In my quest to go natural (and it’s been a long quest, let me tell you…I’ve relapsed with a relaxer twice!), I have decided to get braids to give my hair a rest during the in between stage it goes through from relaxer to natural. I sat for almost 9 hours last week getting my hair braided in teeny tiny braids that are called micros. And while the process is long and arduous, the results are amazing and I can just get up and go without a lot of maintenance needed for my hair.
As I traveled to attend CES in Las Vegas, several women on the flight commented on my hair—the comments were pleasant and complimentary but are always followed with “how do you get your hair like that?”
This is not the first time this question has been posed to me.
As a woman of color, I have experimented with many styles. While I am at the age where I am not as wild as I used to be fashion wise, I’ve done some crazy things with my hair. Growing up in Phoenix, Arizona where there were not many little girls who looked like me at my school, I always had to explain to my friends how I got my hair to do what it did. And now that I am 35 years old, I still get that question posed to me.
Most of the time, I have patience for such inquiries. But other times, I feel like telling them, “It’s just hair. It’s not rocket science.” Of course I don’t say this but it is often what I am thinking at the time.
It seems that Caucasian women have a fascination with how we wear out hair. With the plethora of styles we rock on a daily basis, I guess it’s a no brainer—we do ALOT to our hair and it’s only natural for people not of color to be curious.
And while I don’t mind the curiosity, I do mind the condescending tone that I get from some who ask—as if I am an alien from outer space and not a human being.
I also don’t like it when our styles are adopted by other groups and not given proper credit. Bo Derek made a lot of waves in the 70’s for rocking braids with beads, a style that sisters had been wearing for years but when Bo did it, it was a fashion statement. Puhleeze!
Most recently, reality star and socialite (and now pop singer?) Kim Kardashian took a cue from Bo and wore braids, and even tweeted a picture to her followers on Twitter so they could see.
While I think Kim is a beautiful young woman, the look was not becoming.
Yes, we can do a lot with our hair. Yes, we rock braids and weaves and all kinds of styles. Weaves are not just for Black women, as I see the tracks of Paris Hilton and Britney Spears often in paparazzi shots.
After all, it’s just hair….
Photo credit for Kim Kardashian pic- BeStylistik.com
I’ve always gotten that question a lot but it has increased since I’ve started my locs. Black women IMO have always been the trend setters in hair and beauty. The versatility of our hair is amazing and it is no wonder that others are curious.
I completely understand. The first time I wore braids at my previous job, I was asked a million questions by my co workers and supervisors about braids. Throughout my life, I had never been subjected to so many questions about my hair. Yet, I was in Providence, RI, not my hometown of Los Angeles, and I was the only Black woman at my job. I brush it off realizing some people just have not been exposed to Black women and the multitude of hair personalities we have.
I have this same concern…middle school was my first time interacting with other races so I was very surprised by such questions. I just chopped my relaxer two weeks ago & though “they”aren’t asking questions, they’re staring at it like it’s purple & gold. Not even my students did that (99% are black). But if children can keep their cool even if they’re in shock, I’d like the same courtesy from adults, ya know!
I hate the “where did they get that good hair from” question & that comes from my fellow black folk. two of my nieces & my son have “good hair” & I’m always asked that question. My response, the masters of the slaves past, smdh. then they give me a blank stare hahahahah
I could write a book on this topic, but I won’t. I’ll just say “I agree”.