Wearing my Natural hair is something that I struggled with for many years, and I’m certainly not alone. Whether sporting protective styles, wearing it curly or straight. The options are endless for those with curls, kinks and coils. That’s what makes our hair so beautiful and unique. But many of us grapple with our natural hair nonetheless.
It’s been a long time coming and I finally took the plunge. I sported my natural hair for the first time on the air. For the record, I don’t count the years I wore my hair relaxed at the beginning of my career. There is just no comparison.
Natural Hair Movement
Curls, kinks and coils have become a movement over the last decade. Many women have chosen to embrace their roots. Some have taken to social media to share their natural hair journey (myself included) and provide hair care tips to those who have chosen to embark on this new path. That’s part of the reason why I decided to ditch the relaxer in February 2012. After dealing with postpartum hair loss and chemical damage, it was time. I did the big chop and never looked back.
With the help of protective styles and wigs, my hair has been able to flourish over the years. But there were some bumps along the way, including the second time my hair fell out after giving birth to my son. I guess that’s why it’s called a hair journey because it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Despite setbacks, my struggling 4c kinky hair eventually transformed into a healthy mane. I once suffered from hair envy, now I’m proud of my texture and ready to rock the kinks. But, it’s taken me a long time to get to this point.
History of Black Hair and Relaxers
Black hair has a deep rooted history. It wasn’t always celebrated. This dates back to slavery, which formulated a European standard of beauty that has carried on for centuries. It’s the reason why black women began getting relaxers. Straight hair allowed them to conform to their white counterparts.
According to published reports, the hair relaxer was developed by Garrett Augustus Morgan in the 1900s. The African American inventor had a tailoring shop and stumbled upon the straightening cream when he was trying to figure out how to stop friction between two sewing machines. He initially tested the chemical on a dog’s curly fur and noticed how the cream altered the hairs on the animal. Morgan followed up with a self test and the rest is history.
He established the G.A. Morgan Hair Refining Company in 1913 and began selling this groundbreaking product to black people across the country, claiming the product will “improve your appearance.”
Over a century later, many of us have finally reached the point where we can accept our crown. Even though natural is in, there’s still that notion that the looser the curl pattern the prettier the texture. But in reality, good hair is healthy hair no matter how curly or kinky it is.
Unfortunately, there are still some who struggle with that and I think it has a lot to do with the history of black hair. When I told a family member that I planned to wear my hair natural on-air, the response was “leave well alone.” Although wigs are a great protective style choice, that was her way of saying wearing straight hair is the more accepted option.
I was a bit disappointed at first, but soon realized that her feelings come from the stigma that’s associated with our hair. That’s how society has conditioned our minds. Therefore, I really don’t harbor any bad feelings to those who share that sentiment. I can’t change what people may say or how they might feel. But, I am in control of me and the message I want to deliver.
My Message to other Naturals
My message begins with my children. When my then three-year-old said that she wanted straight hair like one of her classmates, I made a promise to teach her to love her curls. From that moment, we began doing hair tutorials on YouTube to demonstrate the beauty and versatility of her curls.
Educating my biracial children about embracing their hair and knowing their identity is something I take seriously. The same rings true for other black and brown kids, and women who struggle with accepting their natural curls. As I have found strength in other naturals, It’s only right that I pay it forward.
The Future of Black Hair
We still have a ways to go, but the future looks bright for naturally curly hair. Most recently, The CROWN Act, which stands for “Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair,” is a law that prohibits discrimination based on hair style and hair texture.
First introduced in California in January 2019, The CROWN Act expanded the definition of race in the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and Education Code, to ensure protection in workplaces and in K-12 public and charter schools. The inaugural CROWN Act was signed into law by Governor Newsom in California on July 3rd and went into effect January 1, 2020. Other states including New York, New Jersey, Virginia and Colorado followed suit. To date, more than 20 states are considering the CROWN Act and have either pre-filed, filed or formally stated an intent to introduce their own anti-hair discrimination bills.
Wearing My Natural Hair from Now on?
So when it comes to wearing my natural hair, I’ll continue to do so with pride. Focusing on the overall health of my hair is my goal. Please join me in celebrating our crown. I’ll also keep posting natural hair updates on my WeatherAnchorMama YouTube channel. Don’t forget to subscribe.
