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 ?
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.
Best homework ghostwriters site us – Essay cover letter dsset 2021.
Proceed to Order!!! ==> https://essaypro.co
]
Cover letter delivery driver position
Popular custom essay ghostwriting services for college
What is a methodology in a research paper
Essay about summary cyber classes
Dissertation plagiarism detection
Sports economics thesis topics
Sample business plan cosmetic industry
creative essay ghostwriters sites us – Esl term paper ghostwriting website for mba gluuk 2021[/url] poem an essay on man by alexander pope yyynz[/url] research methodology evyad[/url] connective homework jtwyn[/url] de431adWhat is a good way to name your resume
How to write a business profile examples
Resume job description statements
Teaching resume buzz words
Shuttle bus service business plan
HGtYUPlKMnGFW
homework ghostwriters site us – Essay cover letter dsset 2021[/b]https://webketoan.com/redirect.php?https://essayshark.review
]
sales person resume lnikh[/url] letter first paragraph ideas bmonl[/url] masters essay writer service online aipgi[/url] a phd in a year oyyeb[/url] a thesis title be a question mtzyh[/url]Resume writing minneapolis
How to write a book review essay example
Business plan ppt on retail
tghuTRTjigFIr6F
homework ghostwriters site us – Essay cover letter dsset 2021[/b] swain essay contest mi unohl[/url] paper about nancy bayley ffjby[/url] referencing format book qtkli[/url] best essay writer for hire us bmfqz[/url]MasterPapers.com Review
]
https://galter.northwestern.edu/exit?url=https://essaypro.co/
https://maps.google.com.eg/url?q=https://studybay.ws
https://weblib.lib.umt.edu/redirect/proxyselect.php?url=https://essaypro.co/
Cheap research proposal writing site
ru[/url]Essay parallels telemachus 1 4 odysseus 5 8
Pay for my best personal essay on presidential elections
[url=http://ex-aviasales.ru]авиасейлс[/url]
https://upma.upturnhost.com/registration/register.aspx?returnurl=https://essaypro.me
https://www.djangoplicity.org/feed2js/feed2js.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fessayshark.review&num=1&desc=1&date=y&targ=y&utf=y
Professional persuasive essay ghostwriting service
Top cv writer website for university
Cheap masters essay editing service au
https://mishutka-lomonosov.ru/blog/nabor-iz-5-podarkov-za-pokupku/#comment_3335
https://dev.tourinjapan.com/2018/11/30/all-aboard-the-rocky-mountaineer/#comment-115904
https://honk-club.de/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=80745&p=917997#p917997
Best homework ghostwriters site us – Essay cover letter dsset 2021
essay writing website uk gzrei[/url] scholarship essay writer service for masters atnjw[/url] thesis project ideas hnvcq[/url] in contract law ibggq[/url] homework ghostwriters site us – Essay cover letter dsset 2021[/b] story essay fkgyl[/url] writing chemistry homework dhmui[/url] essays ghostwriters for hire online brqla[/url] on indentured indians in natal cgrqx[/url] bay[/url]http://forums.dangerousrays.com/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=81336&p=201976#p201976
http://spinbotstudio.fr/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=10&p=437628#p437628
https://www.barcelonahm.com/blogs/news/ethical-fashion-guide?comment=98568274025#comments
University of wisconsin application essay examples
homework ghostwriters site us – Essay cover letter dsset 2021[/b] du livre la mort est mon metier – Research paper on gap between rich and poor auyht 2021[/url] help for kids science dyldg[/url] report mobiles template djicx[/url] letter radio personality ilszf[/url] content writer site online vudnk[/url] personal essay ghostwriter services au kacka[/url]Best descriptive essay writer services for phd
An essay concerning human understanding book 3 summary
https://www.eagleportland.com/group/mysite-231-group/discussion/fb92076f-9dbc-4a41-99cc-c3e14448e833
https://www.eagleportland.com/group/mysite-231-group/discussion/d98e8ae3-12c0-4573-9447-578ee62b161e
https://www.eagleportland.com/group/mysite-231-group/discussion/7c991552-4d22-4ea8-a26d-0e85edf4a3f4
https://www.eagleportland.com/group/mysite-231-group/discussion/7a773c8d-e731-415a-9db6-4ca12d4bf6a4
https://www.eagleportland.com/group/mysite-231-group/discussion/d7ca48f5-1541-4a19-bb61-f0f14fc0ab7c
https://www.eagleportland.com/group/mysite-231-group/discussion/4d3e6658-91ac-4bd0-9809-a7b31bcea005
https://www.eagleportland.com/group/mysite-231-group/discussion/2874ed32-84b7-4b62-bb12-120b912c8f69
https://www.eagleportland.com/group/mysite-231-group/discussion/60762a4b-071c-455b-afb6-4bb5f7723b85
https://www.eagleportland.com/group/mysite-231-group/discussion/2af755b2-455f-4a23-9002-2b77d76f715b
https://www.eagleportland.com/group/mysite-231-group/discussion/ae8d6d86-58b1-4781-8eea-9813a94b292a
https://impact-tracker.thebureauinvestigates.com/sites/default/files/attachments/gotg3-video-4k2ktv.pdf
https://impact-tracker.thebureauinvestigates.com/sites/default/files/attachments/gotg3-video-12ktv.pdf
https://impact-tracker.thebureauinvestigates.com/sites/default/files/attachments/gotg3-vid-iksf578d.pdf
https://impact-tracker.thebureauinvestigates.com/sites/default/files/attachments/gotg3-vid-iwe77fdwe.pdf
https://impact-tracker.thebureauinvestigates.com/sites/default/files/attachments/gotg3-vid-nxt12p.pdf
https://impact-tracker.thebureauinvestigates.com/sites/default/files/attachments/gotg3-video-4k4k-high.pdf
https://impact-tracker.thebureauinvestigates.com/sites/default/files/attachments/gotg3-video-imax3dn.pdf
https://impact-tracker.thebureauinvestigates.com/sites/default/files/attachments/gotg3-video-live21d.pdf
https://impact-tracker.thebureauinvestigates.com/sites/default/files/attachments/gotg3-video-ultimate-tv.pdf
https://impact-tracker.thebureauinvestigates.com/sites/default/files/attachments/gotg3-video-just-watch.pdf
https://challonge.com/xznyf3l5
https://www.vingle.net/posts/5797468
https://www.justgiving.com/team/sdkfdokfjwoep
https://foorum.naistekas.delfi.ee/read.php?28,14800458
https://bbs.vivo.com/in/thread/20335?t=1683390467299
https://bbs.vivo.com/in/thread/20336?t=1683390579372
https://bbs.vivo.com/in/thread/20337?t=1683390664014
https://bbs.vivo.com/in/thread/20338?t=1683390737358
https://bbs.vivo.com/in/thread/20339?t=1683390851837
https://ctftime.org/team/225945
https://foorum.naistekas.delfi.ee/read.php?28,14800364
https://www.vingle.net/posts/5797278
https://impact-tracker.thebureauinvestigates.com/sites/default/files/attachments/123movies-guardians-of-the-galaxy-vol-3-123movies.pdf
https://impact-tracker.thebureauinvestigates.com/sites/default/files/attachments/guardians-of-the-galaxy-vol-3-123movies-hd.pdf
https://impact-tracker.thebureauinvestigates.com/sites/default/files/attachments/guardians-of-the-galaxy-vol-3-download-just-here.pdf
https://impact-tracker.thebureauinvestigates.com/sites/default/files/attachments/guardians-of-the-galaxy-vol-3-free-download-tv09.pdf
https://impact-tracker.thebureauinvestigates.com/sites/default/files/attachments/guardians-of-the-galaxy-vol-3-in-this-movie.pdf
https://impact-tracker.thebureauinvestigates.com/sites/default/files/attachments/guardians-of-the-galaxy-vol-3-streaming-4khd-2mok.pdf
https://impact-tracker.thebureauinvestigates.com/sites/default/files/attachments/guardians-of-the-galaxy-vol-3-streaming-mk2.pdf
https://impact-tracker.thebureauinvestigates.com/sites/default/files/attachments/guardians-of-the-galaxy-vol-3-watch-online-dub.pdf
https://impact-tracker.thebureauinvestigates.com/sites/default/files/attachments/guardians-of-the-galaxy-volume-3-123movies.pdf
https://ok.ru/video/5478590712326
https://www.vingle.net/posts/5793913
https://telegra.ph/ds-wetew-tewt-wet-w-05-05
https://foorum.naistekas.delfi.ee/read.php?28,14797888
https://www.mixily.com/event/3072912049432489967
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/vDEAv6
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/BXvodA
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/LRk51r
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/qe2L1R
https://foorum.naistekas.delfi.ee/read.php?28,14797864
https://foorum.naistekas.delfi.ee/read.php?28,14797866
https://foorum.naistekas.delfi.ee/read.php?28,14797868
https://foorum.naistekas.delfi.ee/read.php?28,14797870
https://www.vingle.net/posts/5793692
https://www.mixily.com/event/5698235025687917970