Coyote Chronicle CSUSB

The Independent Student Voice of CSUSB Since 1965

Black women should embrace their hair

by 362 Comments

By Essence Dennis |Staff Writer|

download (1)Black women should be proud of their natural hair and should not feel compelled, forced, or shamed into altering their hair to fit what they believe is “the norm.”

Two-strand twists, box braids, bantu knots — these are some of the things that African-American women can do with their natural hair but society has numerous negative notions that black hair is unkempt, dirty, and unprofessional.

“Black women get crap for their hair about everything. If they wear it in braids, weaves, or cut it off, there is always someone that has to say something. Just let her live,” said fourth-year Celeste Youngblood.

In my opinion, learning to love natural hair for black women is something that must be learned.
We are taught as children that convenience is key, meaning styles that are easy to manage like perms or braids.

Perms are a way of chemically straightening curly hair in order for the hair to be seen as more manageable.

Braids are simple and can be worn for long periods of time to give the hair a break from manipulation.

I’ve worn both hairstyles and have experienced what each has done for me but ultimately, I went back to my natural hair instead of dealing with a chemically-altered hair texture.

This article is not about bashing women with relaxed or permed hair.

Black women, from a small age, are shown images of people on television with bone straight hair and grow up believing that having straight hair is the “norm” and anything different is seen as “unkempt.”

download (3) “[Celebrities are] really good exposure for people who want to become natural. It shows you that you don’t have to conform to the world’s ideas of beauty,” said fourth-year student Jasmine Tindull.

“Solange and Zendaya rock [the natural look],” said Tindull, which is a big deal seeing as how much of a negative stigma comes with having natural hair.

An article published by InTouch Magazine spewed negative remarks at Solange Knowles’s natural hair, saying it looked “like a dog’s mane,” according to bustle.com.

A more recent example involved actress Zendaya Coleman’s hair, and TV personality Giuliana Rancic claiming the young woman and her natural hair “smelled of patchouli and oil,” according to elle.com.

Many micro-racist comments have been made on black women’s natural hair since the dawn of time and a lot of women immersed in the black hair community know this struggle all too well.

With comments and questions like “How often do you wash your hair? And what are you mixed with?” all the way to questioning if it’s really their hair are some questions both Tindull and Youngblood and many more natural-haired women have had to deal with.

I decided to go back to my natural state of hair when I realized my hair was breaking off from relaxers and clip-ins.

I was tired of altering my hair and doing long-term damage to it instead of embracing the curls that are now two years prevalent atop my head.

“It’s not just your hair that changes, you change mentally to have natural hair,” said Tindull.

I’ve learned to fully embrace myself since the switch and hope that many more young black girls learn to love themselves and their hair without fear of rejection from society.

 

 

Reader Interactions

Comments

  5. Thanks for ones marvelous posting! I actually enjoyed reading it,you happen to be a great author. I will always bookmark your blog and will often come back someday.I want to encourage one to continue your great writing, have anice evening!

    Reply

  30. Heya i’m for the first time here. I came across this board and I to find It truly useful & it helped me out much. I’m hoping to offer one thing back and aid others such as you helped me.

    Reply

  91. Ich werde sofort Ihren rss-Feed abrufen, da ich Ihren email-Abonnementlink oder newsletter nicht finden kann Service. Hast du welche? Bitte lassen Sie es mich wissen, damit ich mich anmelden kann. Vielen Dank.

    Reply

  118. you are in point of fact a excellent webmaster.
    The site loading speed is amazing. It seems that you’re doing any distinctive trick.
    Moreover, The contents are masterpiece. you have done a excellent activity on this topic!

    Reply

  125. Have you ever heard of second life (sl for short). It is basically a online game where you can do anything you want. sl is literally my second life (pun intended lol). If you would like to see more you can see these second life authors and blogs

    Reply

  134. Nice post. I used to be checking continuously this blog and I’m inspired!Extremely useful info specially the ultimate section :) I take care of such info a lot. I was looking for this certain information for a very long time.Thanks and good luck.

    Reply

  138. Hello! I could have sworn Iíve been to your blog before but after looking at many of the posts I realized itís new to me. Anyways, Iím certainly pleased I stumbled upon it and Iíll be bookmarking it and checking back frequently!

    Reply

  143. Very nice info and straight to the point. I don at know if this is actually the best place to ask but do you people have any ideea where to employ some professional writers? Thank you

    Reply

  156. bless you with regard to the particular blog post ive really been looking with regard to this kind of advice on the net for sum time these days hence with thanksType Beat

    Reply

  157. I like the helpful information you supply in your articles. I’ll bookmark your blog and test once more right here frequently. I am slightly sure I will learn many new stuff right here! Good luck for the next!

    Reply

  171. I loved as much as you will receive carried out right here. The sketch is attractive, your authored material stylish. nonetheless, you command get bought an impatience over that you wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come further formerly again as exactly the same nearly a lot often inside case you shield this hike.

    Reply

  187. Great post. I was checking continuously this blog and I’m impressed!Very helpful information specifically the last part I care forsuch information much. I was looking for this certain information for a long time.Thank you and best of luck.

    Reply

  198. Your extremely possess motivation to obtaining the message during came being instead effective and possess persistently enabled staff the same as me to arrive at their wanted aims.

    Reply

  221. I am really impressed with your writing skills as well as with thelayout on your blog. Is this a paid theme or did you modify it yourself?Anyway keep up the excellent quality writing, it’s rare to see a great blog likethis one today.

    Reply

  222. I’m truly enjoying the design and layout of your blog. It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more pleasant for me to come here and visit more often. Did you hire out a designer to create your theme? Superb work!

    Reply

  223. แต่ก่อนจะแทงบอลคราวจำต้องไปโต๊ะบอลแต่ในขณะนี้พ้นสมัยแล้วครับ เนื่องจากอยากพนันบอลก็ทำเป็นเลยเพียงแค่ปลายนิ้วก็แค่เข้ามาที่ UFABET การพนันบอลก็จะง่ายสำหรับคุณ เว็บไซต์ของเรามีให้บริการพนันบอลออนไลน์แบบครบทุกแบบ

    Reply

  227. Hi my friend! I want to say that this post is amazing, nice written and include approximately all significant infos. I’d like to see more posts like this.

    Reply

  233. I do not even know the way I finished up right here, howeverI assumed this post was good. I do not know who you’re but certainly you aregoing to a well-known blogger should you are not already.Cheers!

    Reply

  252. great post, very informative. I’m wondering why the other experts of this sector don’t realize this. You must proceed your writing. I am confident, you have a huge readers’ base already!

    Reply

  254. Thanks, I’ve just been looking for info approximately this subject for ages and yours is the greatest I have came upon till now. However, what concerning the conclusion? Are you sure concerning the source?

    Reply

  282. I am curious to find out what blog system you have been utilizing? I’m experiencing some small security problems with my latest blog and I would like to find something more risk-free. Do you have any solutions?

    Reply

  316. Woah this blog is wonderful i love reading your articles. Stay up the good work! You already know, many individuals are looking round for this information, you could help them greatly.

    Reply

  330. 955574 363489Greetings! Quick question thats completely off subject. Do you know how to make your website mobile friendly? My web site looks weird when browsing from my apple iphone. Im trying to locate a template or plugin that might be able to correct this problem. Should you have any suggestions, please share. With thanks! 790712

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.