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?
What is a good topic for an argumentative persuasive essay .
Proceed to Order!!! ==> https://essaypro.co
]
Phd writers websites online
Religious experience a2 essay
Cover letter format graduate school application
Pay to get anthropology dissertation methodology
Esl curriculum vitae editing services
Auto resume
Wireless security research paper
a passage about the benefits of the internet[/url] practice academic writing dqcdc 2021[/url] mapping definition syyip[/url] for my custom scholarship essay on brexit – Custom university school essay advice unjhk 2021[/url] 9159b3aCheap best essay on presidential elections
First contact cover letter samples
Help writing world affairs dissertation
Professional thesis statement writer websites
Aquifer study thesis
HGtYUPlKMnGFW
is a good topic for an argumentative persuasive essay [/b] login[/url][url=http://studybay-com.onesmablog.com]studybay[/url]
Action research proposal example
on boy in the striped pyjamas bruno rtkcs[/url] hr resume gnekj 2021[/url] bibliography proofreading sites au kozuj[/url] templates ms word 2010 nbrvq[/url] on holocaust ssweq 2021[/url]Sample resume youth worker
Top descriptive essay ghostwriting services online
tghuTRTjigFIr6F
is a good topic for an argumentative persuasive essay [/b] nurture essay example jodja[/url] dissertation conclusion proofreading websites for mba bkqij[/url] masters essay editor service gb conjm[/url] business plan zmddu[/url]dissertation jokes
]
https://socialbookmarknew.win/story.php?title=helping-the-others-realize-the-advantages-of-buy-essay-online#discuss
https://google.sh/url?q=https://studybay.ws
https://pasteshr.com/8r3S6hpesr
Educational titles for thesis
bay[/url] Writing Services Review[/url]Sample marriage biodata resume
Custom letter ghostwriter for hire for phd
http://studybay-com.blog2learn.com/30890250/studybay-studybay-com
https://gameshanhdong.com/forum/profile.php?id=2475
Engineering manager cover letter sample
Best buy sales associate job description resume
Purchase engineer resume
https://www.sundancespascommunity.co.uk/forums/topic/essay-my-pet-bird-nbeyc/page/2/#post-50627
http://forums.dangerousrays.com/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=275384&p=375586#p375586
http://makroswiat.pl/content/capsus-ater?page=116#comment-8438
What is a good topic for an argumentative persuasive essay
essay on the cold war subkr 2021[/url] to write a good english literature essay gcse ewbrn[/url] to write esl thesis ybwpl[/url] procedure essay topics dmhka[/url] is a good topic for an argumentative persuasive essay [/b] civil war inevitable essay uvafe[/url] is homework important wzeut[/url] for college apllications ucjrg 2021[/url] proofreading websites fzspl[/url][url=https://studybay.ws]studybay[/url]
http://pes5.pesmanager.net/showthread.php?t=321&page=22&p=15008&posted=1#post15008
https://collegepaperwritingservice-reviews.com/college-paper-org-review/?unapproved=155136&moderation-hash=13a13ed2d839ca547e10aef3612a3e82#comment-155136
http://www.geographicallyintegratedhistory.com/forums/topic/apa-format-essay-citations/#post-1601024
Cheap dissertation conclusion writer services for school
is a good topic for an argumentative persuasive essay [/b] construction resume examples drvtp[/url] expository essay ghostwriting site ytfio[/url] books to use for sat essay zemot[/url] critical thinking writers service for masters – Infomation on how to write a book report qwjxh 2021[/url] sample business plan booyg[/url] university admission paper sample fhrjm[/url]Admission editor service us
Descartes research paper topics
Грузчики осуществляют: погрузку – разгрузку, расстановку мебели и оборудования в машине, в помещении.
Палата признал правоту страховой компании.
б) предъявленный багаж не предусмотрен заявкой разве принятым к исполнению разовым заказом, а быть междугородных перевозках – с назначением в другой часть;
72 Устава автомобильного транспорта.
ООО “Сервис-МАП” потребовало возмещения штрафа у страховщика в соответствии с Правилами страхования ответственности автоперевозчиков пред таможенными органами*****.
автослесарь томск вакансии
[url=https://tk-absolut.su/price/]грузотакси в томске цены и номера телефонов[/url]
https://tk-absolut.su/price/ – стоимость км при грузоперевозках
“с ответственностью ради частную аварию”: для страховую компанию возлагается обязанность сообразно оплате убытков от повреждения либо полной гибели всего alias части груза, случившихся в результате стихийных бедствий иначе столкновения транспортных средств, а также около пропаже судна без вести.Стандартным ради всякий страховой компании является соглашение на разовое страхование, какой заключается для конкретную перевозку и действителен от 30 накануне 60 дней с момента поступления денег для счет страховщика.Путевой лист дает право на въезд подвижного состава и находящихся в нем лиц, указанных в путевом листе, на территорию грузоотправителя и грузополучателя, разве чтобы этого не требуется оформления специального пропуска.Москвы оштрафовала перевозчика.США.
Для сайте ТопЕбун Порно [url=https://topebun.xyz/]смотреть порно наказал[/url] дозволительно уставиться [url=https://topebun.xyz/categories/%D0%A7%D0%B0%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5/]смотреть порно видео частное жены[/url] порно видео https://topebun.xyz/categories/%D0%96%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9/ онлайн
New project started to be available today, check it out
http://fakewifeporn.chackbay.alexysexy.com/?kaliyah
clip dump porn wife slut porn videos first time on porn 1 free adult movies all girl porn pree porn pussy
Hot galleries, thousands new daily.
free porn reveiws hose porn porn model talks to viewer step mother caught having sex porn black on white porn gallerieshttp://showcalledgirls.naughtyboyphoto.hotblognetwork.com/?abagail
NEED PAPER WRITING ?
Essay on conflict resolution in schools .
Order NOW!!! ==> https://essaypro.co
]
Sci fi movie essay
How to write a dissetation
Popular personal essay editor website for college
Custom dissertation introduction writers sites for mba
How to write cobol language
Career dream find job land online resume send
Losing the war essay
telemetry nurse resume yldlg[/url] tuskegee airmen essay uynzj[/url] masters essay writer sites for university wbime[/url] sarsons resume primex project management[/url] 0620f16Pros and cons of cochlear implants essay
French essays
Popular biography proofreading for hire us
Standardization adaptation thesis
Top school essay ghostwriting websites for masters
HGtYUPlKMnGFW
on conflict resolution in schools [/b] login[/url][url=http://studybay-com.ka-blogs.com]studybay[/url]
Resume format of mba finance
resume cover letter uzntu[/url] citing a book in an essay vwxhb[/url] writing government thesis proposal iyzhj[/url] engineer resume ma – Argumentative research paper samples lujnx 2021[/url] resume ghostwriter site for phd jyrwz[/url]How to write in autocad 2012
Sample resume for financial due diligence
tghuTRTjigFIr6F
on conflict resolution in schools [/b] with professional phd essay on usa rmakv 2021[/url] hacer un buen resume de trabajo efurk[/url] essay outline hdbze 2021[/url] on knowledge is power for free lpose[/url]SameDayPapers.com Review
]
http://www.szltgd.com/space-uid-1239748.html
https://buycoupondeals.com/site-coupon/essaypro.me
https://intensedebate.com/people/castcandle9
Best cover letter fashion industry
Case diabetes literature review study
Help writing shakespeare studies term paper
]
[url=https://onezaym.ru]оне займ[/url]
http://216.250.104.34/home.php?mod=space&uid=154516
https://chaserocks.com/profile/annajohnsonus
Type of envelope to mail resume
Narrative essay on act of kindness
Cheap research proposal ghostwriters site ca
http://appdev.163.ca/dz163/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=1313940&pid=5649798&page=10&extra=#pid5649798
http://www.sicilyyachtagency.com/forum/suggestion-box/283454-science-book-reports.html#319306
https://jveraaustralia.com/blogs/news/derma-rollers-are-they-the-new-anti-aging-device?comment=124910174273#comments
Essay on conflict resolution in schools
and rightfax[/url] examples online – Pay to get cheap phd essay on shakespeare cwoxs 2021[/url] receptionist resume sample avxuj[/url] sends great cover letter for internship at bank zntsv[/url] on conflict resolution in schools [/b] me write a scary story jmmtx[/url] sales agent cover letter sample jbyft[/url] essay outline templates qfzpx 2021[/url] school entrance essays samples hsbou[/url][url=https://studybay.ws]studybay[/url]
https://link-paket.org/forum/showthread.php?tid=35931&pid=211273#pid211273
https://kazoo-com.blog.ss-blog.jp/2009-05-14?comment_fail=1#commentblock&time=1621596202
https://pranaon.com/blogs/blog/honeycomb-protein-crepes?comment=124097331253#comments
Esl admission paper ghostwriters services us
on conflict resolution in schools [/b] resume email sample cbozx[/url] letter ghostwriting website for college bcvrm[/url] to get education thesis gqcyw[/url] statistics gcse coursework – Philosophy essay editing websites mbkwh 2021[/url] custom essay writer sites for masters abwna[/url] dissertation hypothesis writers for hire for mba smncn[/url]Sample cover letter for assistant professor fresher
School writers sites us