Has Your Hair Gone To Your Head?
The list of differences people create to divide one another is seemingly endless these days. For woman of colour, much of this debate is centered around hair.
Hair that is either “processed” vs “unprocessed”, or simply “natural” vs “nonnatural” has become a hairy debate to say the least, one with good, bad and ugly facets. Before diving further into the complexities of hair among women of colour, it is important to note that hair is not just a
question of aesthetics — hair played a central role throughout the bitter history of colonization and slavery. Even more telling, around the globe, hairstyles were used to determine one’s tribe, wealth, rank, age and marital status.
For us, women of colour, our hair is laden with meaning. So easily does it lead to us being rejected or being accepted within a community, class, job or circle. I am not disregarding these fact, however my
point here is hair is hair and most importantly, it’s yours. What’s the fun in having it if you don’t switch it up every now and then to your liking?
Recently in the United States, this hairy revolution has created hostility between “natural” and “nonnatural” ladies. Many women of colour have kissed their relaxer and weaves goodbye, while others have chosen still to relax or weave their hair. Some radical supporters of the
natural hair movement, commonly known as The Hair Police, have gone a little nutty, stating that women who chemically alter their hair are complying with “eurocentric beauty standards.”. Some have gone as far as accusing their relaxed or weaved counterparts of having a “slave mentality”… Correct me if I am wrong, but last time I checked, everyone is
entitled to have their preferences. The way one styles their hair should be a manifestation of their uniqueness and individuality.
Personally, my hair has gone through hell and back — I have worn it permed, braided, Afro, curly, weaved, straightened, blowdried, Senegalese twists… you name it, I’ve done it. I won’t lie, I’ve judged and also been judged. We all have. But I’ve come to the conclusion that sporting an Afro doesn’t make you more true to your “roots” and relaxing your hair doesn’t make you a selfhating women of colour.
For centuries, women of colour have been told that their hair in its natural state isn’t good enough. But why are these thoughts still perpetuated, by both women of colour and others alike? It infuriates me that
we keep such archaic and demeaning terms to define our appearance, and even more sour identities. It doesn’t matter whether it’s chemically processed, braided, blowdried or in its natural state: good hair is hair that makes you feel beautiful.
There has to be a safe space for choice. This is not to say that there is no space left for radical voices and perspectives, rather that we are at a point in our day and age where we have the right to command authority on our looks and bodies, and make choices that suit us best.
Our hair is just another aspect of who we are and shouldn’t be used to define or determine the type of women we are. Saying someone’s hair is “fake” or “nappy” is just one more way of imposing an ideology of there
being such a thing as ‘good hair’. Our hairstyle doesn’t determine our character.
If hair was once a symbol of resistance, today it should be a ode to your individuality. As India Arie says it’s not what’s on your head that counts; it’s what’s underneath.”
