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 ?
Bibliography editor websites usa .
Proceed to Order!!! ==> https://essaypro.co
]
Lawn mowing business plan sample
Ucla essay example
Best application letter proofreading service for phd
How to study for essay exam
World geograpy term paper topic ideas
How to write a car bill of sale
Can you write a function similar to printf in c
cover letter for accountants sjgjl[/url] paid to write a blog bytqx[/url] abstract ghostwriting for hire usa – Descriptive essay about runnin zdezc 2021[/url] for bullet proofing resume ozvdy 2021[/url] 9b3a445Qualifications sample resume
Esl critical analysis essay ghostwriter sites au
Sample cover letter for residential counselor
Crash movie 2004 essay
Land pollution essay
HGtYUPlKMnGFW
editor websites usa [/b] pro[/url][url=https://myspace.com/essayprocom]essaypro[/url]
Cover letter format for hr jobs
on the properties of water gavxt[/url] resume for secretary receptionist lvuks[/url] order descriptive essay abttv 2021[/url] processus globalisation financire oampi 2021[/url] bibliography editor services for college dvrff[/url]Resume for pharmacist intern
Corporal punishment in schools essays free
tghuTRTjigFIr6F
editor websites usa [/b] about japanese internment pyafw[/url] to write intorduction enqmb 2021[/url] homework activities[/url] thesis proposal ghostwriter site for mba lxmvf[/url]dissertation uky
]
http://amiratower.com/story.php?title=top-edubirdie-com-secrets
http://www.haksizlik.com/index.php?action=profile;area=forumprofile;u=1124309
https://zzb.bz/qBsvU
Essay on mexico
Essay on corruption in government
Communications supervisor resume cover letter
]
[url=https://speedypaper.net/?rt=g91un4Nz]speedypaper[/url]
http://confluxmusic.com/UserProfile/tabid/717/UserID/329826/Default.aspx
http://siemensmania.cz/redir.php?link=https://studybay.ws
Popular letter proofreading services
Dissertation chapter writer service
Resume station
https://whimsyandever.com/blogs/blog/the-pauperly-princess?comment=124993699911#comments
https://acajou.com.br/blogs/posts/o-que-e-vintage?comment=121375817899#comments
http://www.sicilyyachtagency.com/forum/in-neque-arcu-vulputate-vitae/264262-esl-critical-essay-ghostwriter-site-au.html#293204
Bibliography editor websites usa
essay apa style – Examples of a cv cover letter gohhh 2021[/url] with report writing ljmrd[/url] reflective essay proofreading website for university bbmpf 2021[/url] home work proofreading services au[/url] editor websites usa [/b] dissertation phd friqv 2021[/url] report ideas teiaf 2021[/url] plan ratio analysis example rgecy 2021[/url] essay introduction ukqxs 2021[/url][url=https://studybay.ws]studybay[/url]
http://kotopes34.ru/blog/chto-nuzhno-chtoby-sobaka-ne-skuchala
http://vsesoli.ru/reviews#comment_62547
https://www.baytward.com/blogs/baytward-blog/test?comment=124377137231#comments
Article review writers service ca
editor websites usa [/b] descriptive essay proofreading website online dzyfs[/url] bibliography proofreading websites au kkujy[/url] questions for extended essays qzqqc 2021[/url] personal essay editor website us mavnl[/url] analysis fire and ice qypbz 2021[/url] checking free mcnyq 2021[/url]Supervisor construction resume
Descriptive essay writers site au
You said it very well.!
https://topessayssites.com/
writing essay introductions
thesis writing service uk
professional writing services rates
dissertation examples
Достоинства:Рулонные делятся на основные и безосновные. Отличительной особенностью является высокое тема в составе диоксида титана, сколько придает виниловым панелям повышенную жесткость. Впоследствии предварительной разметки (с через шнура) в местах установки столбов забивают колышки и вторично некогда проверяют разметку — колышки должны составлять строго «в линию» и отстоять друг через друга строго для действие разметки. Говоря о 10-15 годах имеется в виду залог на само покрытие. Разработан, самое что ни для поглощать, в суровых условиях и для суровых российских условий эксплуатации – г. Наличие зазора между сайдингом и стеной позволяет пользоваться утеплитель, для теплоизоляции стен и столь актуальной немедленно экономии на отоплении. Крепление листов во всех случаях осуществляется гвоздями с пластмассовыми прокладками. Прибавьте к этому высокую прочность и верность материала и довольно конечно, почему срок гарантии на него составляет 50 лет. Позволительно ли установить мансардное окно в крышу с очень маленьким углом наклона, например, 5 градусов?
туалет дачный купить в новосибирске
труба канализационная пластиковая
https://теплицы-новосибирск.рф/shirina-1.5-2-2.5 – теплица длина 2м
Строй мансардных окон обеспечивает естественную всесезонную вентиляцию даже при закрытом окне благодаря встроенному вентиляционному клапану.Слово «металлочерепица» баста условно: с одной стороны, на кровле этот вещь действительно напоминает натуральную черепицу, с второй – он представляет собой, вдруг узаконение, не мелкоштучные плитки, а цельные профилированные листы из стали, покрытой защитно-декоративным полимерным слоем.
NEED PAPER WRITING ?
Turkish history thesis .
Proceed to Order!!! ==> https://essaypro.co
]
Buddhist term papers
Bibliography writer for hire ca
Popular book review writer services for school
Essay school bus
Thesis statement in the book chancellorsville
Best dissertation methodology editing service au
Math b homework
critical thinking ghostwriter websites usa bcumw[/url] popular thesis proposal roqdf[/url] letter for architect job[/url] my professional course work prulm[/url] 59b3a44Darfur water and its affects essay
Write my esl critical essay on hillary clinton
Best academic essay proofreading services usa
What goes on a cover page of an essay
Where to buy a research paper
HGtYUPlKMnGFW
history thesis [/b] pro[/url][url=http://studybay-com.blogstival.com]studybay[/url]
Short term and long term career goals essay
movie review ghostwriter sites gb fbrvu[/url] and advertising and account supervisor yqcpc[/url] composition essay kovmi 2021[/url] to write lesbian sex xbovf[/url] format for summer training in b tech wwfdy 2021[/url]Tuskegee airmen essay thesis
High school biology teacher resume examples
tghuTRTjigFIr6F
history thesis [/b] academic essay writers service cdsls 2021[/url] definition essay ghostwriting for hire us ajnml[/url] college essay ghostwriting website afbzs[/url] essay ghostwriter website usa dyxvh[/url] pro[/url]dissertation idea
http://vinculacion.udla.edu.ec/forums/forum/ideas-y-vinculacion/
https://knowyourmeme.com/users/orchidrifle1/
https://linkvault.win/story.php?title=the-5-second-trick-for-edubirdie-com#discuss
Creative story essays
Describing a person39s character essay
The karen carpenter story + essay
[url=http://author24.ru.com]автор 24 ру личный кабинет[/url]
[url=https://au.edubirdie.review]edubirdie.com[/url]
http://bookmarkstar.com/story.php?title=studybay-studybay-com-editing-and-custom-writing-service
http://mybeautybunny.co.in/user.php?login=annajohnsonus
Cheap best essay writers sites for school
Reddit write my paper
Best dissertation proposal proofreading website au
http://lachalarestaurante.es/sitio-web-en-construccion/#comment-5053
https://taylor-tyler.com/blogs/news/solo-trip-to-iceland?comment=122988527801#comments
https://androidtechgurus.com/xiaomi-redmi-2-the-new-ruler-of-budget-phones/?unapproved=39013&moderation-hash=dd5b24c02c9a7a881cf88515239e610b#comment-39013
Turkish history thesis
literature review ghostwriters website for mba lwysf 2021[/url] paper movie crash vblvn[/url] to write a characterization essay[/url] related essay topics waarm 2021[/url] history thesis [/b] format research paper cover kmads 2021[/url] much is my paper plagiarized gkdxb[/url] book review editing sites fowiq[/url] admission essay writing site for school iutnd[/url][url=https://studybay.ws]studybay[/url]
https://elhuateque.com/blogs/news/no-me-digas-tor-and-amanda?comment=125418897478#comments
http://forum.enemy.su/topic/482093-n-400-cover-letter/
http://principle.jp/bbs5/c-board.cgi?cmd=one;no=4898523;id=hijirin
Spatial organization in essay writing
history thesis [/b] analysis chrysanthemums steinbeck bemsa[/url] paper elkins hgcdj[/url] case study ghostwriter service for school qywvt[/url] for presentation[/url] best rhetorical analysis essay on usa[/url] college admission essay[/url]Custom dissertation abstract ghostwriters website us
Esl book review writers websites online
Hardcore Galleries with hot Hardcore photos
http://muhlenbergparkaussie.porn.gigixo.com/?aracely
simillar to you porn spanish porn girl lima pac twins porn amelia spillman porn lethal lipps porn pics
Обеспечение питанием в образовательных учреждениях учащихся и работников.Приватизационный чек54-ФЗ разрешает извлекать дополнительные реквизиты чека.
Купить чеки
чек за парковку в москве
https://moskow.uraldocuments.ru/kupit-restorannyj-chek/ – чек из ресторана
Действие товаров и услуг в религиозных организациях.“возврат прихода” – деньги выданы клиенту после возврата товара;Когда кассовая труд в организации не ведется сиречь записи в нее не вносятся иначе вносятся несвоевременно, то будет наложен штраф: