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.
Conservative essays rjdzn.
Order NOW!!! ==> https://essaypro.co
]
Sample thesis in guidance and counselling
Best dissertation results writers site for school
Esl creative essay ghostwriter website for university
Persuasive essays on why abortion should be illegal
One flew over cuckoos nest essay
University essay editor sites us
Frederick jackson turner’s frontier thesis asserted that the frontier
persuasive essay ghostwriter for hire xisbv[/url] arbeitsplan vhobc[/url] essays cmzad[/url] to write a business trip report example webzh[/url] e431adcQuint careers cover letter examples
Make my paper mla format
Cheap dissertation abstract editor sites gb
Thesis ghostwriters site usa
Essays ordinary people family
HGtYUPlKMnGFW
candidate masters degree resume jbllg[/url] problem create a risk matrix lmuzd[/url] masters admission paper ideas dibth[/url] essays writing websites online tclru[/url] letter example whirlpool dbrdm[/url][b]Conservative essays rjdzn[/b]
[url=https://essaypro.me]essaypro[/url]
Book review ks2
How to write a record in pl sql
Audison thesis th 1 5 violino
algebra 2 help editapaper.com
essays rjdzn[/b] my nursing research proposal pshrb[/url] resume certifications gyufk[/url] to get custom best essay on presidential elections vlfir[/url] me popular bibliography online kjmfc[/url]]
https://maps.google.com.co/url?q=https://essaypro.co
https://images.google.ru/url?q=https://studybay.ws
https://www.couponxoo.com/httpsessayproco-coupon
Masters degree physical education example of thesis
Best places to post a resume
Economic history dissertations
[url=http://bpx.by/sostavlenie-smet-smetyi-na-stroitelstvo-proektnyie-smetyi.html]заказать смету на ремонт квартиры[/url]
[url=http://obsledovanie.www.by/stroitelnaya-ekspertiza]экспертиза качества строительных работ[/url]
http://www.panoirpedia.com/User:KristiDisney
https://www.ayuren.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=32203&do=profile&from=space
Free essay on capital punishment in india
Write a business plans
Sample first resume no job experience
http://balisurfexpress.com/background-slider/tommy-schultz_com-172/#comment-27152
https://www.interstatehdu.com/blogs/news/new-menu-item?comment=87028629654#comments
https://prologic.su/topic/14691-ut-austin-essay-tips-eqcoa/page__gopid__64543#entry64543
Conservative essays rjdzn
book review writer for hire online eacra[/url] to write om symbol in word sytsr[/url] rhetorical analysis essay ghostwriter for hire for phd tkteu[/url] dissertation introduction editor for hire for college wwqgb[/url] essays rjdzn[/b] my top phd essay on lincoln rxibr[/url] homework writers services us zuczs[/url] to write a coroners report zxnom[/url] free resume cmdbe[/url] bay[/url]https://ericadlermd.com/?cf_er=_cf_process_5fc01d8aac50e
https://prisaoinvisivel.com.br/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=539298&p=673906#p673906
https://axislabs.com/blogs/athletic-majority/quick-tips-for-beginner-bodybuilders?comment=82429018190#comments
Popular cover letter proofreading for hire usa
essays rjdzn[/b] thesis topics doc rwvlv[/url] as well as brawn essay dtchz[/url] vs reality essay topics gvymw[/url] dissertation introduction proofreading for hire jlvpn[/url] of notecards for a research paper[/url] for delivery[/url]Conservative essay right short
Business to business marketing research papers
https://tempel.link/tgiinym
https://tempel.link/qlgre0w
https://tempel.link/0vthz6s
https://tempel.link/3qmts5b
https://tempel.link/jnjh0pt
https://tempel.link/g1adgvl
https://tempel.link/0xerwm7
https://tempel.link/lhsjrcx
https://tempel.link/qlqohx5
https://tempel.link/ikchywn
https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/2982/watch-ant-man-and-the-wasp-quantumania
https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/2993/watch-ant-man-and-the-wasp-quantumania
https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/2999/download123movies-ant-man-and-the-wasp
https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/3006/watch-ant-man-and-the-wasp-quantumania
https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/3008/123movies-watch-ant-man-and-the-wasp
https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/3011/watch-ant-man-and-the-wasp-quantumania
https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/3250/where-to-watch-cocaine-bear-2023-fullmovie
https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/3255/where-to-watch-jesus-revolution-2023
https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/3259/where-to-watch-mummies-2023-fullmovie
https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/3266/where-to-watch-ant-man-and-the-wasp
https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/3271/where-to-watch-marlowe-2023-fullmovie
https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/3274/where-to-watch-magic-mikes-last-dance-2023
https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/3277/where-to-watch-80-for-brady-2023-fullmovie
https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/3279/where-to-watch-knock-at-the-cabin-2023
https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/3281/where-to-watch-titanic-2023-fullmovie
https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/3291/where-to-watch-missing-2023-fullmovie
https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/3300/where-to-watch-plane-2023-fullmovie-online
https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/3303/where-to-watch-m3gan-2023-fullmovie-online
https://bitbucket.org/atlassianlabs/node-jira/issues/3304/where-to-watch-the-whale-2023-fullmovie
https://communityin.oppo.com/thread/1272070452986511361
https://communityin.oppo.com/thread/1272070782918852615
https://communityin.oppo.com/thread/1272071117481705474
https://communityin.oppo.com/thread/1272075691277942793
https://communityin.oppo.com/thread/1272076007511949319
https://communityin.oppo.com/thread/1272076330431414276
https://communityin.oppo.com/thread/1272061180403777537
https://communityin.oppo.com/thread/1272061508658659329
https://communityin.oppo.com/thread/1272061845587099649
https://communityin.oppo.com/thread/1272082259046301697
https://communityin.oppo.com/thread/1272083343508766721
https://communityin.oppo.com/thread/1272089182667800576
https://communityin.oppo.com/thread/1272088688847224832
https://communityin.oppo.com/thread/1272089906789220359
https://communityin.oppo.com/thread/1270561609014312967
https://communityin.oppo.com/thread/1270562283835621379
https://communityin.oppo.com/thread/1270562966072983556
https://communityin.oppo.com/thread/1270564091253751810
https://communityin.oppo.com/thread/1270564736278986761
https://communityin.oppo.com/thread/1270565260642222085
https://communityin.oppo.com/thread/1270568382580391940
https://communityin.oppo.com/thread/1270568985788416003
https://communityin.oppo.com/thread/1270569594759413762
https://communityin.oppo.com/thread/1270571475971866629
https://communityin.oppo.com/thread/1270572113858134018
https://communityin.oppo.com/thread/1270572726872702980
https://communityin.oppo.com/thread/1270574040067080194
https://communityin.oppo.com/thread/1270574715660664839
https://communityin.oppo.com/thread/1270575386354778117
https://communityin.oppo.com/thread/1270576716452462601
https://communityin.oppo.com/thread/1270577339742814215
https://communityin.oppo.com/thread/1270577973561131013
https://communityin.oppo.com/thread/1270579868027322372
https://communityin.oppo.com/thread/1270580517985058821
https://communityin.oppo.com/thread/1270581207243685889
https://si.biostat.washington.edu/sites/default/files/ant-man-3-stream-usa.pdf
https://si.biostat.washington.edu/sites/default/files/ant-man-3-stream-usa-01.pdf
https://si.biostat.washington.edu/sites/default/files/ant-man-3-stream-usa-02.pdf
https://si.biostat.washington.edu/sites/default/files/ant-man-3-stream-usa-03.pdf
https://si.biostat.washington.edu/sites/default/files/ant-man-3-stream-usa-04.pdf
https://si.biostat.washington.edu/sites/default/files/ant-man-3-stream-usa-05.pdf
https://si.biostat.washington.edu/sites/default/files/ant-man-3-stream-usa-06.pdf
https://si.biostat.washington.edu/sites/default/files/ant-man-3-stream-usa-07.pdf
https://si.biostat.washington.edu/sites/default/files/ant-man-3-stream-usa-08.pdf
https://si.biostat.washington.edu/sites/default/files/ant-man-3-stream-usa-09.pdf
https://si.biostat.washington.edu/sites/default/files/quantumania-movie-2023.pdf
https://si.biostat.washington.edu/sites/default/files/quantumania-movie-2023-01.pdf
https://si.biostat.washington.edu/sites/default/files/quantumania-movie-2023-02.pdf
https://si.biostat.washington.edu/sites/default/files/quantumania-movie-2023-03.pdf
https://si.biostat.washington.edu/sites/default/files/quantumania-movie-2023-04.pdf
https://si.biostat.washington.edu/sites/default/files/quantumania-movie-2023-05.pdf
https://si.biostat.washington.edu/sites/default/files/quantumania-movie-2023-06.pdf
https://si.biostat.washington.edu/sites/default/files/quantumania-movie-2023-07.pdf
https://si.biostat.washington.edu/sites/default/files/quantumania-movie-2023-08.pdf
https://si.biostat.washington.edu/sites/default/files/quantumania-movie-2023-09.pdf
https://si.biostat.washington.edu/sites/default/files/quantumania-movie-2023-10.pdf
https://si.biostat.washington.edu/sites/default/files/quantumania-movie-2023-11.pdf
https://si.biostat.washington.edu/sites/default/files/quantumania-movie-2023-12.pdf
https://si.biostat.washington.edu/sites/default/files/quantumania-movie-2023-13.pdf
https://si.biostat.washington.edu/sites/default/files/quantumania-movie-2023-14.pdf
https://si.biostat.washington.edu/sites/default/files/quantumania-movie-2023-15.pdf
https://si.biostat.washington.edu/sites/default/files/quantumania-movie-2023-16.pdf
https://si.biostat.washington.edu/sites/default/files/quantumania-movie-2023-17.pdf
https://www.loom.com/share/51cd050435b3441b860232a9be421185
https://www.loom.com/share/42dc44ea714e4ee0910399f198263b13