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?
Sample skills and interest in resume .
Order NOW!!! ==> https://essaypro.co
]
Cheap report proofreading service for masters
It thesis abstract sample
How to write like harper lee
Vg wort dissertation
Salary negotiation cover letter
How to write email bomb
Career research essay sample
d39une dissertation de philosophie – Best personal essay ghostwriter site for college isfjb 2021[/url] ford business plan euhvy 2021[/url] research paper topics about education qfiim[/url] coordinator resume samples ntlvc[/url] 13_13d4Custom dissertation conclusion editor sites for college
Popular essays ghostwriter sites gb
Six paragraph essay outline
Pay to get esl definition essay on hillary
Brockton resume com
HGtYUPlKMnGFW
skills and interest in resume [/b][url=http://studybay-com.blogs-service.com]studybay[/url]
]
to analysis gaughan homework riczk[/url] creative essay writers service for college vbzhx 2021[/url] management system essay fcglv[/url] to write a formal email response – Standard font for research paper lbodg 2021[/url] descriptive essay writing jgdpb[/url]Cheap letter ghostwriter service us
Pay for cheap case study online
Ap psych essay
tghuTRTjigFIr6F
skills and interest in resume [/b] proposal on telecommunication industry kuyxu[/url] research paper proofreading services ca opymh[/url] essay about high school life xfjvs[/url] on dr seuss oeqqb[/url] pro[/url]dissertation knowledge
http://ezproxy.cityu.edu.hk/login?url=https://www.zotero.org/groups/2914457/sinkfork3965
https://saveyoursite.date/story.php?title=buy-essay-an-overview#discuss
https://scientific-programs.science/wiki/Studybayscom_Fundamentals_Explained
Telecommunication engineer resume examples
login[/url]General objective any job resume
Do my top personal essay on brexit
]
https://54.84.139.97/wiki/User:Studybayscom
https://hetauma1.com/edogawag2syonichi/
Write a good essay for college
Cover letter scientist example
Popular movie review proofreading services au
https://www.polis.it/landing/stay-tuned/contatti/%28now%29/1606926566/%28error%29/form_245#back245
http://libria.su/librarium-elementum/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=400496&p=684660#p684660
http://priorat.studev.ru/topic/electrical-contracting-business-plan-daymy/
Sample skills and interest in resume
writer resume ehgjp[/url] mba essay writers site usa lcvoq 2021[/url] political research paper topics xpieh[/url] to write professional memos wmlaw 2021[/url] skills and interest in resume [/b] letter entry level sales representative – Future world essay vmnmi 2021[/url] my own book ipad wcmyz[/url] scholarship essay ghostwriters service for university fkmpj[/url] lamichhane thesis ixkeh[/url][url=https://studybay.ws]studybay[/url]
https://medalladehonor.cl/foro/index.php?/topic/27024-discount-rx-371-mg/&page=43#comment-542632
https://equalitytriangle.org/home/forums/topic/hardware-networking-resume-format-fresher-professional-dissertation-proposal-editor-site-gb-jtghe-2021/
https://www.thesupremecarts.org/shop/cinderella-99/#comment-34142
Top dissertation editor site for mba
skills and interest in resume [/b] creative essay proofreading service for masters cwifx[/url] article review ghostwriter service usa jophj[/url] dissertation hypothesis ghostwriters sites for phd nptmo[/url] editor site xxojj[/url] letter no name human resources fyxej 2021[/url] annotated bibliography editing site ca jqqsx[/url]Contact details include resume
We real cool analysis essay
Nude Sex Pics, Sexy Naked Women, Hot Girls Porn
http://universalmaturearabporn.alypics.com/?sydni
sexy tgirl porn blonde lesbia porn selphie porn trixie teen free porn best free porn website ever
У нас вы можете заказать эксклюзивные межкомнатные двери по индивидуальному проекту любых размеров, форм и отделки из благородных пород древесины: бук, дуб, ольха и других.
Изготовим для вас кабинеты, библиотеки, шкафы, стеновые панели, балки, плинтуса и др.
[url=https://www.legnostyle.ru/catalog/lestnici/derevannie-vintovie-lestnici/]лестницы на заказ москва[/url] LegnoStyle – это компания, которая может воплотить в жизнь любые Ваши задумки, связанные с дизайном лестниц, мебели из массива разных пород дерева (дуб, бук, ясень, ольха), межкомнатных и входных дверей. Вам всего лишь нужно обратиться к нашим менеджерам, которые не только ответят на все вопросы, а также предложат варианты реализации Вашей идеи. Опытные мастера материализуют Ваши желания в короткий срок на собственном производстве компании, а бригада монтажников качественно уставит Ваши двери, лестницы, соберет мебель за небольшой промежуток времени.
Двери из ячеистого картонаДвери с наполнением из ячеистого картона.через 90 до 165 2,5 - 1,5Натуральный шпон. В качестве покрытия основания межкомнатных дверей очень нередко используются натуральные материалы — в основном, шпон. Он представляет собой осторожный срез древесины, толщиной через 0,1 накануне 10используется триплекс, – стекло из двух слоёв стекла и плёнкой промеж ними. Стекло-триплекс обладает высокой прочностью, устойчиво к механическим повреждениям.
купить двери в истре
[url=https://nalchik.dveri-ideal.ru/vxodnyie-dveri/]входные двери в нальчике[/url]
https://nalchik.dveri-ideal.ru/vxodnyie-dveri/ – купить входные двери в кбр
К таким породам из наиболее распространенных относят дуб, бук и ясень. Качественные двери из такого материала это классика жанра, смелость аристократизма, знак прочности, надежности и долговечности.вид отделки и защитного покрытия;Филенчатые двериКачающиеся двери
New hot project galleries, daily updates
think rimmed glasses porn free pofn no passes free porn tume squrit porn erin andrews lookalike pornhttp://busty.blones.relayblog.com/?ashanti
] Все светодиодное оборудование, поступающее на склад, проходит двойной контроль качества в момент сборки, а также 3-х дневную обкатку на испытательном стенде, перед тем как попадает к покупателю.
Экологичность, надежность, безопасность, устойчивость к атмосферным осадкам и температурам – вот те параметры, на которые специалисты «СпецЛампы» обращают особо пристальное внимание.