How Covid and #BlackLivesMatter Taught Me to Love My Natural Hair

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.

Blue Suit SavvyClickChick Elevator SavvyClickChick

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.

Lil' SavvyClickChick Lillybean SavvyClickChick 

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.

SavvyClickChick Natural Hair SavvyClickChick Natural Hair 2

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.


25002 comments

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
    Easy steps book report
    Resume bloopers 2008

    english essay quotes womfx[/url] school essay editing site gb hlpky[/url] appraisal sxbqb[/url] sample service social bbosu[/url] 6361915

    Mla research paper long quotes
    What makes a good dissertation topic
    Essay gift giving

    HGtYUPlKMnGFW
    [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

    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]

    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
    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

    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]

    College essay header footer
    How to write business invitation letter
    Marketing research essay papers

    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]
    studybayws
  • Sexy teen photo galleries
    http://sexymflyrics.lexixxx.com/?delilah

    habesha porn star free porn removal for my computer zoe adam live porn show free porn pics colored nylon ree hd porn tube
    kristennw1
  • Чего желаете? Чтобы было чисто! Мистер ПроперЗащита паролемУнты Дулаан и пафосПринципы работы ретаргетинга сообразно пикселю и файлуАле-оп! Смотри, ровно я могу: привлекаем аудиторию к бизнес-аккаунту в Инстаграме
    сайт под ключ
    заказать контекстную рекламу
    https://nizhnii-novgorod.skgroups.ru/context.html – контекстная реклама яндекс

    Цифры. Количество постов, величина подписчиков и количеств подписок. Обычно, ежели публикаций мало, а подписок у профиля груда (существенно больше, чем подписчиков), это указывает для накрутку пользователей.Когда вы снова не являетесь клиентом хостинга Бегет, сотрудники хостинга могут помочь вам с переносом вашего сайта с другого хостинга, это бесплатно.План легко масштабируется с маленького интернет-магазина перед крупного супермаркета.10. Отсутствует ли анимация или музыка? Примечание: анимация больше всего влияет для юзабилити, беспричинно вдруг забирает на себя разительно поток внимания. А буде для вашем сайте автоматически включается искусство, иначе производятся звуки быть наведении на что-нибудь – это начинает крепко возбуждать уже посредством маломальски минут. Поэтому:произведение “Актуального”

    ArtemSTUGH
  • Исключительно krasiviy seks porno skachat HD добротность! Лучшее порно видео https://seks-porno.club/categories/%D0%A0%D1%83%D1%81%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B5/ в категориях для всякий русское домашнее порно с разговорами hd спящими стиль для seks-porno.club

    Kelvinhem
  • Рассмотрим практическую выгоду прямого эфира:Конечно, хорошо, когда информации груда и она представлена в виде качественно написанного и сверстанного текста с подзаголовками, выделенными ключевыми словами и ссылками. Только этого недостаточно. Должна красоваться продумана четкая конструкция сайта. Это несомненно в основном зависит от заказчика, только вы чистый любитель в своем деле просто обязаны хотя желание попытаться объяснить заказчику, что длинные списки меню трудно воспринимаются пользователем. И разве уж разделов требуется вынести в навигационный блок много, то следует разделаться его для группы (alias даже отдельные блоки) по категориям, тематике, важности. Суть – так организовать информацию, воеже пользователь присутствие всем желании не запутался в иерархии разделов, каталогов и подразделов и мог сразу сориентироваться, где ему перерыть FAQ, где прайс, а где контакты либо информацию о фирме. Беспричинно же поможет намек на странице, где находится пользователь в данный момент, с последовательным указанием ссылок на вышестоящие разделы.холодный обзвон и воспитание
    одностраничный сайт на заказ
    заказать сайт визитку
    https://voronezh.skgroups.ru/context.html – контекстная реклама гугл

    В любом случае, гордо соблюдать меру. Считается, что максимальное число шрифтов в одном документе либо издании — три-четыре. Даже коли на вашей машине нагрузиться только шрифт Arial (и имя Богу. — Прим. редактора), то хорошо продуманная шалость размером символов, начертанием и размещением блоков текста приведет к хорошим результатам.Дешифрировать внимательно, даже если ваш бизнес теоретически относится к категории «и что написать лопать, и картинка красивая».3. Моральная приготовление

    Robertsmalo
  • Girls of Desire: All babes in one place, crazy, art
    http://freeporncilps.adablog69.com/?adrienne

    shemale interracial porn galleries porn humiliatioln abuse constance maria porn uncensured porn hub mobilr porn movies
    noreenpf16

Leave a comment