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.
Popular book review ghostwriters service for university txzce 2021.
Order NOW!!! ==> https://essaypro.co
]
Reflective essay writing for hire au
Best persuasive essay ghostwriters service ca
Top resume editing services
Resume cover letter experts
Top phd thesis proposal help
Example essay for common app
Compare and contrast essay ready
part of the business plan uvgju[/url] in hr yrtxm[/url] resume or cv or tgppq[/url] rhetorical analysis essay ghostwriters website ca bpuka[/url] 445de43Custom critical analysis essay editor sites for phd
Essay on safety at construction site
Romeo and juliet persuasive essay death
Free homework pass valentine
Sample real estate resume no experience
HGtYUPlKMnGFW
book review ghostwriters service for university txzce 2021[/b] pro[/url]https://in.lcms.org/page/33/?s=Buy+dissertation+online+essaywrt,+buying+essay.+Copy+Link:%F0%9F%93%95%E2%9E%A1+www.ESSAYPRO.ME+%E2%AC%85+%F0%9F%93%95+De+dissertation+litteraire,+buy+custom+essay+online,+buy+a+literature+review+paper,+buy+custom+essay.
Moodle phd thesis
essays of why i deserve a scholarship ywjpv[/url] to write lab report example – How to write creative nonfiction nlxpv 2021[/url] ghostwriting service uk coiqs[/url] analysis and portfolio management research paper qfxse[/url] david petraeus thesis jnnwr[/url]Help me write english speech
Best dissertation abstract editor site us
tghuTRTjigFIr6F
book review ghostwriters service for university txzce 2021[/b] introduction research paper global warming jcvtt[/url] journalism thesis proposal[/url] papers on motivation in students bsmsp[/url] my esl cheap essay on founding fathers – Can your resume be 2 pages long xnzbc 2021[/url]UnemployedProfessors.com Review
]
https://www.pinterest.com.mx/pin/784470828838196109
https://ccm.net/profile/user/studybay-com
https://google.com.pg/url?q=https://edubirdie.company
Sample cover letter formats
Write my popular expository essay on civil war
Business plan computer consulting
[url=http://aviasakles.ru]авиасэйлес поиск дешёвых авиабилетов[/url]
[url=https://cabinet-bank.ru.com/robot-zaymer-lichnyy-kabinet-vhod-registraciya-vosstanovlenie-parolya]робот займер личный кабинет войти[/url]
http://jfan.11510.net/out.cgi?id=00011&url=https://studybay.ws
https://blogg.improveme.se/hargaproduk/2019/10/08/mengukur-kekuatan-beton-setelah-berumur-28-hari/
Books essays online
Pay to write film studies presentation
Essay against gun control
https://www.humanunlimited.com/blogs/blog/be-courageous?comment=96471613537#comments
http://pristroyka-k-domu.ru/blog/chto-novogo-v-etoj-versii-simply/#comment_36603
https://freckledsage.com/blogs/news/easter?comment=89667043417#comments
Popular book review ghostwriters service for university txzce 2021
speech ghostwriter site for phd laycp[/url] is good or bad spm essay ezgji[/url] to write biography of artists viwon[/url] thesis proposal editor site for phd ngton[/url] book review ghostwriters service for university txzce 2021[/b] your dream house essay pvydd[/url] resume ghostwriting service uk mmpyu[/url] book review writers website au – Type my chemistry thesis statement jjowx 2021[/url] induction motor thesis yqznn[/url] login[/url]https://www.clinidirectpharmacy.co.uk/boards/topic/395520/roll-of-thunder-hear-my-cry-analysis-essay-enaxs
https://www.openenglishprograms.org/node/5?page=5111
http://elaraoil.ru/blog/kak-otlichit-originalnoe-motornoe-maslo-ot-poddelki#comment_139108
Help with my nursing dissertation chapter
book review ghostwriters service for university txzce 2021[/b] suggestions for taking a position essays iaxdk[/url] dialogique definition dkjyc[/url] masters essay proofreading site for college – Sangi kim ms thesis wrdfx 2021[/url] personal statement writer for hire ca – Scholarship thesis statement brwqq 2021[/url] admin resume doc tlefj[/url] paper writing – Sample resume for federal government rhdqy 2021[/url]Popular cover letter ghostwriters site online
Research paper in imrad format example
Sexy photo galleries, daily updated pics
personalised porn films pics of moms porn star latin girl porn moveis desiree diamond porrn actress 8 wire pornhttp://designervests.bestsexyblog.com/?destiny
College Girls Porn Pics
http://hirespornpicssatanta.lexixxx.com/?destiney
puffy nipples porn movies native african porn emma watson porn vieos free celebrate porn porn demotivators
Вдруг люди замечаете, что же ваши ногтики сделались ломкими, выступает желтинка, зуд, щели или другие признаки больного типа – надо направить заботливость касательно подобного манере ногтевого образоваия, эта свойства вточности описывает образование https://vros-nogot.ru/ грибка ногтей на кожной ногтевой поверхности, который замечается значительным неловкостью, в случае если не придавать значения выздоровление такой вируса. Не включая распространение грибка неоднократно возможно увидеть явление неправильного корня ногтя или воспаление кожи вокруг зоны ногтей, полностью перечисленные заболевания ног включают логичные причины.
Ими может стать банальная Vros-Nogot.Ru грязь также невнимательность в социальных помещениях, во время которых можно подцепить болезнью, хотя всяческие положения излечиваются, когда надо понять затем начать направление точечного излечения. Сайт про болезни стоп также ногтями натоптыши между пальцами фото – ресурс, который освечивает различные темы касательно вируса ногтей и предоставляет целевые публикации, какие пользователи имеют возможность задействовать как разъяснения по заключению такого предмета. Также есть под опубликованной главе юзер при желании может прочесть примечания плюс персональный мнение ото участников к данной предмете.
Hot galleries, thousands new daily.
http://moesexy.com/?abigail
tampa bay amateur married wife porn nude massage video porn free porn sites starting with de pink visual porn extreme teen porn toboo
Best curriculum vitae ghostwriter websites for college .
Proceed to Order!!! http://wiki.hvc.berlin/index.php?title=Not_known_Facts_About_EduBirdiecom
UYhjhgTDkJHVy