The Hair Has Spoken (Part II of "The Hair Chronicles")

Remember that post I wrote yesterday?  The one about my "new hair" & trying to figure out what to do next?  Well, it has become a non-issue, because my hair decided for me.  Around 2 this morning, I looked in the mirror, and all I could do was stare...

and then burst out laughing.  My hair had curled up again at the roots (also known as "going home", "going back", or "reverting"), and the ends were still straight.  I looked a mess. Like my hair just said "To heck with this nonsense!" and decided to do what it wanted to do.  I can't even argue - why fight it?  So...I've decided to trim off the rest of the part that I colored back in the spring, keep it well-conditioned, and let it do what makes it happy.

Since I've been talking so much about hair, I feel compelled to say that hair has traditionally been a big issue for black women.  For a long time (and even now in many places), it was seen as unprofessional, unkempt, and unacceptable for us to wear our hair "natural".  I got my hair "pressed" (straightened with a hot comb) for special occasions when I was a child, but I first started relaxing (chemically straightening) my hair when I was about 13 - it was like a rite of passage.  It never felt quite right to me, and I hated the chemicals, but it was what was expected.  When I really got tired of it (at the age of 26), I shaved my head so that I could gradually learn to care for the natural texture of my hair, which I hadn't seen in 13 years.  People thought I was crazy, but I had to do it.  In a place where we all expect freedom, HAVING to straighten my hair when I really didn't want to felt oppressive. 

In the years since then, I have grown it back, worn dreadlocks, shaved them off, worn a short curly 'fro, and grown it back again.   I have had many black women (and girls) approach me about how to gain the courage to wear their hair natural, and numerous discussions about how/ if it would adversely affect my working in Hollywood.  It was a chance I had to take.

So, when I went to the hair salon the other day & let them style it whatever way was gonna make it "easy", I did have to think about what effect this would have on people who have told me that I helped them to "go natural".  My answer?  "I want everyone to be free to be who they are, and I need a change."

Apparently that "change" will not be a texture change, lol.  The hair has spoken.  Next!

I am $110 lighter in the pockets for this experience (the cost of a shampoo, deep conditioning, trim, wet-set, blow out, and style), but at least I didn't go out & get new headshots!!  My grandmother used to say "Bought sense is the best kind." because you don't easily forget a lesson that you've had to pay for.

Thanks so much to everyone who gave me advice & suggestions.

Still a curly girl, and embracing it,

--Nicole J. Butler