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My hair looks crazy, and I look jacked. It’s been this way for about 2 months now. I’m a broke, possibly unemployed (a whole different story) newly-wed in a new town. This town, while I like it, doesn’t exactly cater to my culture. I think I saw 2 home perm kits in the local beauty supply... Anyway, for about 2 months my hair has been unkempt. Most of the black woman reading this will probably gasp. 2 months?!? They can imagine. For those who can’t, I’ve provided a visual. Now, keep in mind I'm a newly wed, and I want to look nice for my husband when he comes home.
Sitting at home I’ve been fighting with the dry damaged chards. I am not good at doing my own hair. Most often it’s my poor husband who is the innocent bystander. He’s still so blinded by love he says I’m beautiful even when my hair is a hot mess. About 3 weeks ago, while looking at what my life had become, I started to recall when I was full of lively hope in possibilities. What I recalled was me when I was fresh out of high school. I had good self confidence back then; my view that my body was a temple. I watched what I ate (I was a vegetarian for over 4 years), exercised, and kept chemicals away from my hair. I looked good too. At least I thought so.
My hair was fro’ed. My mother hated it. I wanted locs, which my father called "dread locks". He forbade it. But I kept my fro.
Now, looking at finances, and trying to moving back to the time in my life that I believed in possibilities, I want to go natural again. I point out every head of beautiful locs, or spiral curls, I see on the street. In one of my normally calls to my mother, I told her I was going back natural.
“I didn’t like it. It made you look ugly.”
How’d I know she’d respond like that? What if they knew I really want long beautiful locs? My father might actually have a stroke, he hates them that much.
Why is it that older black people have this horrible view of natural hair? Actually I’m wondering, is it just the older generation, or has it stretched down to current views? I can’t even find a good amount of resources on or off-line about natural hairstyles and hair care; when I do t
he hair styles often have a lots of models whose hair isn't really representative of the typical black woman's head of hair. It seems as if it isn’t a certain texture, or length, it’s just not accepted as "natural beauty".
I did find a salon that specializes in natural hair care--but god, it’s like 90 minutes away!
My husband even said he’d be OK with me loc’in my hair, but…how would people look at me…
When is a black woman’s hair NOT going to be about society, politics, and status? Is it me, or is natural black beauty being snubbed? Am I going to have to throw on gloves for the battle royal just to do what I want with my own hair?
NOTE: This article is from my main blog "Yoli Dreams". Please check out my blog. I'll rerturn the favor! Also, always looking to swap links with similar blogs, just email me!
