7/3/08

My Hair Has Finally Arrived!

So if you are like me, you are a sista who has struggled with your identity, your personal image, lack of love and of course that drastly hair.

My personal struggle with my hair have been so long, I can barely if ever recall a time when I was proud of my hair.

Growing up I was always the one favored as having 'good hair'. My hair was just past my shoulders and inky black. When it was wet it would curl up in the most fascinating fashion. ( that is when I allowed it to be wet because like many kids with afro hair, combing was never easy).


In fact as my aunt so affectionately recalled" I had two people's head of hair". I remember hiding every two weeks when my hair was due a good washing because of the dread that floated through my mind at the prospect of combing it.


Oh how I longed for the silky smooth threads of my mother's hair, nevermind that she had to go to a salon every week. To me that was the ultimate freedom and I grew to resent my hair more and more. I even grew to resent people who would so candidly say " I wish I had your hair I would do so much with it" Yea What?!! That is until they had to comb it. I never heard much of a comment on it again.


So like many my mother finally allowed me to sit in that elusive salon chair. Wow! For the first time I had perfectly straight hair. It was longer and straight and would curl just-so because I could make it. For the first time in my life I was happy, proud of my hair. MY HAIR?


I got so much attention, compliments about my hair that the rush from it was sometimes too much to handle. But who cares, my hair was now so beautiful. I never realized the time and maintenance that hair needed. The pain of getting up earlier to comb and style. When I was so used to wash'n' go.


Slowly but surely my hair lost its power, the attention was average at best and I was upgraded for the chick who was hooking up the lastest hairdo. My hair was a disaster, yet I struggled with it because I felt like changing it would make me less....


Less of everything, less attractive, less chance for love, less chance at success.


Then it dawned on me. This love hate relationship with my hair has to stop. How can I teach my children to be proud if I can't admit being fully proud of myself. What do I say to them?


Be proud of who you are and everything you have accomplished except maybe your hair

Why do we get embarassed, offended, even volatile when we talk about our hair? Why do we classify our hair as good or bad?

One thing is certain when I cut all my hair off I was vunerable to insensitive remarks about my lack of hair( but thats a whole other story) And for the first time in my life I had nothing to hide behind. I had to make the true me shine. There was no long silky, inky black hair but I did have some afro hair that curled just-so when wet.

As my hair grew I became obsessed. I embraced it. Fell in Love with it. Almost to a level of conceited and oft times obnoxiousness.One thing is certain today. I have a deep respect and love for this hair. In fact my commitment to its beauty as led me to immortalise it and profess its beauty to the world. In so doing, I hope that you will come to see the power that emanates from this tightly coiled kinky hair.

Lets celebrate Our Natural Hair and its Beauty!

3 comments:

  1. Natural Nana I understand Your struggls I have been there and know how peopole can be. Be proud of you hair people!

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  2. I feel U girl. I'm a new natural and I struggle with ma hair too, but I love it!

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  3. Natural Nana,

    I think that's a beautiful "obe to naturality". I relate. I love your blog. I want to see pictures of this beautiful hair.

    www.naturalhairrules.blogspot.com

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