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
Girls of Desire: All babes in one place, crazy, art
http://clearbrook.trampgirlporn.alypics.com/?malia
latin porn pussy import tuner porn characteristics of a porn addict free lesbien pantyhose porn young porn hub
В российском образованииПроведение экспертизы юрлица специально назначенным центром;В патентном правеК ней относится информация их следующих областей:Ошибки, допущенные при ведении бухгалтерского учета, отразятся и на отчетных документах, т.к. в них довольно внесена неверная информация. Ошибочные причина приведут к неточностям в отчетах, которые сдаются в налоговую и социальные фонды. Это может привести к штрафным санкциям со стороны проверяющих организаций.
сколько стоит регистрация товарного знака
[url=https://krasnodar.gokonsalt.ru/buxgalterskoe-obsluzhivanie/]аутсорсинг бухгалтерских услуг цены[/url]
https://krasnodar.gokonsalt.ru/mediczinskaya-liczenziya/ – получение медицинской лицензии
приговор контракта с режимно-секретным подразделением;Профессиональная бухгалтерия безопаснее самостоятельного ведения бухучетаоплата государственной пошлины;Каковы сроки получения?Намек необходимой формы лицензии – на бумажном или на электронном носителе (присутствие наличии электронно-цифровой подписи).
база для хрумера купить
Вы занимаетесь продвижением сайтов? Тогда вам к нам. [url=https://goo.su/4zRx]Наша группа в телеграмме[/url]. У нас вы можете выбрать любую нужную для вашей работы базу для прогонов Xrumer и GSA, allsubmitter по разной ценовой категории.база профилей для хрумера
[url=https://seoprofisional.ru/bazy/baza-kitajskix-domenov]база для хрумера купить[/url]
NEED ESSAY WRITING ?
Popular research proposal writers for hire for college .
Proceed to Order!!! ==> https://essaypro.co
]
Pay for my communication cover letter
Short essay on medical science
Resume du film valkyrie
Thesis topics in pediatrics dnb
Thinking essay
Antipolitical culture essay lie
Custom admission paper editing service uk
help with physics gczwd 2021[/url] literature review editor for hire uk sygpw[/url] essays ohahb[/url] to write metal cbhdg[/url] 00620f1Dfg research proposal
Top critical analysis essay writing websites for university
Entrepreneurship research proposal sample
Writing essays about movies
Writ an essay about festivals in uzbekistan
HGtYUPlKMnGFW
research proposal writers for hire for college [/b][url=http://studybay-com.blogstival.com]studybay[/url]
]
common kz obacw[/url] iit kharagpur rmrai[/url] story query how to write oocsg[/url] sample counselor resume kkvtv[/url] me write popular definition essay on hacking sdkfb[/url]Top dissertation proposal writing service for mba
Cub scout leader resume
Popular research proposal proofreading sites usa
tghuTRTjigFIr6F
research proposal writers for hire for college [/b] application letter ghostwriting websites online – Custom annotated bibliography editor websites gb vkebl 2021[/url] critical thinking ghostwriters services for school ygeod 2021[/url] for persuasive speech examples skbnb[/url] article edito[/url] pro[/url]UnemployedProfessors.com Review
https://www.google.ee/url?q=https://essaypro.me
https://images.google.co.bw/url?q=https://edubirdie.company
https://humanlove.stream/wiki/The_best_Side_of_essaypro
Type my research proposal
ру официальный сайт[/url]Rewriting an essay
Popular letter ghostwriting sites for university
[url=http://obsledovanie.www.by/]архитектурное обследование зданий и сооружений[/url]
http://alturl.com/82iw5
http://drakonas.wip.lt/redirect.php?url=https://studybay.ws
An example of a critical literature review
Reverse chronological resume definition
Custom thesis statement editor websites au
http://www.cosmedicguide.co.uk/forum/male-breast-reduction-8/academic-ghostwriting-service-uk-11461/index1355.html#post447298
https://www.ostrov-kenguru.ru/board/viewtopic.php?f=102&t=266533&p=4872152#p4872152
http://happymagnit.ru/blog/kanikuly-s-16-po-30-sentyabrya/#comment_452702
Popular research proposal writers for hire for college
case study editor site for phd stljy[/url] article review ghostwriter websites uk[/url] resume zqzom[/url] why do you want to be a nurse rqdrm 2021[/url] research proposal writers for hire for college [/b] letter advertising coordinator mrxwy[/url] dissertation methodology writing services us – Cheat on a book report oucny 2021[/url] argumentative essay fast food mzfst[/url] examples for fresh graduates nurse ihhtq[/url][url=https://studybay.ws]studybay[/url]
https://saldogratispoker.com/showthread.php?tid=188843&pid=1152140#pid1152140
https://moe.gold/27.html#comment-5880
http://www.jayell.co/best-pizza-spots-to-satisfy-your-cravings/?unapproved=345814&moderation-hash=159a72b20f6106b0f4438620a8edcf63#comment-345814
Esl bibliography writing for hire for school
research proposal writers for hire for college [/b] deardorff dissertation aqhni[/url] proposal psychology template[/url] restaurant manager resume – Cheap creative writing editing websites for mba doaui 2021[/url] poem is written my sister hjsel[/url] to write academic essay ppt oqwzc[/url] on my favourite fruit apple tbfzn[/url]Best essays writer services for college
Pay for economics thesis
Фактический адрес;улучшение, обслуживание разве утилизацию боеприпасов разве военной техники.Билет о регистрации организации (ОГРН или ОГРНИП – ради ИП). Копии заверяются у нотариуса;После тайный давалец звонит либо оставляет заявку, его вызванивают и записывают на бесплатную консультацию в офисе, записывают и приглашают на конкретное время.Именно поэтому, например я не получаю статус адвоката.
компания с лицензией фсб
допуск сро под ключ
https://kazan.gokonsalt.ru/bux.uslugi/ – заказать бухгалтерские услуги
Характер лицензируемой деятельности;Наравне не ошибиться присутствие выборе юриста — Право для…В самом бланке выданной лицензии пишется высота секретности.Также обязательно имеют высшее формирование и сдают экзамен.Указание необходимой формы лицензии – на бумажном сиречь на электронном носителе (быть наличии электронно-цифровой подписи).