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 ?
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.
What happens if my dissertation is failed oxaty.
Order NOW!!! ==> https://essaypro.co
]
Monster ca resume builder
How to write a book in two weeks
Global warming problem solution essay
Cover letter for college teaching position sample
Essays on geography and gis volume 3
Popular literature review editing services ca
Example of literature review chapter
ucsd cover letter fpwyw[/url] therapy monthly homework calendar gdamd[/url] presentation writing services for masters lriuh[/url] masters degree samples aiqyk[/url] 1adca14Professional assignment editing sites usa
Custom rhetorical analysis essay editing sites for university
Best thesis statement ghostwriters for hire for school
Term papers on child labor
Send resume attachment body email
HGtYUPlKMnGFW
resume format vodph[/url] research paper writing sites us bwpgj[/url] business plan writing websites for college ruwha[/url] written by mark twain tpwsp[/url] masters letter topic srweu[/url][b]What happens if my dissertation is failed oxaty[/b]
[url=https://essaypro.me]essaypro review[/url]
Follow up after resume example
Common app essay prompts 2018 examples
Using interview in research paper
AffordablePapers.com Review
happens if my dissertation is failed oxaty[/b] theme fully responsive xbpzf[/url] me write custom phd essay on hillary ddblg[/url] plan women shoe store jzgdo[/url] proposal on violent video games myipn[/url]]
https://writeablog.net/essaypro51/essaypro-an-overview
https://blip.fm/essaypro5327
http://web1.nbed.nb.ca/sites/ASD-E/Lists/BYOD%20Survey%20%20Parents/DispForm.aspx?ID=396
Best descriptive essays
tinkoff ru[/url]Professional bibliography ghostwriters website uk
Sample resume for a bartender
[url=http://tinkoffcredit.ru]тинькофф банк оставить заявку[/url]
http://ispoint.kz/redirect?url=https://studybay.ws
https://royaltooba.com/what-does-studybay-essay-writing-service-mean/
Free essays on colonialism
Business plan for a garden center
Examples of topic a college essay
https://westernpafootball.net/news/zach-mccarty-claysburg-kimmel/?unapproved=641910&moderation-hash=4631c16eb9f0acfdd738bb62fb2034c0#comment-641910
https://pushtip.com/hello-all/comment-page-487/#comment-24533
https://axislabs.com/blogs/athletic-majority/quick-tips-for-beginner-bodybuilders?comment=82408996942#comments
What happens if my dissertation is failed oxaty
study writers website ca uqrts[/url] research paper ghostwriters services for mba ddaso[/url] brockovich the movie essay full auth4 filmbay yn1ii qj html upoka[/url] my popular paper online oujog[/url] happens if my dissertation is failed oxaty[/b] to write daily work reports ylgaf[/url] presentation editor service gb mieee[/url] gatsby critical essay gosbk[/url] analysis essay editor sites for masters gwimb[/url]https://kvasnickas.com/blogs/financie/oplati-sa-este-refinancovat?comment=94426726459#comments
http://forum.prozagar.com.ua/topic/457870-homework-in-education-jsjlo/page__st__40__gopid__1070904&#entry1070904
http://victoriafloristeria.com/component/k2/item/15-content-demo-221/
]
happens if my dissertation is failed oxaty[/b] customer service cover letter templates pulhl[/url] critical essay proofreading websites for university wxizb[/url] letter writing guide general uuwzq[/url] meaning in tamil gntge[/url] argumentative essay proofreading services ca tozov[/url] critical essay ghostwriting website us korbd[/url]Corporate characteristics proposal essay
Homeless essay topics
3 examples of formal essay
https://futurium.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2023-01/missing-film.pdf
https://futurium.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2023-01/missing-movie-here.pdf
https://futurium.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2023-01/missing-movie-tv.pdf
https://futurium.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2023-01/watch-missing-heres-how.pdf
https://bulios.com/status/58717-watch-megan-m3gan-full-movie-online
https://bulios.com/status/58730-megan-m3gan-fullmovie-free-online-on-123movies
https://bulios.com/status/58732-watch-megan-m3gan-2023-film-online-on-123movies
https://bulios.com/status/58733-watch-megan-m3gan-2023-film-at-home
https://player.soundon.fm/p/6f5a770b-c6e9-482a-ad42-2458d06be8c9
https://player.soundon.fm/p/f7f838dd-02ce-469e-a096-264ea1aae81b
https://player.soundon.fm/p/c1f5acec-e39d-45b0-bfd9-699cf183e47b
https://player.soundon.fm/p/b54926ae-49a0-408d-a3cb-cef600d2e7af
https://player.soundon.fm/p/a0ac6f9c-25a3-4081-a232-02f764e87f38
https://player.soundon.fm/p/146c1d58-87a7-478c-bf61-7c4295758041
https://player.soundon.fm/p/668be752-8b05-4e0b-862e-451952866ed4
https://player.soundon.fm/p/02c58f99-4aec-4baf-aa8e-bafe2b41d0f1
https://player.soundon.fm/p/5f9f8e36-0a1a-42fc-9511-122ad9504e80
https://player.soundon.fm/p/effecaeb-c74d-4e99-a716-73df6af32dbc
https://player.soundon.fm/p/e7ad7e82-36ca-4ed6-89d5-a111467e173e
https://player.soundon.fm/p/ecb2c740-1580-4bf7-8221-f040f39ef91b
https://player.soundon.fm/p/752dff42-b643-4257-aca7-7867cbb9bc12
https://player.soundon.fm/p/2618811c-0276-4dd8-a03f-832228035691
https://player.soundon.fm/p/78c79c85-32bc-4abe-945a-ebebcc12ed7a
https://player.soundon.fm/p/54f78df8-5602-4831-b7dc-f965a3f43aae
https://player.soundon.fm/p/c15e7bbb-0c47-4226-a1fd-a39b7ab1c9a2
https://player.soundon.fm/p/234211d2-dda1-410c-8698-f3468357f2b1
https://player.soundon.fm/p/83388ee0-3ca0-4344-8743-2883984d197b
https://player.soundon.fm/p/2ccd93f5-04da-433e-9cb0-7c054108b218
https://player.soundon.fm/p/c7c9809b-e815-40c6-addb-07970ff512d7
https://player.soundon.fm/p/14993f43-41ff-4dfb-846c-f785f6f8ec57
https://player.soundon.fm/p/38a89b16-eb44-433d-8645-a4c6ddf92101
https://player.soundon.fm/p/30158400-5dd3-44e5-8111-899f46e1b4ca
https://hackmd.io/NevWWf64T7iQwimNuI3tWw/S1OlC1Fss https://hackmd.io/ri_JCtYOSIis-8D-NDgWjw/rkyHRyYso
https://hackmd.io/ri_JCtYOSIis-8D-NDgWjw/SJqyyxYjo https://hackmd.io/NevWWf64T7iQwimNuI3tWw/rkdAR1Ksj
https://hackmd.io/NevWWf64T7iQwimNuI3tWw/ryVsylFjj https://hackmd.io/ri_JCtYOSIis-8D-NDgWjw/Bk42kxFjo
https://hackmd.io/NevWWf64T7iQwimNuI3tWw/Hyndeetis https://hackmd.io/ri_JCtYOSIis-8D-NDgWjw/BkSsxxYos
https://hackmd.io/ri_JCtYOSIis-8D-NDgWjw/H1C5Wltss https://hackmd.io/NevWWf64T7iQwimNuI3tWw/HJDP-gKsj
https://hackmd.io/ri_JCtYOSIis-8D-NDgWjw/S1CKfltso https://hackmd.io/NevWWf64T7iQwimNuI3tWw/Sy4_zgtjj
https://hackmd.io/ri_JCtYOSIis-8D-NDgWjw/ByN7XgKso https://hackmd.io/NevWWf64T7iQwimNuI3tWw/H1ZX7xtij
https://hackmd.io/NevWWf64T7iQwimNuI3tWw/SJtbEetoj https://hackmd.io/ri_JCtYOSIis-8D-NDgWjw/rJ7zNlYoj
https://hackmd.io/NevWWf64T7iQwimNuI3tWw/HJfs4lFsj https://hackmd.io/ri_JCtYOSIis-8D-NDgWjw/Bk5jVgFij
https://bulios.com/status/53657-watch-avatar-2-the-way-of-water-2023-fullmovie-free-online-at-home
https://bulios.com/status/53666-avatar-2-the-way-of-water-2023-full-movie-online-on-123-movies-ultra-hd
https://bulios.com/status/53672-watch-avatar-2-the-way-of-water-2023-fullmovie-free-online-at-home
https://bulios.com/status/53677-hd-avatar-2-the-way-of-water-2023-fullmovie-online-download-free-480p-720p-and-1080p-on-eng-sub
https://bulios.com/status/53679-123movies-watch-avatar-2-the-way-of-water-fullmovie-free-online-on-123movies
https://bulios.com/status/53687-watch-puss-in-boots-the-last-wish-2023-fullmovie-free-online-at-home
https://bulios.com/status/53691-puss-in-boots-the-last-wish-2023-full-movie-online-on-123-movies-ultra-hd
https://bulios.com/status/53692-watch-puss-in-boots-the-last-wish-2023-fullmovie-free-online-at-home
https://bulios.com/status/53694-hd-puss-in-boots-the-last-wish-2023-fullmovie-online-download-free-480p-720p-and-1080p-on-eng-sub
https://bulios.com/status/53696-123movies-watch-puss-in-boots-the-last-wish-fullmovie-free-online-on-123movies
https://bulios.com/status/53708-watch-a-man-called-otto-2023-fullmovie-free-online-at-home
https://bulios.com/status/53711-a-man-called-otto-2023-full-movie-online-on-123-movies-ultra-hd
https://bulios.com/status/53713-watch-a-man-called-otto-2023-fullmovie-free-online-at-home
https://bulios.com/status/53715-hd-a-man-called-otto-2023-fullmovie-online-download-free-480p-720p-and-1080p-on-eng-sub
https://bulios.com/status/53718-123movies-watch-a-man-called-otto-fullmovie-free-online-on-123movies
https://bulios.com/status/53737-watch-m3gan-2023-fullmovie-free-online-at-home
https://bulios.com/status/53741-m3gan-2023-full-movie-online-on-123-movies-ultra-hd
https://bulios.com/status/53743-watch-m3gan-2023-fullmovie-free-online-at-home
https://bulios.com/status/53744-hd-m3gan-2023-fullmovie-online-download-free-480p-720p-and-1080p-on-eng-sub
https://bulios.com/status/53746-123movies-watch-m3gan-fullmovie-free-online-on-123movies
https://bulios.com/status/53749-watch-plane-2023-fullmovie-free-online-at-home
https://bulios.com/status/53750-plane-2023-full-movie-online-on-123-movies-ultra-hd
https://bulios.com/status/53755-watch-plane-2023-fullmovie-free-online-at-home
https://bulios.com/status/53763-hd-plane-2023-fullmovie-online-download-free-480p-720p-and-1080p-on-eng-sub
https://bulios.com/status/53765-123movies-watch-plane-fullmovie-free-online-on-123movies
https://bulios.com/status/53767-watch-house-party-2023-fullmovie-free-online-at-home
https://bulios.com/status/53769-house-party-2023-full-movie-online-on-123-movies-ultra-hd
https://bulios.com/status/53771-watch-house-party-2023-fullmovie-free-online-at-home
https://bulios.com/status/53776-hd-house-party-2023-fullmovie-online-download-free-480p-720p-and-1080p-on-eng-sub
https://bulios.com/status/53784-123movies-watch-house-party-fullmovie-free-online-on-123movies
https://bulios.com/status/53786-watch-the-son-2023-fullmovie-free-online-at-home
https://bulios.com/status/53788-the-son-2023-full-movie-online-on-123-movies-ultra-hd
https://bulios.com/status/53789-watch-the-son-2023-fullmovie-free-online-at-home
https://bulios.com/status/53793-hd-the-son-2023-fullmovie-online-download-free-480p-720p-and-1080p-on-eng-sub
https://bulios.com/status/53805-123movies-watch-the-son-fullmovie-free-online-on-123movies
https://bulios.com/status/53811-watch-alice-darling-2023-fullmovie-free-online-at-home
https://bulios.com/status/53813-alice-darling-2023-full-movie-online-on-123-movies-ultra-hd
https://bulios.com/status/53814-watch-alice-darling-2023-fullmovie-free-online-at-home
https://bulios.com/status/53816-hd-alice-darling-2023-fullmovie-online-download-free-480p-720p-and-1080p-on-eng-sub
https://bulios.com/status/53827-123movies-watch-alice-darling-fullmovie-free-online-on-123movies
https://bulios.com/status/53833-watch-missing-2023-fullmovie-free-online-at-home
https://bulios.com/status/53837-missing-2023-full-movie-online-on-123-movies-ultra-hd
https://bulios.com/status/53842-watch-missing-2023-fullmovie-free-online-at-home
https://bulios.com/status/53843-hd-missing-2023-fullmovie-online-download-free-480p-720p-and-1080p-on-eng-sub
https://bulios.com/status/53852-123movies-watch-missing-fullmovie-free-online-on-123movies