My Curly Hair Was Holding Me Back at Work

When I first went natural I was terrified of going out into the world with my new hair. It was my own hair but there was no straightening, wig, or weave to cover my curly texture. It was just me. I was received with welcome arms from most, but I did notice the silent stares by others. Despite that, I can honestly say I was treated no differently. Then, I switched jobs and it was like going from day to night. My immediate supervisor (who did not hire me, by the way) made it known that she … [Read more...]


Reclaiming the Word “Nappy”

[by Sabrina] Nappy was never a word you wanted to hear or be associated with when I was growing up. I’m a part of Generation X, the latch-key kids, Atari players, the generation after the baby boomers. If you were born between 1965 and 1980, you are a part of Generation X. It’s safe to say that as a black child in this generation, your hair was either pressed or relaxed. Having natural hair (or what we called nappy hair) was unacceptable and made you an easy prey for ridicule. There was no … [Read more...]


10 Ways to Respond to Negative Hair Comments

Although the natural hair movement is receiving widespread attention, it is not being accepted by all. Some have averse feelings and claim it to be unprofessional and unaesthetic. Descriptions like “nappy” are still being referenced, and while some are reclaiming it, others still associate the word with its original negative connotation, which tends to be further reinforced by the nuance of the speakers. It meant our hair wasn’t up to par with beauty standard and therefore unacceptable. It … [Read more...]


"I’m Not Militant, I’m Just Natural"

by Kenda Why is it that a Black woman wearing their hair in its natural state a shock or a political statement? Who decided this? The natural hair of any Black woman is not a fad or a movement or a political stance. It is just simply her hair. Our hair is glorious. The only statement we are making is that we love our hair in its natural state. My statement today about my hair may be drastically different tomorrow. That is the great thing about our natural hair: it has great versatility. There … [Read more...]


Are afros alternative?

It honestly depends on whom you ask and what their personal reflection of the word ‘alternative’ symbolizes to them. Whether one is talking about a subculture of the Natural Hair Movement (NHM) or merely a trend, there is an image that you can form in your mind on what an afro means in 2014. An afro is defined as two things: 1) a style where thick, curly hair erects around the head and 2) a natural hairstyle of black people.  I prefer the New York Times’ definition when discussing Dante De … [Read more...]