Embracing Your Natural Hair
I grew up embarrassed by my hair. I grew up believing “good hair” was straight hair.
My big hair made me stand out among my friends in suburban Ohio. I hated the “you have so much hair” comments.
I hated feeling different. I didn’t grow up with friends who had hair like mine. My hair didn’t fit the norms around me. Black and white salon’s only solution then was to straighten it. {click through to see me with straight hair}
I used to cut my hair in the shower to avoid going to the hair salon.
I did whatever I could to “contain” my mane. I wore the tightest ponytails or side braids. Seeing my hair “out” natural was a rare sighting for roommates or Ryan. I straightened it for special occasions like my birthday, school dances or graduation.
It’s hard to look back and admit that I only felt beautiful with straight hair. However, the 5 hours it took to straighten for one weekend was never worth it. Straight hair gave me the “Cinderella” effect. A perfect me for one night.
My mother never let me get a relaxer because of the damage it did on her hair. I thank her for this because it forced me to see the beauty of my curls.
I embraced my curls during Ryan’s first deployment in 2017 (I was 28). I spent hours watching YouTube videos. I bought so many hair products—most of them wrong. I studied my hair & my curl pattern showed up.
It became my form of artistic expression every time I did my hair. It became something I was proud of & not something to “deal with.”
Seeing other Black and mixed women embracing their curls, helped me stop hiding behind an uncomfortable ponytail.
Good hair, is your hair, no matter if it’s straight, curly, thin or thick. Don’t let trying to fit in hold you back from seeing your beauty.
