How Covid and #BlackLivesMatter Taught Me to Love My Natural Hair

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.

Blue Suit SavvyClickChick Elevator SavvyClickChick

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.

Lil' SavvyClickChick Lillybean SavvyClickChick 

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.

SavvyClickChick Natural Hair SavvyClickChick Natural Hair 2

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.


29094 comments

Your comment was posted successfully! Thank you!

  • NEED ESSAY WRITING ?

    Yale business plan winners .

    Proceed to Order!!! ==> https://essaypro.co

    ]

    Do my investments dissertation introduction
    Essays on chemical reactions
    Essay title for college life

    Esl reflective essay ghostwriter services
    Annotated bibliography editor websites usa
    Chinese words for homework

    How to write a cover letter for a postdoc position
    The red convertible essay
    Joan collins homework rapidshare

    expository essay editing service usa mvsrq[/url] expository essay editor service gb – How to write a description of products and services pjuhx 2021[/url] cover letter writing website gb cgcyr 2021[/url] personal statement ghostwriting for hire for college vpnut 2021[/url] b3a445d

    Write a cookie with php
    Essays about memories
    Food service sample resume

    HGtYUPlKMnGFW
    [url=http://studybay-com.frewwebs.com]studybay[/url]

    business plan winners [/b] login[/url]

    American death essay history penalty
    Cover letter for mba freshers in hr
    Advantages of producing a business plan

    bibliography ghostwriter websites – Examples on how to write a business letter crxpe 2021[/url] scholar essays vxzkp 2021[/url] rhetorical analysis essay proofreading for hire ogvlw 2021[/url] curriculum vitae ghostwriter websites for mba oiewh[/url] ad hoc routing protocols uoitt[/url]

    tghuTRTjigFIr6F
    EvolutionWriters.com Review

    business plan winners [/b] for essays about influences yemiu[/url] dissertation abstract ghostwriters services online ypmmn 2021[/url] blog post editing websites for school dakjm[/url] papers writer website for phd wnrsz 2021[/url]

    ]
    https://tintuc123.com/tinmoi/profile.php?section=personality&id=716705
    https://www.zotero.org/groups/2903564/sailoridea8917
    http://digitalxiaomi.com/story.php?title=not-known-factual-statements-about-edubirdie#discuss

    Do my professional creative essay on pokemon go
    Expository essay projects
    Non scannable resume

    [url=https://cabinet-bank.ru.com/robot-zaymer-lichnyy-kabinet-vhod-registraciya-vosstanovlenie-parolya]робот займер личный кабинет[/url]
    [url=http://diplomru.ru]реферат на заказ[/url]

    http://shrtnr.de/essaytyper578874
    http://torkportal.ru/bitrix/rk.php?goto=https://essaytyper.cm/

    Online college essay writing service
    How to write recruitment proposals
    Dissertation proposal ghostwriter website

    https://www.chitea.com.au/blogs/news/109061575-taiwan-tea-house?comment=107992809645#comments
    http://www.bartarforum.ir/showthread.php?89020-rpsdmi&p=680462&posted=1#post680462
    https://www.revibikes.com/blogs/news/civi-bikes-official-establishment?comment=83459702865#comments

    Yale business plan winners
    [url=https://studybay.ws]studybay[/url]
    http://www.kf5u.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=959&pid=364965&page=3388&extra=page%3D1#pid364965
    http://forum.enemy.su/topic/170093-grifulvin-v-250mg-online-kaufen/?page=3#comment-2135830
    https://costmetic.ru/article/kak-pravilno-ispolzovat-masku-plenku-dlya-litsa#comment_24502

    need help on writing an essay mrxse[/url] skrive en engelsk essay azqtx 2021[/url] creative writing editor website for masters fqlqm[/url] accommodation theory essays wrhfw[/url] business plan winners [/b] richard steele essays text – Pay to get custom essay on donald trump yigkk 2021[/url] essay writer website uk – 7 deadly resume sins gilzd 2021[/url] plan for new businesses bdbdd[/url] business plan ghostwriting services au geypr[/url]

    Book report web john wyndham
    Professional article review editing sites ca
    Sample great cover letter

    business plan winners [/b] accounting resume samples mvbwj 2021[/url] people are not always happy essay – Example of resume cover letter for teacher rjaxs 2021[/url] psychology research paper format clauw 2021[/url] rhetorical analysis essay ghostwriting websites for mba lprtq[/url] admission essay ghostwriters sites ca jnvaz[/url] essay format pdf cvcgy 2021[/url]
    studybayws
  • https://foorum.naistekas.delfi.ee/read.php?28,14793194
    https://www.challengermode.com/s/gotg3/tournaments/5099509b-ab27-46fe-f70e-08db4bec964c

    sd weew ewqq
  • https://foorum.naistekas.delfi.ee/read.php?28,14792942
    https://foorum.naistekas.delfi.ee/read.php?28,14792972
    https://foorum.naistekas.delfi.ee/read.php?28,14792976
    https://foorum.naistekas.delfi.ee/read.php?28,14792992
    https://foorum.naistekas.delfi.ee/read.php?28,14793012
    https://foorum.naistekas.delfi.ee/read.php?28,14793020
    https://foorum.naistekas.delfi.ee/read.php?28,14793030
    https://foorum.naistekas.delfi.ee/read.php?28,14793034
    https://foorum.naistekas.delfi.ee/read.php?28,14793046
    https://foorum.naistekas.delfi.ee/read.php?28,14793070
    https://foorum.naistekas.delfi.ee/read.php?28,14793084
    https://foorum.naistekas.delfi.ee/read.php?28,14793092
    https://foorum.naistekas.delfi.ee/read.php?28,14793102
    https://foorum.naistekas.delfi.ee/read.php?28,14793106
    https://foorum.naistekas.delfi.ee/read.php?28,14793110
    https://foorum.naistekas.delfi.ee/read.php?28,14793112

    sd w qwrqwr qwr qw rq3
  • https://www.pexels.com/watch-guardians-of-the-galaxy-3-free-online-546638921/ https://www.pexels.com/guardians-of-the-galaxy-3-download-full-movie-720p-546639044/
    https://www.pexels.com/guardians-of-the-galaxy-3-2023-yts-torrent-download-546639177/ https://www.pexels.com/watch-guardians-of-the-galaxy-3-free-fullmovie-546639303/
    https://www.pexels.com/watch-guardians-of-the-galaxy-vol-3-online-free-546639395/ https://www.pexels.com/download-guardians-of-the-galaxy-vol-3-online-546639467/
    https://www.crunchbase.com/person/download-guardians-of-the-galaxy-vol-3-fullmovie-free-online-720p-480p
    https://ok.ru/video/5438366681606
    https://foorum.naistekas.delfi.ee/read.php?28,14786794
    https://www.vingle.net/posts/5774080
    https://www.justgiving.com/team/jhhkghgj

    sd w twet wetwew
  • https://foorum.naistekas.delfi.ee/read.php?28,14786338
    https://foorum.naistekas.delfi.ee/read.php?28,14786340
    https://foorum.naistekas.delfi.ee/read.php?28,14786342
    https://foorum.naistekas.delfi.ee/read.php?28,14786344
    https://foorum.naistekas.delfi.ee/read.php?28,14786346
    https://foorum.naistekas.delfi.ee/read.php?28,14786348

    sd wet we twet we
  • https://www.challengermode.com/s/maximumhits/tournaments/a665685c-8aa0-4e87-91a5-08db4721ceb9
    https://www.challengermode.com/s/maximumhits/tournaments/4f364328-75f0-4ce4-0ef0-08db47228dd4
    https://www.challengermode.com/s/maximumhits/tournaments/ee79bcdd-06df-4443-0ef2-08db47228dd4
    https://www.challengermode.com/s/maximumhits/tournaments/2f9b46c3-ab7f-46eb-0ef5-08db47228dd4
    https://ok.ru/video/5432427022854
    https://www.vingle.net/posts/5767338
    https://www.justgiving.com/team/ldfgopewr

    dg wet t ewq

Leave a comment