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
Daily updated super sexy photo galleries
http://squirting.porn.pocono.springs.jsutandy.com/?miah
free ashley marie porn uk porn videos amateur wife lady sonia porn model uk free porn movies tgp fetish teen amateur porn movies
базы хрумера 2021
Вы занимаетесь продвижением сайтов? Тогда вам к нам. [url=https://goo.su/4zRx]Наша группа в телеграмме[/url]. У нас вы можете выбрать любую нужную для вашей работы базу для прогонов Xrumer и GSA, allsubmitter по разной ценовой категории.база ссылок для хрумера
[url=https://seoprofisional.ru/bazy/bazy-ssha-dlya-xrumera]Базы сша для хрумера[/url]
NEED ESSAY WRITING ?
Public safety dispatcher cover letter .
Order NOW!!! ==> https://essaypro.co
]
Sir alex ferguson resume
How to write a research outline example
Example of application job letter
University of miami business plan competition 2012
Top critical thinking ghostwriters websites for mba
Compare-contrast essays
Free human resource management thesis
my professional cv krdck[/url] bibliography editing websites usa mwxza[/url] general writing task 2 samples with answers forzv[/url] bibliography proofreading services au kgkai 2021[/url] 9b3a445Best article review writers site usa
Resume food services manager
Buy culture movie review
Popular cheap essay writers services usa
Help with my popular college essay on pokemon go
HGtYUPlKMnGFW
safety dispatcher cover letter [/b][url=http://studybay-com.designertoblog.com]studybay[/url]
]
on pc windows – Resume au pair sample jgrqh 2021[/url] for my composition content lonwv 2021[/url] research proposal written first person vembn 2021[/url] to write if true statement in excel wjimx 2021[/url] for marketing and sales executive rkumy 2021[/url]How to start off an essay
Pay to get analysis essay on hillary clinton
Gnc cover letter
tghuTRTjigFIr6F
safety dispatcher cover letter [/b] time employment resume fokvx[/url] curriculum vitae editing services au euptj[/url] introduction literary analysis epqbb[/url] my family and consumer science dissertation abstract rtetv[/url] pro[/url]Essaylib.com Review
https://www.zotero.org/groups/2914362/ariescolon7477
https://voticle.com/a/articles/118637/essaypro-essaypro-com
http://covid311wiki.info/index.php?title=The_2Minute_Rule_for_EduBirdiecom
Writing the scope of a thesis
Essay on personal goals
Top scholarship essay editor for hire online
]
[url=https://essayshark.reviews]essayshark[/url]
https://wiki.flo.cash/index.php/User:Annajohnsonus
http://wiki-intel.org/index.php?title=Usuario:Annajohnsonus
Popular masters presentation help
Benefits of helping children with homework
Top masters critical analysis essay assistance
https://nine56studio.com/blogs/news/why-loungewear-as-a-capsule?comment=90909540414#comments
http://matty90live.altervista.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=366726#366726
https://www.ghanzibrand.com/blogs/news-1/offshoot-project-with-remi-fargier?comment=78577238067#comments
Public safety dispatcher cover letter
200 words hjeji[/url] book review editing for hire for masters wsrpn[/url] scholarship essay editor site for university – How to write if else condition in shell script hwwqj 2021[/url] home work writers websites gb jhceu[/url] safety dispatcher cover letter [/b] should considered sport research paper hylvm 2021[/url] literature review how to write azima 2021[/url] scholarship essays have titles jlgup[/url] resort reservation system thesis guoep 2021[/url][url=https://studybay.ws]studybay[/url]
http://www.bartarforum.ir/showthread.php?89020-rpsdmi&p=237621&posted=1#post237621
https://www.dottedlinejewelry.com/blogs/news/blog?comment=82417057834#comments
https://www.islamorigin.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=15821&p=49690#p49690
Mba essay editor
safety dispatcher cover letter [/b] and cons about having homework myvqx[/url] movie review writers services for mba oonat 2021[/url] banking objective examples yilev[/url] postdoctoral cover letter cvcnf[/url] release engineer resume pjims[/url] an illustration essay osopm 2021[/url]Astronomy essay ghostwriting for hire
Thesis stress paper
New sexy website is available on the web
vanessa hudgens leaked porn uncencored skinny sporty porn free amature gay porn older women sex porn rated best porn sitehttp://evilredhead.fetlifeblog.com/?mercedes
Салам! Желаю порекомендовать вам сайт – https://sex-pics.ru/, где только возбуждающие фотки с голыми женщинами.