audience because of the applications prevalence among mothers. Facebook was the best platform to reach mothers as it is the app most used among their age group, as opposed to other platforms like TikTok, Instagram, or Snapchat. Additionally, the advertisement included a large and dramatic photo paired with little text, making it easy for parents to observe and highlighting the severity of frequent hair tool use. Many mothers are unaware of the harms that complement heat tool usage, so emphasizing the dangers with a dramatic image would be most effective in sparking long-standing and effective change

I decided to create an AI image of a mother holding a straightening tool and her daughter beside her with her hair on a bright orange fire. The fire represented a physical manifestation and emphasized the severe long-term effects that typically go unseen. This way, mothers are able to visually see an otherwise silent hazard. I also made sure to include brief text mentioning that the short-term, supposedly simple hairstyles that utilize heat are not worth the harmful consequences of hair straightener use in young girls. A simple message with an alarming image serves as the most effective for mothers who may be ignorant of the significant dangers heat tool usage may result in. 

I believed that targeting mothers with curly-haired children was the most significant because, as I did my research, I came to find that much of hair straightening usage begins at a young age, and that is when the most danger can arise. Young girls are not picking up these habits on their own; mothers are styling their children’s hair, and a lot of the time are taking the easier and more conformist option. Additionally, through my research, I have found that as girls grow into adulthood, the use of hair tools decreases, once again indicating that mothers styling their children’s hair are making the choice to use heat on their daughters’ hair. 

I hope my audience, especially mothers, make more knowledgeable and informed choices when it comes to deciding on hairstyles and using heat tools on their daughters’ hair. Not only is the practice of using heat tools on children dangerous in terms of its relation to early onset cancer and fibroids, but it can also lead to insecurity and shame. I hope mothers reconsider their use of heat tools and take conscience steps in making more informed decisions that keep their daughters safe physically and mentally.