For many years, the media has perpetuated an image of beauty that favors Anglo-Saxon features. As a result, for years black women have coveted hair just like these icons: long, straight, beautiful. In the mimicking of an image of beauty that is not our own, natural hair has been cast to the side as a lesser entity.
There are many girls nationwide who battle issues with their body and body image. The idea that a black woman’s natural hair is “ugly” or “unkempt” only promotes self-hate and the idea that one is inadequate the way they were born. Straight hair should not be a mask to hide behind because you are ashamed of the features that life has dealt you. As a black woman, I take pride in the versatility of my hair and fully embrace my curls. I believe that by wearing my hair naturally, I am professing to the world that I am accepting of myself and do not care if society does not find me beautiful. I believe that every black girl should recognize that she was divinely crafted, head to toe. She owes neither an apology nor feeling of shame for a single kink or curl on her head.
I spoke to MU freshman Kristian Haywood to get her opinion on this age-old dilemma and she, like many women, is on the fence about the matter: "I guess my thoughts on natural hair is that if you prefer it, then that’s great. I get my hair relaxed because it is easier for me to take care of, but I do think that both natural and relaxed hair is beautiful."
Over the past few months, there has been a spike in popularity in the black community of rocking one’s natural hair. While this makes me very happy, I hope that women do not look at this a trend with an expiration date, but as a turn of events in the world of style. Take this as a chance to truly get in touch with your roots and define your own beauty, one curl at a time.
By: Luria Freeman | Image: Source
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