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
  • https://www.scoop.it/topic/sdnf-owej-iwe-wjtqeiorqiorrjqwiorqwiorqiowrqiwo
    https://www.vingle.net/posts/5699861
    https://challonge.com/9cqi4gae
    https://www.justgiving.com/page/varonica-bondy-1681750877475
    https://telegra.ph/ksdjo-weioiqewio-qi-qiqrjioqrioqr-04-17
    https://rextester.com/SPBTRI73589
    https://bitbin.it/Mk5awmZy/
    https://tech.io/snippet/IavKqgZ
    https://graph.org/ksdj-owetjiweit-wei-wiejiqweporqj-04-17
    https://pastehere.xyz/aamFZbnkw/
    https://www.mixily.com/event/2175704753186767207
    https://rentry.co/6kecf
    https://controlc.com/10f1d469
    https://backlinktool.io/p/PIzOKrG4k1j5lBAvtndY.html
    https://pastebin.com/TdYYL6HL
    https://paiza.io/projects/fjR_534Du5rPfFbnLj4SBg?language=php
    https://pastelink.net/xy22rdlx
    https://notes.io/qMvuU
    https://paste.vpsfree.cz/6O6J52-a/
    https://paste.ee/p/q63SP
    https://glot.io/snippets/gk4q70ivv1
    https://pastebin.com/TdYYL6HL
    https://pasteio.com/xJBuhE2CHfsy
    https://ivpaste.com/v/VcUMULWEP5

    sd weewt wqetq qq
  • https://www.pexels.com/super-mario-bros-fullmovie-download-free-526339694/ https://www.pexels.com/watch-super-mario-bros-fullmovie-free-526340216/
    https://www.pexels.com/watch-the-super-mario-bros-free-fullmovie-hd-526340665/ https://www.pexels.com/free-download-super-mario-bros-free-fullmovie-onl-526341396/
    https://www.pexels.com/the-super-mario-bros-fullmovie-online-freee-526341622/ https://www.pexels.com/watch-the-super-mario-bros-fullmovie-online-526341901/
    https://www.pexels.com/@watch-the-super-mario-bros-fullmovie-free-526342332/

    sd weteqwtqtq
  • https://infogram.com/where-to-watch-super-mario-bros-2023-fullmovie-online-at-home-1h8n6m3yvv98z4x
    https://infogram.com/moviesgreater-super-mario-bros2023-fullmovie-online-at-homestream-1hd12yxz99zmx6k
    https://infogram.com/how-to-to-watch-super-mario-bros-fullmovie-free-online-at-home-1hzj4o3mkkn534p
    https://infogram.com/-watch-super-mario-bros-2023-fullmovie-free-online-on-123movies-1h7g6k0vyywd02o
    https://infogram.com/watch-super-mario-bros-2023-fullmovie-online-free-1hzj4o3mkkgk34p
    https://infogram.com/watchsuper-mario-bros-fullmovie-free-online-on-123movies-hd-1h7j4dvrg3zp94n
    https://infogram.com/putlocker-watch-super-mario-bros-free-fullmovie-online-streaming-english-1ho16vorn05x84n
    https://infogram.com/super-mario-bros-2022-fullmovie-download-free-1080p-720p-and-480p-on-eng-sub-1h7k230nk83lv2x
    https://infogram.com/download-super-mario-bros-2022-mp4720p-1080p-hd-4kn-1hxr4zx1yzmmq6y
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/181890
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/181892
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/181899
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/181902
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/181904
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/181907
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/181909
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/181913
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/181920
    https://www.schooltube.com/channel/Watch!!+The+Super+Mario+Bros.+Movie+Online+for+Free/298140952
    https://www.schooltube.com/channel/Watch+Super+Mario+Bros.+Movie+Movie+Full+Free+Online/298143112
    https://rextester.com/HXGX49068
    https://bitbin.it/mJpkUpIr/
    https://graph.org/sdkjf-wejejpqjrpqr-qoprjoqpw-04-13
    https://pastehere.xyz/a5GwObnf2/
    https://notes.io/q9WHf
    https://paste.vpsfree.cz/S6WXov_w/
    https://paste.ee/p/KflWF
    http://pastebin.falz.net/2500754
    https://rentry.co/ko4nk
    https://controlc.com/142b9bfd
    https://backlinktool.io/p/XUwX97uOHvfLY57dg572.html
    https://pastebin.com/8BuJp0tj
    https://pasteio.com/xR4idZpaPyye
    https://ideone.com/niUq6n
    https://ivpaste.com/v/VwdJtEQySQ
    https://paiza.io/projects/LBbLfa0p2N0KnRYqf7bIQw?language=php
    https://pastelink.net/drgvalqk
    https://www.mixily.com/event/775623130435998301
    https://www.deviantart.com/gowentgones/journal/lksdjf-ekq-qrjqwjr-pqwrjqpiow-957925648
    https://www.vingle.net/posts/5676494
    https://challonge.com/40bdggy7

    sdg wete ewqt q q
  • https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/151644
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/151670
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/151700
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/151716
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/151718
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/151721
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/151759
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/151781
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/151788
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/151795
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/151808
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/151819
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/151878
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/151896
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/151908
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/151914
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/151918
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/151927
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/151964
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/151974
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/151980
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/151988
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/152018
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/152033
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/152038
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/152047
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/152051
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/152064
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/152067
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/152074
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/152077
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/152083
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/152092
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/152100
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/152107
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/152124
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/152127
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/152129
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/152133
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/152139
    https://gitlab.pavlovia.org/de-making/demakepis/issues/152165

    sd weq qw qwrqwrqw
  • https://www.asahihibachi.com/group/arunabadi-inc-group/discussion/6fb98022-21cc-4b0f-bbb2-086c68ff28c0
    https://www.asahihibachi.com/group/arunabadi-inc-group/discussion/c576e7ff-5047-471a-94e7-b288213cb2e0
    https://www.asahihibachi.com/group/arunabadi-inc-group/discussion/0a87905b-29a3-48f8-9a3a-495e175537c4
    https://www.asahihibachi.com/group/arunabadi-inc-group/discussion/a86b16fe-9ee3-4de8-a8f0-d562aab41edc
    https://www.asahihibachi.com/group/arunabadi-inc-group/discussion/378e2f20-1ec7-444f-9b3c-6e7a22878eb6
    https://www.asahihibachi.com/group/arunabadi-inc-group/discussion/5a786bc5-7573-4911-a326-05bf9f8ba489
    https://www.asahihibachi.com/group/arunabadi-inc-group/discussion/58e30d27-5db9-4a0e-93b1-16ac9b414c8a
    https://www.asahihibachi.com/group/arunabadi-inc-group/discussion/dcca9e7a-6b1b-4134-8725-39a9218ea437
    https://www.asahihibachi.com/group/arunabadi-inc-group/discussion/94ab7711-333b-4d57-b094-bbf654473db4
    https://www.asahihibachi.com/group/arunabadi-inc-group/discussion/4be7232e-fbbb-43a6-a067-728ffa7e4207
    https://www.asahihibachi.com/group/arunabadi-inc-group/discussion/57518473-2aab-49d7-9757-b19d233adf15
    https://www.asahihibachi.com/group/arunabadi-inc-group/discussion/a453b4e8-6e9c-4b6d-8eaf-a32f50032676
    https://www.asahihibachi.com/group/arunabadi-inc-group/discussion/6f5fcafd-127d-4e71-95fd-bdb3dc22a8bf

    sd wetwq tqwetq qrq

Leave a comment