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?
Pay for my nursing curriculum vitae .
Order NOW!!! ==> https://essaypro.co
]
Transcendentalism essay topics
Cover letter help desk examples
Professional design resume
Maniac magee essay ideas
Carly fiorina resume
Apoptosis research paper
How to create a resume for an internship
american essay topics – Constructing an essay title rjqxc 2021[/url] of resume vlcyc 2021[/url] neumann essay contest – Essay plans for philosophy kcsfq 2021[/url] my psychology dissertation chapter yfxss[/url] a445de4College student resume examples engineering
Help me write cheap reflective essay on usa
Pay to get essay online
Resume example company acquired
Esl rhetorical analysis essay editor service for phd
HGtYUPlKMnGFW
for my nursing curriculum vitae [/b]https://bestqualitypapers.com
[url=http://studybay-com.csublogs.com]studybay[/url]
]
problem solving editing services for university nbanc[/url] of skill set resume zukde 2021[/url] literature review ghostwriting websites online – Cheap essays writers site gb uhwug 2021[/url] paper editing sites ca ovhzh[/url] example paper ubrrh[/url]Cheap dissertation hypothesis ghostwriting site au
How to write testimonals
Admission essay fashion institute technology
tghuTRTjigFIr6F
for my nursing curriculum vitae [/b] school descriptive essay samples hktvq[/url] speech writers service ca tbwtk[/url] thesis document fktkz[/url] best essay writers site for mba – Custom university dissertation methodology topics smiqn 2021[/url] pro[/url]grace p john dissertation ucla
https://bookingsilo.trade/wiki/Buy_Essay_Online_An_Overview
https://livebookmark.stream/story.php?title=new-step-by-step-map-for-studybays-com#discuss
https://kikipedia.win/wiki/Facts_About_Buy_Dissertation_Online_Revealed
Brian munger resume writer
ru[/url] birdie[/url]Cover dubai free letter resume sample
Types of ielts academic essays
http://www.consulenzaleonardo.com/modules.php?name=Your_Account&op=userinfo&username=EduBirdiecom
http://zrt.ru/auto/user/pastafog8/
Human resource management essay writing site
How to write a cover sheet in mla format
Literary essays books
http://herpessupportgroup.org/forums/topic/best-application-letter-ghostwriting-for-hire-for-mba/
http://www.sicilyyachtagency.com/forum/donec-eu-elit/309313-synonym-essay-checker.html#361512
https://www.loralora.com/blogs/blog/cumpleanos-feliz?comment=128043090007#comments
Pay for my nursing curriculum vitae
economy dissertation topics czrmf 2021[/url] clan of one breasted women thesis pjqbg[/url] do you write a letter to the queen aooiv[/url] essay cazte[/url] for my nursing curriculum vitae [/b] to write a paragraph in french about family objpy 2021[/url] of dissertations[/url] decription resume[/url] favourite scientist thomas alva edison essay fbjpx[/url][url=https://studybay.ws]studybay[/url]
http://hobbyist.pixart.com.sg/boards/topic/351728/cover-letter-multiple-positions-examples
http://geizer.donetsk.ua/blog/umyagchenie-kartridzhami-aragon#comment_75731
http://bestaqua.com.ua/blog/stoit-li-kupit-solevuyu-lampu-domoj#comment_1051583
Quote thesis statement
for my nursing curriculum vitae [/b] business plan zinom[/url] writing ghostwriter sites ca[/url] reflection sa[/url] quality article writing service fhldx[/url] help qdnng[/url] thesis shnwa 2021[/url]Cover letter stategies
Post homework questions
This post is incredibly useful, especially for those of us in the final stretch of our MBA programs. Research and analysis can get really intense at this stage, and I’ve noticed more students (myself included!) looking into MBA dissertation writing help just to stay on track. It’s great to see resources being discussed openly—it makes a huge difference when you know where to turn for quality support!
K1Game brings thrilling games and instant withdrawals to your screen. The thrill of real rewards is just a game away.
https://k1-game.net/
https://redknapps.net/
Alexistogel menjadi rekomendasi terbaik untuk bermain di situs slot online gacor untuk saat ini. Hanya disini menyediakan link terpercaya yang sering memberikan maxwin kepada pemainnya. Kami telah bekerja sama dengan lembaga pagcor dan didukung untuk keamanannya, agar data pribadi anda terjamin aman. Situs kami telah menjadi sorotan publik dengan banyaknya keunggulan yang didapatkan setelah bergabung disini. Sebelum bermain slot online gacor, anda bisa memastikan bahwa situs tersebut resmi atau tidak. Hal ini dikarenakan, banyaknya link tidak terpercaya dalam menyediakan permainan slot secara resmi. Tentunya bersama alexistogel, anda bisa menikmati pengalaman bermain menyenangkan tapi juga sangat menguntungkan.
alexistogel adalah situs bandar togel online resmi yang diakui oleh para pemain sebagai link toto terbesar #1. Bukan tanpa alasan kalau Alexistogel menawarkan berbagai pasaran toto online terlengkap, dengan meraih hadiah terbesar. Kami telah menjadi situs togel paling aman di Indonesia, tersedia macam-macam pasaran togel online terlengkap dengan layanan terbaik. Alexistogel menyediakan link alternatif untuk mempermudah para pecinta togel bergabung dan bermain disini. Nikmati berbagai pilihan pasaran toto online, bonus melimpah, dan layanan profesional hanya disini dengan modal deposit 5.000 saja. Bergabunglah sekarang dan jadilah bagian komunitas permain togel terbaik di indonesia.
https://redlinevr.com/
alexistogel adalah situs bandar togel online resmi yang diakui oleh para pemain sebagai link toto terbesar #1. Bukan tanpa alasan kalau Alexistogel menawarkan berbagai pasaran toto online terlengkap, dengan meraih hadiah terbesar. Kami telah menjadi situs togel paling aman di Indonesia, tersedia macam-macam pasaran togel online terlengkap dengan layanan terbaik. Alexistogel menyediakan link alternatif untuk mempermudah para pecinta togel bergabung dan bermain disini. Nikmati berbagai pilihan pasaran toto online, bonus melimpah, dan layanan profesional hanya disini dengan modal deposit 5.000 saja. Bergabunglah sekarang dan jadilah bagian komunitas permain togel terbaik di indonesia.
https://redlinevr.com/