Team Cream or Pro Fro

I am not my hair

I am not this skin

I am not your expectations no no

I am not my hair

I am not this skin

I am a soul that lives within

I was inspired to write this blog after watching a new clip of a reporter revealing her natural hair on television and becoming emotional detailing what it meant for her and thanking the people who supported her. click here for video


What is hair? What does it represent? Why do some people feel brand new when they step out of the salon? Are we to attached to our hair? If we don't go natural does that mean we're anti black or conformed to the white man's definition of beauty? If we have natural hair does that mean we are rebels? Those questions can only be answered by you as an individual.

As a black woman I have many memories surrounding hair. My hair, my mom's hair, my aunt's hair, even my brother's hair. Hair tells a story, don't believe me....think of how you can look at a hairstyle and pinpoint what time period the picture was taken or how you can look at your past hairstyles and immediately begin to laugh as you remember what made you choose the style or what you were thinking that day. Some hairstyles have a distinct smell; think jheri curl, press, perm.

The earliest memories I have as a child surrounding hair include having times where my mom would put my hair in a ponytail at the back of my head and I would scream out "I don't like it, i'm a boy, i don't want to be a boy." I also remember going with my mom to get her jheri curl and being there all day, or so it seemed. I remember the same stylist blowing my face as she got close to my edges with the pressing comb, "don't move baby it won't burn that's just the steam."  As an adult when i'm feeling out of it a fresh hairstyle can change my mood. I want to dress better, i feel more confident, i'm more opt to take photos.

In the past few years there has been an increase in the number of women who are declaring themselves "natural". For those who don't know being natural implies that the person is no longer relaxing her hair or using chemicals on her hair in desire to wear it in it's natural state. With the increase in people going natural I have struggled with the decision of whether or not to take the journey, what it meant to me or if I was just following the trend. I have embarked upon it twice and to to date I have had great experiences with both sides of the spectrum. Is one better than the other....well that's a matter of opinion

Regardless of the answers, having women in society displaying both choices sets a good example for our children. As the mother of a young daughter I take it very serious that I talk with her about her hair. It is my duty to make sure I am showing her she can be beautiful whether she chooses to wear it loose and curly with a headband, cornrows with barrettes or in flat ironed pony tails with ribbons.

You see it's about more than hairstyles, relaxers, afros and locs. It's about teaching our children that whatever they choose they are beautiful. It's about empowering our children that they have choices. For a child to be mandated to restyle their hair or be expelled is preposterous. With our education system in it's current state do we not have other areas to address.

My brother once asked me a question that I would like to ask you: What if First Lady Michelle Obama had an afro or locs, blonde hair or microbraids...how do you think the world would respond to her? (please leave comments below)