Friday, September 30, 2011

9346: Just Tsu It.


The New York Daily News spotlighted an innovator who will likely become the subject matter for an upcoming BHM Black inventors ad.

Aaron Henry of Harlem invents TsuRag, a traditional 'do-rag made with Velcro to avoid forehead marks

By Michael J. Feeney, Daily News Staff Writer

Harlem’s Aaron Henry was tired of wearing a ‘do-rag that left him with headaches and marks on his forehead, commonly created by tying the strings too tightly.

So Henry, 34, created the “stringless ‘do-rag,” which now uses snag-free Velcro to secure it.

He calls his creation the TsuRag.

“My goal with the TsuRag was to come up with a new way to maintain your hair,” Henry told the Daily News of the rag.

But besides maintaining the hair, he wants to improve the way ‘do-rag users feel.

“I want them to feel a sense of relief,” he said, recalling how the traditional ‘do-rag will leave the identations across the forehead.

His new rag, he says, leaves no marks and can be worn right up until the moment before a big meeting or interview.

It also, for the first time, gives a function to the tail that hangs from the back of a traditional ‘do-rag. That tail, which has Velcro on it, adds extra support to keep the TsuRag on.

“I want them to put it on and know that it’s doing its job without compromising their appearance,” said Henry, who grew up on W. 141st St. near Lenox Ave. “It’s truly designed to maintain your ‘do.”

The TsuRag officially launches Friday and will be sold online at TsuRag.com. Henry has already developed a following among kids and motorcylists, who he says have flocked to his new creation.

‘Do-rags, or wave caps, have long been popular in the black community. Many wear them for fashion, often under a baseball cap, and others wear it to keep their hair down to create a wavy look.

Henry said he came up with the name TsuRag because he wanted to design a ‘do-rag that could create “tsunami waves.”

Henry said he first started playing around with the idea of his creation in December after reading online comments from fellow “wavers” about their gripes with the traditional ‘do-rag.

It wasn’t until three months ago that he finally had a product.

“I knew I was on to something,” said Henry of the TsuRag, which is made with four-way stretch Spandex. “I envision my rag being the rag of choice.”

But perhaps Henry’s biggest goal with the TsuRag is to “eliminate all the [negative] stereotypes associated with the ‘do-rag.”

And he even hopes the TsuRag, which he describes as durable and high-end, will be accepted headgear in nightclubs.

“It’s a rag that can be worn with any hairstyle,” he said, adding he will be creating a women’s line of rags called Tsu-She. He even has a ‘do-rag for those who wear their hair in dreadlocks.

In midtown, Henry, who works as an administrator for a media company, showed off his new $10 rag and it got rave reviews - except for its price.

“I like it,” said Lester Vasquez, 27, of Inwood. “But it has to be affordable. Nobody is going to pay more than $4 for it.”

A traditional ‘do-rag will run only $2.

His pal Dre Hutch, 26, of Connecticut agreed the price tag was an issue for him, but both were thrilled with the new ‘do-rag option.

“A ‘do-rag with no string is a good idea. It’s convenient. It’s like putting on socks,” Hutch said. “I’d get it.”

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