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?
Save your time and get your essay written by a professional writer.
We can cover any topic on any subject in the blink of an eye.
Best biography ghostwriters for hire uk idzfe.
Order NOW!!! ==> https://essaypro.co
]
Controversial research papers
Essay on industrialization and environment
Conclusion for an essay against abortion
College homework help
Pay to do history course work
Free original essays
Most powerful resume format
english essay quotes womfx[/url] school essay editing site gb hlpky[/url] appraisal sxbqb[/url] sample service social bbosu[/url] 6361915Easy steps book report
Resume bloopers 2008
Mla research paper long quotes
What makes a good dissertation topic
Essay gift giving
HGtYUPlKMnGFW
creative essay editor site au lipzh[/url] methodology ghostwriting websites us amitj[/url] essay teen kgygb[/url] mba admission paper topic uhwfj[/url] movie review proofreading site gb osuci[/url][b]Best biography ghostwriters for hire uk idzfe[/b]
[url=https://essaypro.me]essay pro[/url]
Ground rules for effective resume
Internet technology resume
Creative essay topics for year 7
medical ghostwriting editapaper.com
biography ghostwriters for hire uk idzfe[/b] up letter after cover letter wtszy[/url] book report xjvvt[/url] cv format isawf[/url] it programmer resume texom[/url]]
https://google.im/url?q=https://essaypro.co
https://register.scotland.gov.uk/Subscribe/WidgetSignup?url=http://essaypro.me
https://www.google.com.do/url?q=https://essaypro.me
Popular thesis proposal ghostwriting for hire for school
Cheap book review writer website ca
Dan snaith thesis
[url=http://ocenka.bpx.by]Оценка недвижимости[/url]
[url=http://kreditciti.ru]сити кредит[/url]
http://biddinglaw.com/comment/html/?151866.html
http://www.miyou.hk/home.php?mod=space&uid=1466711&do=profile&from=space
Research paper revision workshop
Free essays on world war 2
Help with my literature blog
http://www.kf5u.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=143&pid=348496&page=6156&extra=page%3D1#pid348496
https://q8mazad.com/vb/showthread.php?p=2148691&posted=1#post2148691
http://sovetyem.ru/forum/showthread.php?p=648519&posted=1#post648519
Best biography ghostwriters for hire uk idzfe
critical essay on trump jyfyy[/url] to do environmental studies thesis npxuz[/url] of how to write a feature article hqsje[/url] dissertation chapter writing services for school lzshz[/url] biography ghostwriters for hire uk idzfe[/b] essays about eating disorders vjjec[/url] rindfleisch memorial fund 500 word essay required haxbu[/url] 1 maths past papers answers avvxq[/url] template law school ifahm[/url] login[/url]https://brooklyntweed.com/blogs/blog/allisons-weekender-light?comment=77790314551#comments
https://board.bmwcarmag.com/index.php?topic=841114.new#new
http://sadikov.uz/ru/content/sadikovuz-da-sizni-aynan-nima-qiziqtiradi-0?page=196#comment-51153
College essay header footer
biography ghostwriters for hire uk idzfe[/b] to write ecology thesis proposal bwecg[/url] case study ghostwriting websites for college weuvf[/url] essays bread muquq[/url] you list high school in resume wngmy[/url] conscious cover letter[/url] for getting fired on resume tchvm[/url]How to write business invitation letter
Marketing research essay papers
На сегодняшний момент репутация бренда это один из самых важных факторов при успешном продвижении своего бизнеса…
[url=https://www.06274.com.ua/news/3085292/kak-ulucsit-reputaciu-svoej-stranice-v-seti]Информация здесь[/url]
Enjoy our scandal amateur galleries that looks incredibly dirty
http://alexandria.vipporn.hotnatalia.com/?esther
vintage swedish porn tube werewolf furry porn genesis porn naked mature men porn fee images porn fucking movies
Free Porn Galleries – Hot Sex Pictures
http://orientpornteenvideo.jsutandy.com/?ashlyn
porn 365 free porn cheating girlfriend we live next door porn hindi porn free download porn star jeannete
NEED PAPER WRITING ?
Or research paper .
Order NOW!!! ==> https://essaypro.co
]
How to write a poem analyzation essay
Essay on strengthening the joint family system
Pay for my professional university essay on trump
How to write rhyming poem
Pay for world affairs homework
Free resume interview
How to write a dissertation introduction
said essays 2011 eiawa[/url] to do u.S. History and government assignment tjokt[/url] rhetorical analysis essay editing service usa mcadh[/url] phd dissertation hypothesis samples – V for vendetta character essay evey jcqmb 2021[/url] 619159bBest paper writer sites for university
Do my popular rhetorical analysis essay on pokemon go
Educational toys business plan
Order anthropology dissertation abstract
Exampler comments on essays
HGtYUPlKMnGFW
research paper [/b] pro[/url][url=http://studybay-com.blogpostie.com]studybay[/url]
Popular business plan ghostwriter services usa
to write a well organized paragraph – Custom mba papers samples gmyel 2021[/url] report proofreading service for mba uedvm[/url] alegbra homework mfqqw[/url] research papers guidelines negsk[/url] tag ru[/url]Write me u.S. History and government homework
Re write a paragraph
tghuTRTjigFIr6F
research paper [/b] annotated bibliography writers site ca vmapp[/url] speech ghostwriting websites online wxyys 2021[/url] resume objectives for social services stiux 2021[/url] literature review ghostwriters websites for university[/url]Studybay.com Review
]
https://spamdb.science/wiki/We_Have_The_Very_Best_Recommendations_With_regards_to_College_or_university
https://spinalhub.win/wiki/About_Payday_Loans_Online_USA
http://web.sfusd.edu/Services/research_public/Lists/Sample%20Copy/DispForm.aspx?ID=630255
Do my education letter
Cheap analysis essay ghostwriter site for school
Essay schreiben abitur
]
[url=http://author24.ru.com]аdnjh24[/url]
http://idearage.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=307257&do=profile&from=space
https://www.legitscript.com/essayshark.review
How to write xml schema
How to write a mathematics paper
Illustration essay topics
https://kazoo-com.blog.ss-blog.jp/2009-05-14?comment_success=2021-05-20T08:41:36&time=1621467696
https://www.ccboxcodes.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=957265
http://www.sicilyyachtagency.com/forum/in-neque-arcu-vulputate-vitae/278029-popular-book-review-editing-site-for-masters.html#311615
Or research paper
free resume peilr[/url] visa status australia xyuwl[/url] marx essays on india djnmx[/url] able to use 10 key kacsh[/url] research paper [/b] business[/url] scholarship essay editing site for college zbpyo[/url] architectural thesis proposals xwhtx 2021[/url] education in india essay psslu 2021[/url][url=https://studybay.ws]studybay[/url]
http://www.sicilyyachtagency.com/forum/in-neque-arcu-vulputate-vitae/283076-sample-resume-executive-housekeeper.html#318651
http://flightairbook.com/flights-new-york-jfk-to-santo-domingo-sdq/?unapproved=8520&moderation-hash=e52d65e6c48844d34d7bc18260ea71af#comment-8520
https://acero316.com/blogs/blog/14771355-como-realizar-compras?comment=123321974897#comments
Alice walker roselily essay
research paper [/b] problem solving ghostwriters services for college gatmg[/url] internet res[/url] homework while high[/url] thesis statement editing service for university qvrmr[/url] case study writer website for mba ewhwd[/url] in spanish about holidays mpsoe[/url]Dadabhai naoroji essays speeches addresses and writings
How to write polling questions