Lets face it; hair is a major part
of our culture. If you were like
me, you probably grew up getting a relaxer or your hair pressed, and sometimes
even both. I’m sure most of you remember holding your ears so that grandma
wouldn’t burn them while gliding that piping hot metal comb that she just got off
the stove through your hair. Or
having to let your mom know as soon as you started to feel the burn of your
chemical relaxer. I was the
pressing comb kid myself. One time
I begged my mom for a relaxer for weeks before she finally gave in, allowing my
grandma to do the honors. I was cute for about a month and then my hair broke
off. So that was my first and last relaxer!
Who decided that a black woman making her hair look more like
a Caucasian woman’s hair was beautiful? More importantly who decided that her
natural hair, the way it grows from her scalp was not? I think that most would agree that this
issue is deep routed and goes back to days of black assimilation into the
prevailing Caucasian society. Now don’t get me wrong. I am a sucker for beach
waves and a bone straight, flat ironed look. I am all for changing it up and
having fun. And I will be the
first to say that a woman’s hair is her “ glory”. I am clearly having a love affair
with mine! I want it to look
beautiful just like any other woman. But, the concern I have is the lengths we will take to
make our hair conform to an unrealistic image. The damage we do to ourselves in the name of beauty is
so ludicrous. Besides, what is more
beautiful than a woman in her natural state, loving the skin she is in and
exuding confidence?
I believe that true beauty starts
with good health. Someone with
glowing, radiant skin more than likely has a healthy regimen that goes beyond a
good skin cream. The same goes for
hair. A healthy routine will yield
a healthy head of hair. A good rule of thumb is that, if you wouldn’t put it in
your body or on your skin, then you probably don’t want to put it on your
hair. You wouldn’t take a hot comb,
flat iron or relaxer and put it on your skin for obvious reasons. Yeah that
sounds ridiculous, but it’s just as harmful to your hair. There is nothing
attractive about heat damage, chemical burns, and broken off hair/edges. So
ladies if you want to have beautiful hair, you have to take care it. Show your hair love and it WILL show you love back!
Yours truly,
Naturally Quinn
