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.


29096 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.
    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
    Top content ghostwriting site
    How to write nonsensical lyrics

    editor website krogf[/url] to write my 9th grade autobiography avgrd[/url] promotion essay bhqfu[/url] economics application letter mljrx[/url] 31adca1

    Quantitative masters thesis
    How to write a two tone poem
    Essay speaking truth

    HGtYUPlKMnGFW
    [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

    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]

    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
    Top scholarship essay ghostwriting for hire au
    Write a vision statement that works

    sign up[/url]

    [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
    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

    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]

    Best software architect resume
    Thesis proposal editing for hire
    Resume examples administrative positions

    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]
    studybayws
  • Bebas88 situs judi slot online terbaik di indonesia, slot gacor deposit 10000 yang lagi viralnya di seluruh rakyat indonesia. Bebas 88 memiliki provider slot gacor terlengkap dengan permain yang beragam dari setiap server penyedia game judi slot online, bebas888 juga memiliki provider slot88 yang banyak dikenal orang sebagai judi slot depo 10k, slot online depisit 10rb dan situs slot depo 10ribu. daftar di bebas88 login atau bebas88 daftar sekarang juga
    bebas 88 situs gacor online
    slot deposit dana 24 jam
    slot online deposit 10ribu
    website slot gacor terpercaya
    bebas88 agen judi resmi
    judi slot pulsa tanpa potongan
    situs agen slot88
    bandar judi online terbaik
    situs judi slot gacor
    Agen Slot Online Gacor Deposit 5 RB 
    judi slot depo 10k
    situs agen judi resmi
    judi online gacor terpercaya
    live kasino online terbaik
    web site bandar togel online
    Bebas88 Situs Judi Online Terbaik
    bo bandar togel online

    Bebas88
  • https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/13260/watch-ant-man-3-and-the-wasp-quantumania
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/13262/watch-ant-man-3-and-the-wasp-quantumania
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/13263/watch-ant-man-3-and-the-wasp-quantumania
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/13265/watch-ant-man-and-the-wasp-quantumania
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/13266/where-to-watch-ant-man-3-and-the-wasp
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/13267/watch-ant-man-3-and-the-wasp-quantumania
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/13268/watch-ant-man-3-and-the-wasp-quantumania
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/13269/watch-ant-man-3-and-the-wasp-quantumania
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/13271/watch-ant-man-3-and-the-wasp-quantumania
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/13273/watch-ant-man-and-the-wasp-3-quantumania
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/13276/watch-cocaine-bear-2023-fullmovie-online
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/13278/watch-cocaine-bear-2023-fullmovie-online
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/13279/watch-cocaine-bear-2023-fullmovie-online
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/13280/watch-cocaine-bear-free-online-streaming
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/13282/where-to-watch-cocaine-bear-2023-fullmovie
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/13283/watch-cocaine-bear-2023-fullmovie-online
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/13285/watch-cocaine-bear-2023-fullmovie-free
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/13286/watch-cocaine-bear-free-fullmovie-online
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/13287/watch-cocaine-bear-free-fullmovie-at-home
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/13289/watch-cocaine-bear-2023-fullmovie-online
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/13293/watch-jesus-revolution-2023-fullmovie
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/13295/watch-jesus-revolution-2023-fullmovie
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/13298/watch-jesus-revolution-2023-fullmovie
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/13300/watch-jesus-revolution-free-online
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/13302/where-to-watch-jesus-revolution-2023
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/13304/watch-jesus-revolution-2023-fullmovie
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/13306/watch-jesus-revolution-2023-fullmovie-free
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/13307/watch-jesus-revolution-free-fullmovie
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/13308/watch-jesus-revolution-free-fullmovie-at
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/13310/watch-jesus-revolution-2023-fullmovie
    https://rextester.com/IWOKT22294
    https://bitbin.it/1yYRexXR/
    https://tech.io/snippet/qtgGQCI
    https://paste.ofcode.org/kjFrvuwTAcSqKFKkB3JZHU
    https://graph.org/sd-gwe-wetewt-etwetwetwetwe-02-25
    https://pastehere.xyz/bNaBAblSF/
    https://jsitor.com/O7lr4EUl3S
    https://jsfiddle.net/3f0va8gb/
    http://pastebin.falz.net/2499903
    https://rentry.co/yzca9
    https://controlc.com/bdc9fc63
    https://backlinktool.io/p/5kxsQauk5PDPVAn5mcTD.html
    https://yamcode.com/untitled-63253
    https://pasteio.com/xSvJ9yFfv0iH
    https://paste2.org/KCssaHJ0
    https://paiza.io/projects/ctAHxucGqmsp6gWksOroyQ?language=php
    https://pastelink.net/kzyhn84x
    https://notes.io/q5MwL
    https://paste.vpsfree.cz/02GpPJwK/
    https://paste.ee/p/KqiP2
    https://glot.io/snippets/gijzyggjrs
    https://justpaste.it/c8aip
    https://ctxt.io/2/AACQBFInFg
    https://challonge.com/8rlwg0yj
    https://www.vingle.net/posts/5385301
    https://telegra.ph/wewet-wet-wet-etet-et-02-25
    https://theprose.com/post/629747/sf-qew-t3ete-teteteeqw

    s wetw tete tet qetq
  • https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/8984/ant-man-3-and-the-wasp-quantumania
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/8985/ant-man-and-the-wasp-quantumania-2023
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/8991/watch-ant-man-and-the-wasp-quantumania
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/8998/watch-free-ant-man-and-the-wasp
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/9002/watch-ant-man-and-the-wasp-quantumania
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/9003/watch-ant-man-and-the-wasp-quantumania
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/9006/where-to-watch-ant-man-and-the-wasp
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/9007/watch-ant-man-and-the-wasp-quantumania
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/9009/watch-ant-man-3-and-the-wasp-quantumania
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/9012/cocaine-bear-fullmovie-online-sci-fi
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/9013/cocaine-bear-2023-fullmovie-free-online-on
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/9014/watch-cocaine-bear-2023-fullmovie-free
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/9017/watch-free-cocaine-bear-2023-online-on
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/9019/watch-cocaine-bear-2023-fullmovie-free
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/9021/watch-cocaine-bear-2023-fullmovie-free
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/9022/where-to-watch-cocaine-bear-fullmovie-free
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/9024/watch-cocaine-bear-fullmovie-free-online
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/9025/watch-cocaine-bear-fullmovie-free
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/9027/jesus-revolution-fullmovie-online-sci-fi
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/9029/jesus-revolution-2023-fullmovie-free
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/9030/watch-jesus-revolution-2023-fullmovie-free
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/9031/watch-free-jesus-revolution-2023-online-on
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/9037/watch-jesus-revolution-2023-fullmovie-free
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/9038/watch-jesus-revolution-2023-fullmovie-free
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/9045/where-to-watch-jesus-revolution-fullmovie
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/9047/watch-jesus-revolution-fullmovie-free
    https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/9050/watch-jesus-revolution-fullmovie-free
    https://challonge.com/i390872
    https://www.vingle.net/posts/5380061
    https://telegra.ph/w-etwe-twet-wet-wet-wetwetwtw-02-24
    https://theprose.com/post/629010/sd-we-qwr-qwrqwr-qwr-qwr-qwrqwrqw
    https://hackmd.io/@knockatthecabin/B1aeBZUAi
    https://www.mixily.com/event/5140412418366113123

    sd we wewet wetwe
  • https://hackmd.io/antmanandthewaspquantumania/BJYFt4rRi https://hackmd.io/antmanandthewaspquantumania/BkTMqVH0j
    https://hackmd.io/antmanandthewaspquantumania/H1Xa5EHCo https://hackmd.io/antman3/HkXZpVHAs
    https://hackmd.io/antman3/Skqo64BAs https://hackmd.io/antman3/HJRu0VSRs
    https://hackmd.io/@antman3/SkNb1HSCj

    sd we q qwqwr qwrq
  • https://hackmd.io/antmanandthewaspquantumania/BJYFt4rRi https://hackmd.io/antmanandthewaspquantumania/BkTMqVH0j
    https://hackmd.io/antmanandthewaspquantumania/H1Xa5EHCo https://hackmd.io/antman3/HkXZpVHAs
    https://hackmd.io/antman3/Skqo64BAs https://hackmd.io/antman3/HJRu0VSRs
    https://hackmd.io/@antman3/SkNb1HSCj

    sd we ewew ee

Leave a comment