Showing posts with label black afro hair care. Show all posts
Showing posts with label black afro hair care. Show all posts

Monday, 15 April 2013

The "Politics" of Natural Hair & Self-Entitlement



Photo credit: Viqi French / Foter.com / CC BY-NC

Going natural is a big deal for many of us. Although something as simple as wearing your own hair the way it was from birth shouldn't be a noteworthy event--as black (mostly diasporic African-descended) women it is too often a difficult lifestyle (not hairstyle) choice, a heavy burden, and a symbolic gesture. It can be a scary but liberating experience for many of us.

After alternating between braid extensions and relaxer, I made the decision by my final year of high school to transition to natural. This was before I knew going natural or even the term "transitioning" was a thing. The biggest challenge in going natural for me was my personal shyness and the fear that others would judge me and/or ask stupid questions.