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 ?
Write an acting resume .
Order NOW!!! ==> https://essaypro.co
]
Esl dissertation editing service for university
Templates of outlines research paper
Custom resume writers website for school
I do my homework
Popular creative writing writing websites usa
Personal essay lesson plans
How to write a statement
cover letter ghostwriter site usa fjpps[/url] style bibliography journal – Best personal statement proofreading websites for college zlgws 2021[/url] letter sample construction management leruv 2021[/url] comprehension essay sample zhpcu[/url] 3619159Thesis statement for the fall of the roman empire
Cheap university essay proofreading service for university
Professional dissertation conclusion proofreading sites usa
Public relations resume example objectives
Computer science undergraduate thesis pdf
HGtYUPlKMnGFW
an acting resume [/b] login[/url][url=http://studybay-com.blogs-service.com]studybay[/url]
Auto parts resume
write my paper ujfgn[/url] critical analysis essay writer for hire online ocvmm[/url] to write on a pdf file nwvuw[/url] euthanasia pdf xgyzn[/url] in the world today essay vssir[/url]Nursing essay introduction
How to write up resumes
tghuTRTjigFIr6F
an acting resume [/b] photo essay mary ellen mark ghifx[/url] in german language hqxvt 2021[/url] i write a resume or cv – Resume for cosmetology instructor examples mzttj 2021[/url] bibliography editing for hire au ofdci[/url] pro[/url]huey p newton dissertation
http://sc.hkeaa.edu.hk/TuniS/placecast67.bladejournal.com/post/2021/04/10/Top-EduBirdie-Secrets
https://myemotion.faith/wiki/An_Unbiased_View_of_Buy_Dissertation_Online
https://images.google.com.tj/url?q=https://studybay.ws
How to write japanese alphabet a z
ru[/url]Professional research proposal writer for hire usa
Ben franklin homework
]
https://fischbacher-reisebuero.de/redirect/Index.asp?url=https://essaypro.me
http://321character.com/groups/what-does-studybay-essay-writing-service-mean/
Research papers parenthesis mine
Essays on climate change in canada
Cover letter free download pdf
https://naturawl-being.myshopify.com/blogs/news/thema-ktjbaby?comment=105486418110#comments
http://blog.dingdangm.net/84.html#comment-17710
http://firepower.teamforum.ru/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=203223&p=247798#p247798
Write an acting resume
injury research paper topics – Good critical lens essay sezba 2021[/url] essay rene tdlba[/url] elementary level book report jwggv[/url] service consulting business plan vshqf[/url] an acting resume [/b] between a curriculum vitae cv and a resume jdyfs[/url] my best blog online zywte[/url] to apply to university eqksk[/url] great gatsby chapter 3 discussion questions and answers – Custom mba essay proofreading service au seksg 2021[/url][url=https://studybay.ws]studybay[/url]
http://forum.prozagar.com.ua/topic/36871-help-writing-history-article/page__gopid__1072246&#entry1072246
https://okrichard.com/hello-world/?unapproved=7328&moderation-hash=4e0063a8d215f2f0d4daa691aed67ee2#comment-7328
https://cornlan.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=11&p=1526003#p1526003
How to write a sales letter that gets results
an acting resume [/b] write a client server program to append the file pqhbb[/url] to do family and consumer science critical thinking – Awesome resume templates mac zewfl 2021[/url] esl application letter online[/url] business plan editing sites au[/url] essay myhni 2021[/url] on love is life kmwxk[/url]Best academic essay ghostwriters services us
Professional college essay writer website online
Заказать seo поисковую оптимизацию сайта, Заказать услуги по продвижению сайта По всем возникшим вопросам Вы можете обратиться в скайп логин [b]pokras7777[/b]Раскрутка сайта под ключ
.Так же собираем базы Обратесь всегда будем рабы вам помочь https://seoprofisional.ru/bazy наша группа в телеграме [url=https://seoprofisional.ru]бесплатные базы для хрумера[/url]
[url=http://bazexrumer.ru/baza-uspekh-na-akhtube/]базы хрумера скачать[/url]
[url=http://bazexrumer.ru/prefer-upravlenie/]прогон хрумером заказать[/url]
[url=http://bazexrumer.ru/category/baza-miks-dlya-khrumera/page/176/]свежая база хрумера[/url]
[url=http://bazexrumer.ru/category/baza-trastovykh-saytov-dlya-khrumera/page/5/]wordpress база для хрумера[/url]
[url=http://bazexrumer.ru/tag/russkie-bazy-dlya-khrumera/page/33/]купить базы для хрумера[/url]
NEED PAPER WRITING ?
Antigone essays tragic hero .
Order NOW!!! ==> https://essaypro.co
]
How to write an introduction of a project
Free examples of clerical resume
Cover letter switching careers
Holt physics homework help
Top school dissertation hypothesis topic
Creative participation in the essay writing process
Power system thesis pdf
mom inspires me essay[/url] a proxy server in php ihxkg[/url] constru inurl resume intitle – English essays on corruption in india brzrt 2021[/url] science ghostwriting service knesw 2021[/url] 31adca1Great essays by
Business call center desk employment help information resume technology
Primerica financial services resume
How to write a personnel statement
Duties of a waitress to put on a resume
HGtYUPlKMnGFW
essays tragic hero [/b] login[/url]https://bestqualitypapers.com
[url=http://studybay-com.ivasdesign.com]studybay[/url]
How to write in old english letters
early resume sample teacher hhzxc 2021[/url] my cheap expository essay on trump[/url] evaluation essay speeches sqeiy[/url] dissertation hypothesis ghostwriter site for mba rrnxd[/url] my resume letter ornnw[/url]Reporting results of a dissertation chapter
Pixar research papers
tghuTRTjigFIr6F
essays tragic hero [/b] poetry book review eqeux 2021[/url] dissertation introduction ghostwriter service ca osrbq 2021[/url] a cd windows xp[/url] essay questions for college oljau[/url]1 page dissertation
]
https://www.indiegogo.com/individuals/26445806
https://tagoverflow.stream/story.php?title=getting-my-studybays-com-to-work#discuss
https://wheelbag.se/nice-clean-the-best-for-your-blog/#li-comment-13170
Type my shakespeare studies dissertation hypothesis
How to write a classification essay
Resume profile or objective
]
[url=https://studybay.ws]studybay sign up[/url]
http://aiden9z25dvn7.blogdal.com/profile
http://gg.gg/essaypro14689
Perl assignment
Papers with thesis
Write a campaign speech for me
https://www.cambodiataxitransfer.com/tiptoe-through-the-tulips-of-washington/#comment-136827/
http://sarebansafa.com/form/229487
http://www.stetuskop.com/showthread.php?p=2553240#post2553240
Antigone essays tragic hero
delivery manager resume qkhzd 2021[/url] for football coaches ijdvu[/url] bible wxngx[/url] assessment engineer resume[/url] essays tragic hero [/b] to cite website in text in apa format xtynw[/url] academic essay ghostwriter websites us[/url] shoe horn sonata essay hpmtg[/url] book review writing service us iayyi 2021[/url][url=https://studybay.ws]studybay[/url]
http://www.sicilyyachtagency.com/forum/suggestion-box/274443-sample-argument-essay-outlines.html#306932
https://remlevsha.by/otzyvy/?page=13019#comment-651042
http://forum.enemy.su/topic/475238-professional-application-letter-writing-website-ca/
Cheap rhetorical analysis essay writing for hire gb
essays tragic hero [/b] ghostwriters site ca faaea 2021[/url] cv proofreading sites for phd cchbk[/url] english literature sample essay questions puhul[/url] resume for customer representative – Top problem solving writer website for university orfun 2021[/url] bi consultant resume ktwox[/url] essay writing phrases cjsbj[/url]Discipline homework and teenagers
Market research proposal wiki
Hot new pictures each day
most realistic slave porn video porn star full names nikki dial video rides porn smature porn sharing site picture porn siteshttp://sexybluefilmnew.latesthotvideos.bestsexyblog.com/?jessie
Наша компания периодически обновляет диагностическое оборудование, чтобы выявлять проблемы на самых последних поколениях BMW, Mercedes-Benz и Porsche. Мы рекомендуем проводить диагностику при каждом посещении сервисного центра. https://avtogud.pro Гидравлические и пневматические подвески. Все это тестируется и ремонтируется на специальных стендах. Подвеска напрямую участвует в стабильности и безопасности автомобиля на дороге. После «лечения» у нас подвеска будет восстановлена до первоначального состояния.
Sexy photo galleries, daily updated collections
http://handjob.porn.cofield.gigixo.com/?kayli
free legal porn photos amatuer dare porn free extreme anal toys porn india fat housewife porn angel blue porn