Diversity Rules!!
As Black women we are as diverse as the colours of the rainbow, from the myriad of brown tones that make up our skin- to the variances in our natural hair texture, from coily springs to wavy ripples that crash upon our scalps.
When we are born our hair is often one of the first things that is analysed in-depth...Granny will say she has good hair! because its lying thick and straight like an Indian's not realising that it has yet evolve and reveal its true texture, and when that happens its not so pretty anymore, her hair is not coolie! its coarse or tough.
When we are born our hair is often one of the first things that is analysed in-depth...Granny will say she has good hair! because its lying thick and straight like an Indian's not realising that it has yet evolve and reveal its true texture, and when that happens its not so pretty anymore, her hair is not coolie! its coarse or tough.
If you have ever had a cousin who was mixed and had hair that effortlessly grew from her scalp down her back, she may have been seen as the favourite or the pretty one, even as a young child you were made aware that she had good hair...without knowing it your own family can sow negative seeds in a young child's mind about her own self-image!
Negative images of Our Hair!
This type of attitude is what leads to the bad relationship many young black girls and women grow up to have with their hair, they associate good hair with straight hair or long hair...when in reality good hair is well maintained hair, no matter how kinky or coarse. We need to understand our own hair as complex as it is...whether relaxed or natural your hair can be beautiful...
Where does this negativity towards our natural hair stem from?
If you think back to primary school when your hair was thick and bouncy in its plaits, the shine from the grease glistened in the sun and your scalp reflected the grease particles like a mirror...did you love your hair? Or did you secretly yearn for the silky swinging plaits adorned by your best friends Sally-Ann or Rima Patel?
Troubled Youth- the hairy truth...?
As I analyse hair in the society in which we are in now, I realise that young black girls, I am talking about girls aged from 7 to 14 years old know more about weaves and hair pieces than they do about maintaining their natural hair. I was horrified as I stood in the supermarket queue last week and I saw two young girls no older than 7 and 9 years old with their hair relaxed and scraped up into a pony-tail with a fake hair piece attached to to it- I was actually dumb-founded as I realised this was the emerging true state of young girls of this generation.
As I analyse hair in the society in which we are in now, I realise that young black girls, I am talking about girls aged from 7 to 14 years old know more about weaves and hair pieces than they do about maintaining their natural hair. I was horrified as I stood in the supermarket queue last week and I saw two young girls no older than 7 and 9 years old with their hair relaxed and scraped up into a pony-tail with a fake hair piece attached to to it- I was actually dumb-founded as I realised this was the emerging true state of young girls of this generation.
A Pony-tail is fine for a grown woman- but not for children!...
Unbeweavable!!
To make matters worse on a recent trip to America I went into a beauty supply store to stock up on some well needed US only based hair goodies and as I browsed thorough the weave section I came across- Phony Pony for Kids! a line of hair pieces produced for young children, so not only are we as as a community ignorant to the true nature of young girls identity crisis, hair weave manufacturers are now trying to exploit this very weakness they see in our race- as they target the kids!
Get Real...
Hair is a strong part of an individuals identity so like it or not it is a very significant part of our lives. your child sees you with your hair constantly in braids, weaved up or relaxed then they will grow with the picture in their mind that is normal. If you never wear your own hair out or constantly complain about how hard it is to deal with...your child will have this view of their own hair too.
Weaves and braids are fine as long as your real hair is healthy too! We need to show a balanced view of our hair...it is good hair irrespective of our genes!
Beautiful Natural Hair...Early Impressions...matter!
The only way to impart hair confidence in your young daughter is to have confidence in your own hair. Learning to love your real hair, whether relaxed or natural is one of the greatest pearls of wisdom you can pass on to your impressionable child. If we never knew about weaves- this would be the only option. I am no weave-basher, as I wear them myself!
However, if mum loves her natural hair- daughter will too. Its that simple. Well maybe not but it is a start!
As one of the most important role models in your daughters life its important to let her understand- her natural hair is not to be grown merely to become an anchor for a silky weave or braids, no matter how much Beyonce swings her long mane of hair back and forth in her videos...she knows and we know its not real!
Black is beautiful and that extends to our hair too...your child needs to know she can have long natural hair when it is nurtured with the right type of products and TLC...Being black has never been easy!
The only way to impart hair confidence in your young daughter is to have confidence in your own hair. Learning to love your real hair, whether relaxed or natural is one of the greatest pearls of wisdom you can pass on to your impressionable child. If we never knew about weaves- this would be the only option. I am no weave-basher, as I wear them myself!
However, if mum loves her natural hair- daughter will too. Its that simple. Well maybe not but it is a start!
As one of the most important role models in your daughters life its important to let her understand- her natural hair is not to be grown merely to become an anchor for a silky weave or braids, no matter how much Beyonce swings her long mane of hair back and forth in her videos...she knows and we know its not real!
Black is beautiful and that extends to our hair too...your child needs to know she can have long natural hair when it is nurtured with the right type of products and TLC...Being black has never been easy!
Next Post: Do you have a hair care regime? and the importance of one...
1 comment:
I found this blog entry while researching to find out if it is wise and possible to weave human hair into hand spun wool. It's genius! I'm not black and I have no idea how to take care of black hair but I was raised with my hair in curlers, ties in rags, anchored to a curling iron or permed, permed, permed and permed again un til it was dry breaking and burned off! My mom hated her straight hair and mine too! I put and end to it when my hair fell out and wouldn't let her have her way with my hair ever again. I was 13. When I was 17 my hair was long, beautiful and natural again and I was teaching my mom how to get hers back to natural. What a beautiful color it was. I never knew and she'd totally forgotten. We live in a society where our girls are convinced that everything they are is wrong and it must be fixed. Teens get nose jobs and breast implants. Little girls are wearing make up and dress trashy. Why not fake hair too? What's the point of taking care of your hair when you can wear fake hair? It's sad. How are our little girls ever going to learn to appreciate who and what they are? Your words are true. Beginning with our crowning mantle, natural is best. I really loved reading this blog.
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