All little Black girls know the importance of getting their hair done. It has to be styled ever so correctly, or they run the risk of being teased in school and online. Other parents will say things like “Her Mother should be ashamed of herself for not doing her hair!” What is considered doing a little girls hair? Kids will call them ugly, nappy head, etc. Most people find that braids, ponytails (with straightened hair), or in a wrap. Just think about the comments made about Blue Ivy’s hair. This pressure of what your hair has to look like increases tremendously as an adult with different trends and styles being deemed appropriate. It’s constant hair buying, weaving, pulling, braiding, dying, perming, pressing, washing, blow drying, sewing and REPEAT!
Hair pretty much controls the lives of Black women. I started getting perms at the tender age of 7, and I didn’t stop getting them until I was 26 years old. I had a long weave wearing era for about 3 years straight. I had no idea what my natural hair texture looked or felt like until I decided to take my weave out to wear my natural hair. I remember attempting to go without a perm while wearing my hair in a wrap previously. Two different hair stylists suggested that I get my hair permed. They weren’t interested in pressing or silking my hair. Looking back it makes me realize they really knew nothing about hair either. Even though pressing and silking are better options than perms, if you want your hair straightened it still can be harmful to your scalp and hair. The excessive heat makes it damaging to your scalp and can cause heat damage to your hair. For example: If you wash your hair and it doesn’t curl or draw up to whatever your natural texture is, you have heat damage.
HEALTH AFFECTS
People love to make jokes about women not having hair around the edges, or that some women take their weaves out and don’t have any hair. It seems no one ever thinks that it could possibly be a health issue called Traction Alopecia. Many hair stylists are just stylists. They style your hair but don’t specialize in healthy hair care, and may not recognize alarming hair loss or what to suggest to a client losing hair. Many weave wearers don’t consider losing hair after removing weaves as a health problem. Traction Alopecia is caused by inflammation of the follicle when hair is being pulled too tight for too long (Augh, Crystal assistant Professor of Dermatology). So, even if you are wearing a protective style such as braids, weaves, or wigs you are still at risk for Traction Alopecia because your natural hair is braided up tightly underneath. Traction Alopecia is the most common type of Alopecia in the Black community.
KNOW THE SIGNS
Hair loss happens in stages. When your scalp hurts and you get those small white bumps where your hair and scalp have been pulled tightly, that’s the first sign. Those bumps are called traction folliculitis. If not addressed and loosened, the hair begins to thin (Traction Alopecia). Traction Alopecia can be reversed with treatment from a dermatologist (Augh, Crystal assistant Professor of Dermatology).
If the hair follicles are never treated and are repeatedly in a stressful state, the scalp and hair will be permanently scarred, which turns into Scarring Alopecia. Scarring Alopecia is when the scalp and hair have been damaged and the hair stops growing indefinitely. A dermatologist stated that braids, weaves, and wigs have been embedded in our culture so deeply that many women think their hair loss is hereditary (Augh, Crystal assistant Professor of Dermatology).
I’M NOT SAYING YOU CANT WEAR YOUR WEAVES AND WIGS
You can still wear your weaves and wigs safely. Don’t get your hair braided so tightly when wearing wigs and weaves. If you wear your weaves and wigs for a month wear your hair just as long so it has time to breathe. Naturally curly hair is more fragile than straight hair due to the bends in the curls, so do your best to keep it moisturized. Get to know your natural hair so you know how to maintain it on your weeks or months off from weaves and wigs. If you don’t know what your hair can sustain, you will never truly know when it’s in a bad health state. Research your hair type and safe products such as shampoos, conditioners, oils, and moisturizers to use. Youtube is a great source for that type of hair information.
Black women have been sold on the idea of straight hair being beautiful, more desirable, neat, and appropriate that they have neglected to view themselves as beautiful with the hair that grows from their own heads. Straight hair isn’t any more or less beautiful than curly, kinky, or coarse hair. I once read a Facebook post from a Black woman that was trying a twist out for the first time on her hair. She posted “If I look like an African when I untwist my hair I’m taking this down lol.” The fact that she doesn’t know that she is African and afraid of how she’ll look with a hairstyle that isn’t the norm for Black women was alarming, sad, and a huge self-esteem issue.
BOTTOM LINE
I’m tired of being controlled by hair! I decided to alternate my hair styles with whatever suites me for that day. If I want to wear a head wrap, my hair in an afro puff ponytail, a twist out, or a wig that’s what Im going to do, and I couldn’t care less about who finds it attractive or distasteful. When Solange shaved her head many moons ago, I totally understood why it was so important for her to display that message of freedom. I salute all women that were brave enough to cut their hair off!
If you don’t find yourself as beautiful or attractive without all the extras, maybe you should take some time to build your confidence. I know hair is important and change is difficult, but it’s worth the challenge!
Free yourself from fake beauty standards.