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 ?
Custom definition essay writers service for mba .
Order NOW!!! ==> https://essaypro.co
]
Competitor analysis apple vs samsung essay
Software quality research papers
Esl dissertation proposal writing site for university
How to write a cheque td
Write a footnote
Cover letter security manager resume
Candidate for master degree resume
report template for biography dkvrg[/url] for admission cover letter ijayi 2021[/url] ideas for college essays xgxyc[/url] free essays tvcim[/url] 300620fApply for a job letter sample
Good analogy essay topics
Top dissertation abstract writer services for college
Biographical notes examples
How to write a tv advert
HGtYUPlKMnGFW
definition essay writers service for mba [/b] pro[/url][url=http://studybay-com.blogs-service.com]studybay[/url]
Custom paper writer sites online
introduction essay – Help with popular custom essay on shakespeare uqijs 2021[/url] choosing topic research paper pmknf 2021[/url] underwriter resume cthrv[/url] to write a satire introduction ttkam[/url] life science dissertation hypothesis tgyew 2021[/url]Dissertation binding austin
Top letter editing services for phd
tghuTRTjigFIr6F
definition essay writers service for mba [/b] list references or not lejwl[/url] trigonometry application letter ftjgh[/url] essays – Esl college essay ghostwriters websites uk wvjqa 2021[/url] manager resume cover letter xjlkr[/url] pro[/url]dissertation key words
http://science-marketplace.org/user/profile/311392
https://anotepad.com/notes/qjg5q7g6
http://www.socialbookmarkssite.com/user/bankpeanut87
How to search academic papers on google
Persuasive essay writing prompts middle school
In text citation apa style with two authors
]
[url=https://buyessaygfj.com]buy essay[/url]
http://www.cheapvacuumcleaners.co.uk/go.php?url=https://essaypro.me/
http://bbs.yixiang.cn/home.php?mod=space&uid=123400&do=profile
Fuel station business plan
Term paper research paper difference
Top mba expository essay samples
http://nauc.info/forums/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=15189044&p=18648132#p18648132
http://earlybaze.com.ng/2020/11/25/music-stonebwoy-ft-davido-activate/?unapproved=323326&moderation-hash=49c2c36a7d196be3ce5fbbf6e1cb4bcc#comment-323326
https://forum.clubcivicquebec.com/topic/513578-%d1%81%d1%82%d1%80%d0%b0%d1%81%d0%b1%d1%83%d1%80%d0%b3/?p=5280626
Custom definition essay writers service for mba
article ghostwriters for hire au nxtcu[/url] cv references fiqdk 2021[/url] finance cover letter vmbyx[/url] essay lincoln ne bbdoi 2021[/url] definition essay writers service for mba [/b] front desk supervisor – Rouge et le noir resume par chapitre wdjja 2021[/url] research papers ever zvpwz[/url] of arthur schopenhauer quotes wtdom[/url] resume umn – Esl rhetorical analysis essay writers service gb iswzf 2021[/url][url=https://studybay.ws]studybay[/url]
https://thetournesol.com/blogs/wellness/morning-rituals?comment=102396985387#comments
http://ciphertalks.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=71937&p=751561#p751561
https://savvyclick.com/blogs/savvyclick-blog/how-covid-and-blacklivesmatter-taught-me-to-love-my-natural-hair?comment=102252937277#comments
Best cheap essay proofreading sites for phd
definition essay writers service for mba [/b] on homework is necessary vgliz 2021[/url] that jazz essay full auth3 filmbay yo12i aj html zvzsc[/url] art teaching cover letter lrkqm[/url] assignment writer site usa iaewr[/url] blog post writers service us iarex 2021[/url] personal essay ghostwriters service uk[/url]Cheap university personal essay help
School level essays english
Доход по банковскому депозиту слишком мелкий? Инвестируйте в коммерческую недвижимость и зарабатывайте, как рантье! Проходите https://grid-x.com/?rf=WbvkvAIa – по ссылке и зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы узнать об этом всё! https://grid-x.com/?rf=WbvkvAIa – Более детально>>>
https://sun9-61.userapi.com/2FsluSisF3KNkAvD4fR4XozZCI-ifardESxUsQ/YbJXFTnImYA.jpg
https://grid-x.com/?rf=WbvkvAIa – рынок коммерческой недвижимости
Неплохим решением в плане звукоизоляции, выступают недорогие двери щитовой конструкции. Благодаря внутреннему сотовому наполнителю из картона alias МДФ звуковые колебания гасятся во всем диапазоне иДвери из ДСП и МДФ покрытые натуральным шпоном.ПЛОСКИЕ.склонные к рассыханию.
фурнитура для дверей
двери межкомнатные пятигорск каталог цены
https://pyatigorsk.dveri-ideal.ru/mezhkomnatnyie-dveri/ – межкомнатные двери на заказ
Фрезерование двери потребовало установки наружных листов МДФ большей толщины тож применения дополнительных брусков, укрепляющих конструкцию. Это повлекло, действительно, некоторое удорожание такого типаМонтаж декоративных планок для межкомнатные двери представляет собой довольно сложную операцию, лишь для инициатор зрение кажущуюся элементарной. При монтаже надо придерживаться определенных правил,Установка петель и замков не представляет сложности на щитовых, ни для филенчатых alias царговых дверях. Простота конструкции не уменьшает ее функциональных свойств — на дверях дозволительно установить будтоКоробка без порога
Thanks, I like it.
https://topessayssites.com/
creative college essay prompts
custom papers
help writing assignments
do my homework
Hot new pictures each day
secrst family porn movies porn cumpie amazing teen porn solo movies xhamsters freee porn videos gay adult porn amateur webcam videoshttp://freegayjizzporn.jsutandy.com/?amya
It is very hard nowadays to find important videochat online. The occasion is – different video chat online have any bugs and users haven’t the opportunity to utilize them. If you wish to use online video chat sex and desire to relax, you can visit link videochat dating video here.
At videochat.ph there are some of users which usually use it. The link provides men a lot of options: rooms; dating services, etc. You can use a video chat webcam digital and be happy to socialize with girls. Young interesting women prefer to send messages to other guys here. If you don’t know how to pick up a beautiful guy, you could use it.
On the webpage, there were a lot of members, which found a partner. You can use it by Android or iOs and connect with people from Israel, Moldova, Germany, and Australia. If you don’t use it earlier, you should start doing now. Always people are thinking that they will be 35 or 40 years old and search a partner. But if you are 25 and haven’t a partner, you should think about it.
More and more members prefer to use video chat, while it is very comfortable and users can communicate with each other. Also, video chat online free approachable for people in different countries. You can use it in Moscow, Ukraine, or Poland for free.
Some guys from the USA choose video chat with ladies, while girls are pretty and members at videochat have chance to speak with them. In the videochat some of adults could communicate with each other on different topics. If you want to find a guy with interests like you, you must to add information in free sex rooms about you. One of the important is video chat ruletka online. Nowadays seks video chat digital is often using by users after 50 years. If you are alone and wish to communicate with pretty woman with a web-camera, here my videochat rus 1 it is possible.
In 2021 chat and video online provide for men option to travel in the world of sex. Currently, it is very interesting, because live sex groups on the web are paid. On the web-page, users have a chance to search a Japanese video chat web and communicate with girls from Andorra or Italy.
Also, asian online video chat is very famous for citizenship in Bulgaria and Albania. If you desire to find individual girls or 20 age sexy girls, you can observe communication and friendship. Nowadays video chat webcam digital is already popular among youth. If you don’t know where to search digital sex videochat, you may activate your camera and start searching best girl. However, you should know, if you have unusual problems with web chat, it is possible to combined with support.