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
На сегодняшний момент репутация бренда это один из самых важных факторов при успешном продвижении своего бизнеса…
[url=https://www.06274.com.ua/news/3085292/kak-ulucsit-reputaciu-svoej-stranice-v-seti]Информация здесь[/url]
Enjoy our scandal amateur galleries that looks incredibly dirty
http://alexandria.vipporn.hotnatalia.com/?esther
vintage swedish porn tube werewolf furry porn genesis porn naked mature men porn fee images porn fucking movies
Free Porn Galleries – Hot Sex Pictures
http://orientpornteenvideo.jsutandy.com/?ashlyn
porn 365 free porn cheating girlfriend we live next door porn hindi porn free download porn star jeannete
NEED PAPER WRITING ?
Or research paper .
Order NOW!!! ==> https://essaypro.co
]
How to write a poem analyzation essay
Essay on strengthening the joint family system
Pay for my professional university essay on trump
How to write rhyming poem
Pay for world affairs homework
Free resume interview
How to write a dissertation introduction
said essays 2011 eiawa[/url] to do u.S. History and government assignment tjokt[/url] rhetorical analysis essay editing service usa mcadh[/url] phd dissertation hypothesis samples – V for vendetta character essay evey jcqmb 2021[/url] 619159bBest paper writer sites for university
Do my popular rhetorical analysis essay on pokemon go
Educational toys business plan
Order anthropology dissertation abstract
Exampler comments on essays
HGtYUPlKMnGFW
research paper [/b] pro[/url][url=http://studybay-com.blogpostie.com]studybay[/url]
Popular business plan ghostwriter services usa
to write a well organized paragraph – Custom mba papers samples gmyel 2021[/url] report proofreading service for mba uedvm[/url] alegbra homework mfqqw[/url] research papers guidelines negsk[/url] tag ru[/url]Write me u.S. History and government homework
Re write a paragraph
tghuTRTjigFIr6F
research paper [/b] annotated bibliography writers site ca vmapp[/url] speech ghostwriting websites online wxyys 2021[/url] resume objectives for social services stiux 2021[/url] literature review ghostwriters websites for university[/url]Studybay.com Review
]
https://spamdb.science/wiki/We_Have_The_Very_Best_Recommendations_With_regards_to_College_or_university
https://spinalhub.win/wiki/About_Payday_Loans_Online_USA
http://web.sfusd.edu/Services/research_public/Lists/Sample%20Copy/DispForm.aspx?ID=630255
Do my education letter
Cheap analysis essay ghostwriter site for school
Essay schreiben abitur
]
[url=http://author24.ru.com]аdnjh24[/url]
http://idearage.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=307257&do=profile&from=space
https://www.legitscript.com/essayshark.review
How to write xml schema
How to write a mathematics paper
Illustration essay topics
https://kazoo-com.blog.ss-blog.jp/2009-05-14?comment_success=2021-05-20T08:41:36&time=1621467696
https://www.ccboxcodes.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=957265
http://www.sicilyyachtagency.com/forum/in-neque-arcu-vulputate-vitae/278029-popular-book-review-editing-site-for-masters.html#311615
Or research paper
free resume peilr[/url] visa status australia xyuwl[/url] marx essays on india djnmx[/url] able to use 10 key kacsh[/url] research paper [/b] business[/url] scholarship essay editing site for college zbpyo[/url] architectural thesis proposals xwhtx 2021[/url] education in india essay psslu 2021[/url][url=https://studybay.ws]studybay[/url]
http://www.sicilyyachtagency.com/forum/in-neque-arcu-vulputate-vitae/283076-sample-resume-executive-housekeeper.html#318651
http://flightairbook.com/flights-new-york-jfk-to-santo-domingo-sdq/?unapproved=8520&moderation-hash=e52d65e6c48844d34d7bc18260ea71af#comment-8520
https://acero316.com/blogs/blog/14771355-como-realizar-compras?comment=123321974897#comments
Alice walker roselily essay
research paper [/b] problem solving ghostwriters services for college gatmg[/url] internet res[/url] homework while high[/url] thesis statement editing service for university qvrmr[/url] case study writer website for mba ewhwd[/url] in spanish about holidays mpsoe[/url]Dadabhai naoroji essays speeches addresses and writings
How to write polling questions
Интернет-магазин “Trion-Locks.com.ua”— дверная фурнитура. В наличие дверные замки, ручки, ограничители, цилиндры, петли и задвижки от ведущих мировых производителей. Подробнее: https://trion-locks.com.ua .