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It’s #ThrowBackThursday so I’m taking a look back on my hair journey.
In 2012, Dana Oliver, the Senior Beauty Editor of the Huffington Post commissioned me to write an essay about why I decided to wear my hair natural while working as a television reporter. I was pleased to get the assignment since my career aspirations were the very reason I struggled with re-embracing my kinky hair after wearing it straight for a number of years. As I stated in the piece, there aren’t many black women sporting their natural tresses on television. So I wrote the story straight from the heart, leaving nothing out. I didn’t expect all the feedback that came afterwards. I was pleased to find out that it made the website’s front page of the beauty section. I also received several emails and tweets from other women going through similar struggles, well wishes from people who understood, and some my favorite websites and news outlet re-posted my story.
As I take a look back at my hair journey for #ThrowBackThursday, I realize how much I’ve grown since I wrote that piece. For starters, my career aspirations have evolved a great deal. I’m no longer waiting to be discovered as “on-air talent” by a major news station. I’ve made the decision to work towards cultivating a more diverse career path that honors all of my talents. Also, I don’t see my hair as this external part of myself. In other words, I’m not #teamnatural or “team” anything for that matter. I’m simply me.
Here’s an exert:
For the second time in my life, I’ve chosen to wear my hair in its natural kinky state. It was an easy decision the first time. Back in 2001, I was going through a phase of finally embracing my round face, high cheekbones and mahogany complexion. Ridding myself of my straight, chemically-processed hair typically associated with society’s standard of beauty was a way of celebrating my newfound self-love. Plus, it helped that artists like Lauryn Hill and India Arie were proudly sporting their natural tresses at the time, making it a popular trend among black women. It became the “thing” to do.
But after five years of rocking Afros, twists and braids I started relaxing my hair again. I was comfortable with my kink, but tired of all the work it took to maintain it. So, I fell back into relaxers, bone straight bobs, flat irons, wigs and extensions.
Then late last year, it happened: My hair started falling out.
Read the full story and see a photo slide show of my hair journey HERE.
