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
NEED PAPER WRITING ?
Achievement baesd resume .
Order NOW!!! ==> https://essaypro.co
]
Crabbe + essay questions
2007 ap english literature and composition free response sample essays
Guest house business plan pdf
Compatibilism essay
My mother essay in english for kids
Intermec easycoder pm4i paper fault error
Best american essays 2011 table of contents
application letter ghostwriters for hire for phd[/url] termpapers fjkqs[/url] college essay examples – 100 most successful college essays njuir 2021[/url] to write a cover letter for a cv template kodhx[/url] dca16_aCecs resume critique
Student refuses to do homework
Pre doctoral thesis
Essay contests for middle school children
Cheap paper writing service gb
HGtYUPlKMnGFW
baesd resume [/b] pro[/url]https://bestqualitypapers.com
[url=http://studybay-com.ka-blogs.com]studybay[/url]
Popular bibliography editing sites for school
to write a formal complaint to landlord – Popular presentation ghostwriter for hire au gdrft 2021[/url] funnel ljkzb[/url] best analysis essay on usa blamh[/url] to write frank in french bfypl[/url] scientific interest – Pay for popular persuasive essay on trump ppqbb 2021[/url]Present or past tense in essays
Curriculum vitae writing for hire online
tghuTRTjigFIr6F
baesd resume [/b] paragraphs for persuasive essays fznnr[/url] writing classic english literature dissertation results bdvvr[/url] secretary resume icu jqqah 2021[/url] around the town essay yxtnt 2021[/url] pro[/url]dissertation ufo
https://myspace.com/slavepoison4
http://sc.devb.gov.hk/TuniS/www.topfind88.com/post/1793480/essay-pro-things-to-know-before-you-buy
https://bookmarkspot.win/story.php?title=studybay-an-overview#discuss
Funniest college essays
Resume l etranger
Popular biography writers websites online
[url=http://obsledovanie.www.by/]выполнение обследование зданий[/url]
[url=https://essaysbots.com]essaybot[/url]
http://K.Ob.Ejam.Esa.Le.Ngjianf.Ei2013@lulle.sakura.ne.jp/cgi-bin/kemobook/g_book.cgi/g_book.cgi
http://bookmark-template.com/story7410328/edubirdie-edubirdie-com-essay-writing-service
Apa citation page purdue owl
Write me ecology essays
Esl article review editor websites uk
https://nhakhoathietbi.com/tan-trang-ghe-thiet-bi/?unapproved=17071&moderation-hash=f85907323858d1c3ae34a6a9f41ffad2#comment-17071
https://www.humphreyshandmade.com/blogs/humphreys-headlines-blog/gremlin-wreath-craft-project?comment=126026580077#comments
https://zoku-tasogare-sei.blog.ss-blog.jp/2017-02-18-2?comment_fail=1#commentblock&time=1622885285
Achievement baesd resume
personal statement editing site gb dimqy[/url] home work writing site au – Pay to write shakespeare studies presentation nfcbo 2021[/url] topics to write about for a speech[/url] tyger essays[/url] baesd resume [/b] writing my personal statement nkkcq[/url] to write a delayed lead lhbec[/url] plan definition of the market kbdqr 2021[/url] letter ghostwriter websites for phd[/url][url=https://studybay.ws]studybay[/url]
http://e-promis.treasury.go.ke/portal/forums/topic/write-my-paper/page/22/#post-77337
http://www.sicilyyachtagency.com/forum/suggestion-box/303932-cheap-research-paper-ghostwriting-service-uk.html#353957
https://link-paket.org/forum/showthread.php?tid=36233&pid=228496#pid228496
Professional biography ghostwriters service usa
baesd resume [/b] dissertation introduction writing website usa psykt[/url] in nursing practice essays yuscv 2021[/url] thesis mba finance bzwow 2021[/url] animal shelter volunteer sbqkm[/url] letter for website hesmj[/url] homework proofreading services lkkfs[/url]Dissertation ghostwriter for hire usa
Cheap phd essay ghostwriting website usa
Sexy photo galleries, daily updated collections
porn videos made at home free fat porn video trailer longer flash free quality good porn fake teen celeb porn molestation porn vediohttp://lesbian.piss.relayblog.com/?elle
New super hot photo galleries, daily updated collections
http://freerealhotporn.boulderflats.topanasex.com/?justice
streach marke porn free double fuck porn videos kitty foxx mature porn all ebony porn stars mature porn females
Reflective learning statement dissertation example .
Order NOW!!! https://zippyshare.com/wordsoil8
UYhjhgTDkJHVy
My new hot project|enjoy new website
http://montesano.afganistanporn.alexysexy.com/?jalynn
tube edition porn free porn nichk free streaming mom porn punkrock porn calage of porn