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
Professional article writer services online .
Order NOW!!! https://spinalhub.win/wiki/The_Definitive_Guide_to_Payday_Loans_Online
UYhjhgTDkJHVy
NEED PAPER WRITING ?
Esl letter writers website gb .
Proceed to Order!!! ==> https://essaypro.co
]
How to write partnership agreement
English resume model download
Pay for esl academic essay
Sample resume cover letters administrative assistant
Custom critical analysis essay ghostwriter for hire usa
Ideas for dissertation topics
Best homework ghostwriting website for mba
response essay uzryg 2021[/url] business plan rvqne 2021[/url] for solution architect it infrastructure kxhxn[/url] to write for technical skills on resume kespg[/url] b3a445dPopular phd essay proofreading website for college
Best thesis statement writing service uk
Essays on loss of a parent
Essay on the impact of satellite television
Writing conclusions in history essays
HGtYUPlKMnGFW
letter writers website gb [/b] pro[/url][url=https://files.fm/f/dm5brtgdn]essaytyper[/url]
Research paper presentations
history dates hivia 2021[/url] sample paper with abstract yyver[/url] thesis in risk management iqfjw 2021[/url] paper zetus 2021[/url] tech coursework example erpnr[/url]How to write a great romantic novel
Top masters school essay advice
https://sites.google.com/view/my-essaytyper/
letter writers website gb [/b] assells resume msrjq[/url] scholarship essay writing site gb seaeu[/url] of eating meat essay[/url] to write component in delphi eckku[/url]tghuTRTjigFIr6F
dissertation grh
]
http://giftening.jetwolf.com/profile/healthtrip74
https://bbs.qupu123.com/space-uid-356106.html
https://britishrestaurantawards.org/members/cornmath16/activity/736095/
Sat i essay prompts
How to write off assets fully depreciated
Writing classification essay
[url=http://xn——htbcnhwhkni.xn—p1ai/]топ банков по кредитам[/url]
[url=http://diplomru.ru]diplom ru[/url]
https://crazylifestyleblog.com/guidelines-how-to-write-essay/annajohnsonusa/
http://bemol.com.ua/user/EduBirdiecom/
Home school essay form
Top presentation ghostwriting websites uk
Write political science home work
https://www.feld-schmiede.com/blogs/reviews/die-gelbe-schleife?comment=118564651140#comments
https://iflawless.com/blogs/news/5-cara-hilangkan-blackhead-secara-natural?comment=124433465423#comments
https://rencebeats.com/about/comment-page-21874/#comment-3094568
Esl letter writers website gb
r3 security resume zieav[/url] your essay score sat – Document organizer index research papers ldpow 2021[/url] examples company description lrslw 2021[/url] combined resume – Ugc net qualified resume mwixs 2021[/url] letter writers website gb [/b] for my marketing dissertation results – Essay on writing experience gyemj 2021[/url] case study ghostwriters website for masters lzgzn[/url] to write a cgi srmpq 2021[/url] university argumentative essay help[/url][url=https://studybay.ws]studybay[/url]
https://adresstheoccasion.com/blogs/addressing-the-details/i-have-dresses-to-list-now-what?comment=123315159114#comments
https://foro.romoloromani.it/topic/54801-problemi-di-connessione/?page=71
http://www.sicilyyachtagency.com/forum/suggestion-box/268660-airline-pilot-sample-resume.html#298942
Sample resume for research
letter writers website gb [/b] to write a sponsor request letter yxbjz[/url] plan small opportunity sixfigureincome – Golf course superintendent resume templates ezbpz 2021[/url] in public services literature review qavsj[/url] writing opinion essay topics yfctc[/url] and dessertation zjdpm 2021[/url] on leadership theories depwl[/url]Best biography editing site for masters
Quantifying your resume
I for all time emailed this weblog post page to all my associates, because if like to read it after that my contacts will too. For women ferma.teswomango.com/for-women/
My new hot project|enjoy new website
webcam porn young tween porn sites for mobile new massage video porn e4 movie trailers porn gay porn pictershttp://pornstarblooper.alexysexy.com/?katlyn
Sexy photo galleries, daily updated pics
porn fetish tube vids silk and satin free porn kids caught looking at porn chubby gays in porn small dick pornhttp://porn.dump.bloglag.com/?marissa