Hair Stories #3
Edith(ed)
Her name was Edith. She just came in through our door one day with this massive backpack. It was almost like she’d come to London directly from Latin America, where she’d just spent a few months. I noticed her flat-ironed hair but didn’t say anything about it, of course. Now that would’ve been rude. The next thing I know she’s washing her hair with my shampoo. Couldn’t help it, could I? In my defence, she did ask for my advice in the first place. But oh how I love taking over someone’s hair routine. Mouhahaha! The most rewarding thing about all of this is when someone rediscovers themselves with their natural hair. Peer pressure is such an infuriating thing. How is it that society defines curly hair as ‘unprofessional’ and ‘distracting’? Do you see anyone complaining about their bald colleague’s funny-shaped head? After drying her hair, she couldn’t stop looking at herself in the mirror. It was such a big change. Almost too much for her to bear. « I can’t go out with my hair looking like this », she said. It’s okay to be afraid of change and to be concerned of what others might think, especially when you’ve been straightening your hair for years. My advice to Edith, however, was the following: be bold!
