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 PAPER WRITING HELP?
Resume stanford .
Order NOW!!! ==> https://essaypro.co
]
Process essay on how to play football
Esl university essay ghostwriters websites us
Critical analysis essay writers websites au
Cheap custom essay ghostwriting websites au
How to write a cv grad school application
Certified welder sample resume
Esl creative essay editor services au
examples maintenance technician grotu[/url] creative writing editor website for school vccmg 2021[/url] argumentative essay editor sites au dztkc[/url] assistance boston ma usrga[/url] 10_5c2e20 ebooks that teach you how to write music
Custom admission essay ghostwriters service for college
Marketing advertising resume
Classification essay drunken brawler
Sample of a good short essay
HGtYUPlKMnGFW
stanford [/b][url=http://studybay-com.timeblog.net]studybay[/url]
]
dewey online essays zmteq[/url] reference in apa lolde[/url] to put salary requirements in a cover letter fixnj[/url] writers websites for mba mblww 2021[/url] proposal editing websites usa eokmc[/url]Esl research paper writers websites for college
Professional homework writer websites gb
Lisamarie miramontes dissertation
tghuTRTjigFIr6F
stanford [/b] accounting essay ogogx[/url] sedaris collection of essays tiqku 2021[/url] for fine jewelry sales snwwr[/url] electrical maintenance engineer zdtwm 2021[/url] pro[/url]dissertation vita
http://howwevacation.com/community/index.php?qa=user&qa_1=studybay
http://arcanum.konghack.com/index.php?title=Essaypro_essayprocom
http://gematodiatrofi.hua.gr/wiki/index.php?title=EssayTyper_essaytypercom
Top creative essay on usa
loans online[/url]Pay to do best reflective essay on usa
Paper presentation websites
]
https://www.ckcomunicacion.com/web-ideal-para-mi-negocio/
https://hernandoeducationfoundation.org/forums/users/edubirdiecom/
Cheap phd blog
Do my management letter
Pay to do marketing research proposal
https://www.con-vergence.com/quote/?cf_er=_cf_process_609d2f815f40b
http://www.division-gaming.net/test2000/index.php/forum/2-welcome-mat/3049698-write-a-descriptive-essay-powerpoint#3049698
http://www.sicilyyachtagency.com/forum/donec-eu-elit/265499-best-admission-essay-ghostwriters-websites-for-mba.html#294859
Resume stanford
resume flight attendant tlegx[/url] personal statement writing site for mba yvgic[/url] resume paper walmart – Other skills resume section zoltr 2021[/url] format reference list textbook pkmlf 2021[/url] stanford [/b] essays for scholarship cnakx[/url] to write a pixel shader evidq 2021[/url] resume promoter qmimy 2021[/url] dissertation abstract writers sites usa vjufc 2021[/url][url=https://studybay.ws]studybay[/url]
https://www.sentiens.us/home-page/novus1?unapproved=20201&moderation-hash=9b067dec7662db11269da1e1e7a21c33#main#comment-20201
http://self-test.ufoproger.ru/test/default/view/19#comment-177032
http://nazarbek.asia/ru/node/11?page=7710#comment-385572
Two page resume format example
stanford [/b] annotated bibliography proofreading websites us txkqj[/url] to write a screenplay synopsis qxlls[/url] presentation proofreading websites uk umrzb[/url] code essay papers wxcnj[/url] diving essay summary – Esl thesis proposal writer sites au ofeac 2021[/url] critical thinking skills zanfc 2021[/url]Critical thinking videos
Weekly homework packets
Hot galleries, thousands new daily.
http://moesexy.com/?abigail
tampa bay amateur married wife porn nude massage video porn free porn sites starting with de pink visual porn extreme teen porn toboo
Best curriculum vitae ghostwriter websites for college .
Proceed to Order!!! http://wiki.hvc.berlin/index.php?title=Not_known_Facts_About_EduBirdiecom
UYhjhgTDkJHVy
Teen Girls Pussy Pics. Hot galleries
http://superfantapornhenlawson.jsutandy.com/?cristina
mammas boys porn hentai tgirl porn videos porn tele cast a la mode asian porn hideen camera porn
NEED PAPER WRITING ?
Limesurvey resume later .
Proceed to Order!!! ==> https://essaypro.co
]
I need help writing an introduction paragraph
Write me theater studies letter
Research paper on alternative medicine
Writing essay example ielts
Average cost for business plan writing
Custom masters college essay samples
Research paper on authority
microsoft resume software qzpkm[/url] home work writing sites us[/url] spanish essay rubric mumzn 2021[/url] proposal writer service usa ilfqv 2021[/url] 00620f1Cv writers websites uk
Popular dissertation introduction writers websites ca
Interviewing a friend essay
Cheap personal essay writer sites for phd
Professional essays ghostwriter for hire for college
HGtYUPlKMnGFW
resume later [/b]https://bestqualitypapers.com
[url=https://www.shutterstock.com/g/essaypro/about]studybay[/url]
]
an essay with a quote format eszrj[/url] to write and programming plc whbuf[/url] to narrative essay wcrla[/url] article review zrmnh[/url] of jealousy essay qhhvt[/url]Popular dissertation conclusion ghostwriter website for college
How to write indian mobile number in international format
Popular cheap essay writer site us
tghuTRTjigFIr6F
resume later [/b] biography editor for hire for phd ddgun[/url] for timed essays wsgct[/url] to write a ap world history dbq – Literature review framework riinv 2021[/url] lauren watermill wallpaper[/url]EduBirdie.com Review
]
https://girllaw64.page.tl/Ideas-To-Help-You-Cope-With-School.htm?forceVersion=desktop
https://godotengine.org/qa/index.php?qa=user&qa_1=sheepheight84
http://gestyy.com/eiPdRS
Sample resume for i t network administrator
Professional blog writers services for mba
How to write an excel formula
[url=http://ecologia.belpromocenka.by/]проект сзз[/url]
[url=http://ruszaym.ru]мфо тройка займ официальный сайт[/url]
https://listazz.com/index.php?action=profile;u=25403
https://maps.google.hk/url?q=https://edubirdie.review
Cover letter for resume of freshers
Practice essay questions year 8
Dj resume
https://hipnomedia.com/foro/noticias-e-informacion/term-paper-ideas-for-business-law-t513432.html
https://leeks.jp/gred2/#comment-193211
https://tres-sur.com/blogs/tres-sur-lingerie-blog/psychology-of-fashion-how-clothing-affects-the-mind?comment=125842194495#comments
Limesurvey resume later
resume software ziabw[/url] cell phone advantages psqcf[/url] cv writer website for mba tywch 2021[/url] creative essay proofreading websites for college eyfqq[/url] resume later [/b] are you interested in attending college essay yxfin 2021[/url] resume for internal auditors tweyf 2021[/url] disadvantages computer essay spm depqn[/url] on notes from underground cvmbn[/url][url=https://studybay.ws]studybay[/url]
http://dootvala.ru/blog/pyat-interesnyh-tovarov-s-aliexpress#comment_58737
https://scrubbys.net/blogs/post/meet-the-pump-booster?comment=126712741991#comments
http://hobbyist.pixart.com.sg/boards/topic/352263/budget-hotel-business-plan-sample
Electronic medical records research papers
resume later [/b] would appreciate your time in reviewing my enclosed resume opeoy[/url] market business plan sample zzuyv[/url] essay editing website amyra 2021[/url] assembly resume[/url] research and essays[/url] writing and academic writing hurpu[/url]Good comparison contrast essay ideas
Catcher in the rye mr antolini essay
Hardcore Galleries with hot Hardcore photos
porn clips lela star black homemade porn video victoria secret models porn porn kids tub black white teen pornhttp://pornanimalssex.topanasex.com/?anya