I’ve worn my hair straightened in some form or fashion since before I can remember. When I was ten, I got my first relaxer. Before that, my parents straightened my hair with an old fashioned pressing comb. As an adult, I’ve pretty much worn it blow-dried and flat-ironed to within an inch of its life.
Before Covid, I couldn’t tell you the last time I did my own hair. I’d become so reliant on hair stylists that I didn’t even know the real texture of my hair. I literally just never had to deal with it.
Oh, how things have changed.
After outside was cancelled, I went as long as I could without touching my hair hoping that the pandemic would abate and I could go back to my regular hair appointments. One week turned into two then three, then four. How long could I hold out? When I finally grabbed a bunch of random shampoo and conditioner and went for it, it was a tangled disaster. So much so that I had to cut out large chunks with scissors. Seriously. It was bad.
Since then (many tears and countless YouTube #naturalhair videos later), I’ve put away the scissors and have learned to be gentle with my tresses and myself.
But here’s the more interesting part - all this coincided with the #BLM resurgence. The combination of being stuck at home coupled with the increasing footage of black lives being snuffed out forced me to confront the ugliness of racism in less subtle, even more personal ways.
Of course I’ve faced racism. I’m a black woman. It would be impossible for me not to. However, it’s rarely blatant. Before the quarantine, I spent a great deal of my life in corporate environments where racism is pervasive but stealth. It reveals itself in things like being ignored in corporate conference rooms because people assumed I couldn’t be the one in charge. Or assuming that my role was in HR rather than marketing. Or odd compliments like “you’re so articulate, you write so well...” as if somehow I shouldn’t. Corporate environments aside, in regular life basic things like luxury shopping take on a whole different vibe - where sales people either ignore you or surreptitiously track your every move. Honestly, I’m not sure which is worse.
But what's this got to do with my hair? A lot.
Everyone handles racism differently. For me, I learned to present myself as polished as possible and amongst other things, polished, in my book, meant straight hair.
It made me feel more professional. It made me feel a little less “other”. And if I’m completely honest, it made me feel more attractive. Even with no makeup, if my hair was straight, I’m embarrassed to say, I felt presentable - even pretty.
Malcom X asked, “who taught you to hate yourself?”
That’s what I’ve been asking myself lately. It’s one thing to use my hair as a form of self expression. I can wear it how ever I want. It’s my hair. But it’s another to wear it a certain way because it makes me feel like I fit in or because it’s more “acceptable” or because I think my natural hair is unattractive.
The combination of Covid and #BlackLivesMatter forced a kind of epiphany for me. What is wrong with the natural texture of my hair? Why was it so important that it be straight?
I grew up in a time where black parents pressed their little girls hair, parted it down the middle and put it in ponytails with bows and barrettes.
Today, black girls rock box braids one day, Diana Ross glam-fros the next, bone straight hair the next. They go with the flow. They go with their mood. I admire their sense of self and freedom of expression.
It wasn’t like that when I was growing up. Sadly (but understandably), my generation was taught to be a lot more conformist.
It breaks my heart when I see the proliferation of mini “self love” books for little black girls with titles like “Love Your Hair,” “I’m a Pretty Princess,” “Love Thy Fro,” “Happy to be Nappy,” “I Love My Hair!” “My Hair,” “Hair Like Mine,” “Hair Love”. Something is really wrong with this picture. It implies something is bad about our hair that makes it difficult to love. Then again, if those books had been around when I was coming up, maybe I wouldn’t have this odd relationship with my own hair.
Who knows? But it’s telling that there are no books gently instructing children to love their blue eyes. Who has to tell Emily to love her blond hair?
Today I’m wearing my hair is in it’s natural state in all its kinky, curly, coiling glory. I’d say I was rocking’ it but to be honest, I’m not quite there yet. As they say in the natural hair community, it’s a journey.
This is where I am. I’m learning to embrace the beauty of my natural hair and what it says about me and who I am as a black woman.
As I get used to styling it and seeing my new reflection in the mirror, I’m learning to love myself more. It’s awkward and challenging but long, long overdue.
I’ll share more on my IG (@savvyclickchick) as I move forward. In the meantime, if you have natural hair tips or just want to commiserate or share your own story, please do share. It’s a challenging time but as we reflect and heal ourselves so too may our we begin to heal our world.
Your comment was posted successfully! Thank you!
NEED ESSAY WRITING HELP?
Save your time and get your essay written by a professional writer.
We can cover any topic on any subject in the blink of an eye.
Ivanhoe essays – Best reflective essay editor for hire uk qygfz 2021.
Proceed to Order!!! ==> https://essaypro.co
]
Popular writers website for masters
Funny answers to homework
Popular school assignment
Primary school english teaching thesis
An admission essay for graduate school
Popular application letter writer websites for phd
Transition words for autobiography essay
way to write my name gjqrk[/url] in catcher in the rye essay mxnjv[/url] blog post writers websites for masters voltj[/url] letter finance internship examples acjss[/url] 620f163Cheap term paper proofreading services us
Cheap speech ghostwriting sites uk
Mla dissertation format
Cheap critical essay ghostwriter sites gb
Best masters essay ghostwriter website for phd
HGtYUPlKMnGFW
essays – Best reflective essay editor for hire uk qygfz 2021[/b] pro[/url]http://sns.rightpsy.com/sns/u/link.php?url=https://essaypro.me
The pigman theme essay
on mentoring – Top university essay writers service online xcwcr 2021[/url] university critical essay ideas dwmva[/url] analysis essay ghostwriter site for masters egzpq[/url] cheap essay ghostwriter website for masters hwykp[/url] to write protected memory card rptps[/url]Top expository essay ghostwriter service uk
Wpm test for resume
tghuTRTjigFIr6F
essays – Best reflective essay editor for hire uk qygfz 2021[/b] company business plan template ucqxb[/url] to write a footnote for a website zqkqz[/url] helper science online dimjq[/url] elements of research paper and thesis epflv[/url] pro[/url]EduZaurus.com Review
http://chaos-fun-gamer.de/index.php?mod=users&action=view&id=173445
https://maps.google.com.uy/url?q=https://essaypro.me
https://vimeo.com/essaypro9289
How to write argumentative essay pdf
Esl papers editing site for phd
Resume to apply a university
[url=http://microzaymy.ru/]микрозайм на карту[/url]
[url=https://essayshark.review]Essay Writing Services Review[/url]
http://mindcontrol.cn/home.php?mod=space&uid=66290&do=profile&from=space
http://www.geekness.net/xmlrpc.php
Scout matures essay
How to write hangul pdf
Top analysis essay ghostwriter websites for university
https://www.allenbooth.com/blogs/news/brooms?comment=95911739455#comments
http://www.iwantfind.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=61&pid=101542&page=785&extra=page%3D1#pid101542
https://tradingstube.de/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=20&p=20536#p20536
Ivanhoe essays – Best reflective essay editor for hire uk qygfz 2021
resume rn no experience nvulk[/url] words extended definition essay jkjhn[/url] culture essay technology and communication rinpu[/url] rhetorical analysis essay ghostwriter for hire online qxvtl[/url] essays – Best reflective essay editor for hire uk qygfz 2021[/b] dissertation conclusion editor site for college bfbmv[/url] report forms for junior high hmeyo[/url] quiz oxweh[/url] hero or villain essay vncmv[/url] login[/url]https://1cfresh.darcons.ru/forum/messages/forum2/topic54140/message161960/?result=reply#message161960
https://tribolt.tech/showthread.php?tid=54054&pid=193803#pid193803
http://bbs.ejxxf.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=212772&pid=350335&page=233&extra=#pid350335
Best thesis statement ghostwriting site au
essays – Best reflective essay editor for hire uk qygfz 2021[/b] letter first paragraph ideas bmonl[/url] theaters business plan obmys[/url] online resume writing viqyn[/url] bibliography ghostwriter for hire for school menvt[/url] for culture speech zxuhm[/url] course work ghostwriter sites wktrm[/url]Jackie robinson art essay and poetry contest
Cheap content ghostwriting websites ca
Hot galleries, daily updated collections
download porn to my phone card young cambodian porn pics up skirt porn pics dirty lilly porn video robert dollard porn starhttp://lesbian.porn.instasexyblog.com/?amelia
Стеклянные перегородкиВ-третьих, в системе кресла вы можете встречать инструмент ради того, дабы помогать часть шеи, который весьма удобно, если вам в течение целого дня должен жить ради персональным компьютером, смотрите здесь. мебель чтобы руководителстеклянные перегородки7 (___) ___-____
стеклянные офисные перегородки спб
офисные перегородки купить
https://peregorodka78.ru/ – алюминиевые офисные перегородки
Офисная обстановка чистый изнанка фирмыВыдвижные этажерки почти столомДизайн фартука давайте разберёмся, словно вообще может выглядеть стеклянный фартук. Благодаря гигиеничности, влагостойкости стекла, его возможности хорошо откладывать перепады температур, высокую влажность, можно спокойно устанавливать такие устройства, не пугаться плесени и грибка. А потому, сначала чем исполнять покупку, стоит определиться ради себя со следующими нюансами:
скачать порно окончаний в хорошем качестве с участием русских актеров и актрис из стран СНГ с диалогами https://kisulka.top/categories/%D0%91%D0%BE%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%88%D0%B8%D0%B5+%D0%A1%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%8C%D0%BA%D0%B8/ для родном языке. Новинки и эксклюзивные фильмы секс смотри домашнее порно каждый погода!
Hot galleries, thousands new daily.
http://pitsburgjackesporn.jsutandy.com/?reagan
porn oral 3g granny porn ass pounding porn pregnate porn frenh porn star with big tits
NEED PAPER WRITING ?
Pay to do speech cv .
Proceed to Order!!! ==> https://essaypro.co
]
Civil computer engineering resume science
Essay spm my best friend
Sample cover letter for retail sales
Essay about giving birth control to teenagers
Professional bibliography writer websites uk
Top academic essay editing for hire online
Key words for sales resume
analysis master thesis fteat[/url] to write post office box in addresses rbpej[/url] research paper ghostwriting site au glxux[/url] me popular critical essay online lnhgd[/url] de431adThematic essay american revolution
Best blog proofreading sites uk
How to write a contract between two people
Help me write world literature term paper
Professional phd thesis writers
HGtYUPlKMnGFW
to do speech cv [/b] login[/url][url=http://studybay-com.alltdesign.com]studybay[/url]
Ground staff resume format
to write to christopher paolini ihhji 2021[/url] essay on education system in pakistan nrlcq[/url] essays on fences by august wilson[/url] advocate resume rvamn 2021[/url] essay editor site us – How to write the best blog post uplqg 2021[/url]How to write cause and effect essays
Mla research paper headings
tghuTRTjigFIr6F
to do speech cv [/b] to write a formal 2 week notice bzrur[/url] farm business plan npoer[/url] resume michigan works jarbl[/url] on rationalistic religion ssqjy[/url] pro[/url]AustralianWritings.com.au Review
http://mayonnaised.com/index.php?title=The_5Second_Trick_For_StudyBay
https://easybookmark.win/story.php?title=studybay-studybay-com#discuss
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/133265043-pitts
Professional papers writer site usa
Psbb schools homework
Cover letter for fashion stylist position
[url=http://mykrozaimy.ru/]микрозаймы в казахстане онлайн[/url]
[url=http://aviasalkes.ru]авиа сейлс[/url]
http://www.tourplanisrael.com/redir/?url=https://studybay.ws/
https://www.allwaysforward.org/schools-colleges/essayshark.review/
Custom cover letter writers websites au
Custom persuasive essay writer for hire for university
Professional letter writing sites gb
https://dope.dog/blogs/dogs/how-cold-is-too-cold-for-your-dog?comment=123876868251#comments
https://tadokude-koikoi.blog.ss-blog.jp/2017-02-13?comment_success=2021-05-15T18:34:13&time=1621071253
http://siptogsm.com/blog/standarty-wi-fi#comment_596354
Pay to do speech cv
custom reflective essay on hacking ukofp 2021[/url] movie review editing sites for masters hvhea[/url] examples of college admissions essays nvnri[/url] literature review proofreading website dqixw[/url] to do speech cv [/b] paper dbjcx 2021[/url] draft essay – Cheap thesis proposal writing site ca iuoqg 2021[/url] to put in interests for resume gdtrm[/url] for collections job fsmmu[/url][url=https://studybay.ws]studybay[/url]
http://nvrzone.com/ru/forum/topic/3426#comment-1804197
https://spikeball.com/blogs/the-crop-circle/what-is-spikeball?comment=122592657605#comments
https://www.lauraofpembroke.com/blogs/style-blog/bookcase-style?comment=123702280253#comments
How to write your undergraduate dissertation bryan greetham
to do speech cv [/b] reflective essay writer site gb[/url] to write a recomendation qzisy[/url] nurse emergency department resume qndtw[/url] business plans sample business plan for doument distraction gvcvn[/url] dissertation deep blue denpr 2021[/url] diary company uk rgmld[/url]Masters essay writer sites usa
Professional rhetorical analysis essay ghostwriters service au