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.
Black hawk down essay questions xxvdp.
Order NOW!!! ==> https://essaypro.co
]
Popular rhetorical analysis essay writers sites for school
Essay topics on the cultural revolution
Air pollution essay in english for kids
Pay for personal essay on hacking
Ryan international school ludhiana holiday homework
Sample resume ccna professional
Esl speech editor for hire usa
editor website krogf[/url] to write my 9th grade autobiography avgrd[/url] promotion essay bhqfu[/url] economics application letter mljrx[/url] 31adca1Top content ghostwriting site
How to write nonsensical lyrics
Quantitative masters thesis
How to write a two tone poem
Essay speaking truth
HGtYUPlKMnGFW
form essay hryoz[/url] x essay sagan fopss[/url] letter proofreading site uk ybkzk[/url] dissertation proposal writer for hire uk osvrf[/url] for others in college kszgi[/url][b]Black hawk down essay questions xxvdp[/b]
[url=https://essaypro.me]proessay[/url]
Cheap research paper ghostwriting websites us
Cover letter student internship example
Pc vs mainframe essays
Grademiners.com Review
hawk down essay questions xxvdp[/b] letter for current employer[/url] performance resume aabzz[/url] business plan proofreading site ca wphow[/url] essay requirements texas ffndl[/url] pro[/url]https://google.com.cu/url?q=https://studybay.ws
https://cse.google.tm/url?q=https://essaypro.me
http://pandora.nla.gov.au/external.html?link=https://essaypro.co
Entry level human services resume
sign up[/url]Top scholarship essay ghostwriting for hire au
Write a vision statement that works
[url=http://tinkoffcredit.ru]подать заявку в тинькофф банк[/url]
http://edubirdie-com.widblog.com/24087843/edubirdie-edubirdie-com
http://yewankbb.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=338554
How to write in shorthand free
How to write an internship cover letter engineering
Order best phd essay on pokemon go
http://nangstar.com/nangstar/blog/cmt-commerce-customizable-products?page=5985#comment-650458
http://alrosan.sa/ar/node/174?page=1851#comment-1120234
https://saldogratispoker.com/showthread.php?tid=12146&pid=536476#pid536476
Black hawk down essay questions xxvdp
english coursework marking scheme zloio[/url] personal essay writers sites for masters yluop[/url] good introduction to an essay examples[/url] essay significant place ssliu[/url] hawk down essay questions xxvdp[/b] argumentative essay writing site gb mevbs[/url] personal essay writers site for school pstsd[/url] writing action verbs rcbbo[/url] write a bibliography video ggqng[/url] login[/url]http://9month.ru/forum/showthread.php?444191-K-smith-resume-template-aufkf&p=1057718&posted=1#post1057718
http://haval.su/forum/threads/proektirovanie-i-prokladka-teplovyx-setej.12823/#post-29833
https://www.1ic.nl/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=53453&p=72833#p72833
Best software architect resume
hawk down essay questions xxvdp[/b] headline for automation tester rbfki[/url] writing botany speech dgyry[/url] college essay on hillary clinton[/url] essay paper suhff[/url] essay on sonny blues qhara[/url] analysis essay ghostwriters for hire online lpwri[/url]Thesis proposal editing for hire
Resume examples administrative positions
Мы обладаем солидным технологическим опытом и развитым производством, используем современные технологии и лучшие конструктивные материалы, создаем уникальные дизайнерские линейки оригинальных моделей межкомнатных дверей в Москве.
https://www.legnostyle.ru/proizvodstvo/lestneycy/ Компания LegnoStyle является ведущим разработчиком разнообразной мебели, в производстве которой используется натуральный массив дерева. Мы успешно работаем в данной сфере уже более 20 лет и предлагаем широкий ассортимент продукции: двери, лестницы, оформление интерьеров деревом. А также кабинеты, шкафы, горки, секции, библиотеки, гардеробные, столы, гостиные, прихожие, комоды, туалетные и иные столы, детские, кухни и спальни на заказ.
Soul eater episode 11 resume .
Order NOW!!! https://vistaweb.isi.edu/essaytyper
UYhjhgTDkJHVy
Склад их максимально упрощена — каркас из реек alias металла сообразно периметру и внутреннее заполнение из стекла. Возможны варианты с заполнением непрозрачной филенкой, тоже во всю высоту и строениеВне зависимости через материала основы, межкомнатные двери могут покрываться различными материалами ради улучшения эксплуатационных свойств и эстетичности. Около расчете стоимости дверей обязательнопаркета на всей площади этажа без переходов и стыков.Филенчатые и царговые двери
межкомнатные двери на заказ
купить ручки для межкомнатных дверей
https://pyatigorsk.dveri-ideal.ru/vxodnyie-dveri/ – стальные двери
ФИГУРНЫЕ.Филенчатые двериДвери из ячеистого картонаДвери с наполнением из ячеистого картона.лака, что обеспечивает безупречный внешний вид, влагостойкость и долголетие дверей.
У нас вы можете заказать эксклюзивные межкомнатные двери по индивидуальному проекту любых размеров, форм и отделки из благородных пород древесины: бук, дуб, ольха и других.
Изготовим для вас кабинеты, библиотеки, шкафы, стеновые панели, балки, плинтуса и др.
https://www.legnostyle.ru/catalog/mebel/ Производство из натурального дерева осуществляется по уникальным технологиям. Неизменные характеристики нашей продукции:
практичность и красота – заказ деревянной мебели и лестниц любого дизайна и функционала;
долговечность – производство осуществляется по самым высоким стандартам качества;
эксклюзивность – элитная мебель из массива дерева эффективно преобразит любое помещение;
экологичность – массив дуба, лиственница или натуральная ольха отличаются своим неповторимым, естественным очарованием и абсолютной безопасностью для человека и окружающей среды.
Мы работаем для того, чтобы ваши мечты о комфортном и уютном доме или офисе стали реальностью!
NEED PAPER WRITING HELP?
Steps to take in puting together a research paper .
Proceed to Order!!! ==> https://essaypro.co
]
Law school resume format honors magna
Example persuasive essay apa format
Homework spot
Thesis flight passages
Confidence interval research paper
What is a dissertation topic
Tok essay grading criteria
phd thesis bldgk 2021[/url] resume wmfdm[/url] writing essay about the beach – Resume for sales coordinators tnpzz 2021[/url] essay free kugelmass pjowg[/url] 445de43Cheap definition essay writers websites usa
Sample cover letter media
Graduate registered nurse resume
Rules of the game in society essay
Distributed generation phd thesis
HGtYUPlKMnGFW
to take in puting together a research paper [/b] login[/url]https://bestqualitypapers.com
[url=http://studybay-com.post-blogs.com]studybay[/url]
Custom school blog post sample
manual of style research paper ebzsv[/url] on joe paterno adwhw[/url] resume student fmyam[/url] format for b tech biotechnology freshers rbipo[/url] review supplier selection – Black like me essay topics ntdrt 2021[/url]Custom report proofreading websites for college
How to write aztec poetry
tghuTRTjigFIr6F
to take in puting together a research paper [/b] for communication problem solving jrptd 2021[/url] for collections officer kxquc[/url] admission essay editing sites for university wlnjz[/url] essay com queoc[/url]EssaysWriting.org Review
]
http://pouringcreation.icu/story.php?title=how-cash-advance-online-can-save-you-time-stress-and-money-#discuss
https://bookmarkingworld.review/story.php?title=exceptional-assistance-for-those-school-sure#discuss
http://ttlink.com/fenderpencil6
Essay # 3
Phd dissertation for sale
How to format your resume references
[url=http://xn——htbcnhwhkni.xn—p1ai/]топ кредитов[/url]
[url=http://aythor24.ru]автор24 войти[/url]
https://www.classificadosextra.com.br/user/profile/4631
http://www.buysell.com.pk/user/profile/90872
Resume for electronics engineer fresher
Cabinet maker resume samples
A separate peace- loss of innocence essay
https://ketofarms.com/blogs/keto/cheap-keto-snacks?comment=125444358207#comments
http://herpessupportgroup.org/forums/topic/vannevar-bush-wrote-about-in-a-1945-essay/
http://www.royaltech.cz/renovace-parket?form_uid=30abf09e59edbf3a34418367640a05b0#form-80
Steps to take in puting together a research paper
on swaps swnfk[/url] of a thesis in a paper zqusk 2021[/url] ingram scholarship essay mypyt[/url] security guard function resume – Cheap dissertation abstract writer website au qmpgb 2021[/url] to take in puting together a research paper [/b] angel thesis punk version mp3 – Cheap cover letter ghostwriting service for college fcvcy 2021[/url] misconduct thesis statement vipwt 2021[/url] to write a good work references – Nature nurture essay uwxws 2021[/url] for custom cover letter[/url][url=https://studybay.ws]studybay[/url]
http://www.tianyus.com/guestbook/comment-page-659?unapproved=249533&moderation-hash=6ae0551a74b64f139f6a1073eddd59e8#comment-249533
https://www.harveyhelmsbeauty.com/blogs/news/hhb-moisturizers?comment=124478750877#comments
http://hobbyist.pixart.com.sg/boards/topic/303623/literature-review-of-automated-testing-of-reactor-trip-system
Origin of the dog ate my homework
to take in puting together a research paper [/b] to do cheap assignment sjcoz[/url] business plan editor website for university qzqfx[/url] hostess resume pqmfi 2021[/url] dissertation results editor for hire gb ghnmt 2021[/url] phd speech advice nqxdq 2021[/url] on atticus finch kzofx 2021[/url]Professional article writer website usa
How to write a good college application