PrEP is up to 99% effective in preventing HIV acquisition and comes as an oral pill taken daily or a long acting injectable. Although PrEP is proven effective, less than 1% of eligible women actually use it. 

There are a variety of reasons for this. Providers may not know about PrEP, or they may not offer it to women. Women may not know about PrEP, or they may not think it’s right for them. The time to prioritize Black cisgender women is now.

The HEEAT Lab’s UPDOs Protective Styles is a salon-based intervention and partnership with researchers and local community members. UPDOs has three components: Stylist Training, a mini-series called The Wright Place, and PrEP Navigation.

The initiative aims to promote awareness, knowledge, and uptake of PrEP among Black women in the Southern United States. UPDOs takes a comprehensive approach, addressing the overall wellbeing of Black women.

Learn more about the initiative on our UPDOs Toolkit and publications pages.