Jet Black, Wavy, Indian, Puffy, Braided, Ribboned, Beaded, Baubbled, Kinky, Mickey Moused, Princess Leiaed, Whiplash, Jungle Bunny, Nappy, Dry, Pencil Troll, Farina, Nigga Naps, Burnt, Pressed, Fried, Muscle Failure, Thin, Long, Fake, Janet, Brown, Inappropriate, GI Jane, Teeny Weeny Afro, Twists, Dreads, Sun-Drenched, Reddy-Brown, Life Affirming, Awe-Inspiring, Queen, Gorgeous, Relief, Fast Growing, Authentic, Strong, Versatile, Fun, Spiraly, Wind-Catcher, Sexy, Prayer Beads, Pride, Possibility!
As a black teenager on Long Island my hair meant many things to me. I wanted it to be cool, like it was as a young girl growing up in Brooklyn. I wanted it to blow in the wind (and come back down when the wind stopped). It didn’t. I grew to hate how it made me different, little did I know I would have been different for some reason, even if it wasn’t because of my hair.
While in the military I could do over 40 pushups in under 2 minutes and about 100 sit ups in the same amount of time. When I saw GI Jane, that was it! I was getting a crew cut...um...only, I couldn’t...my hair wasn’t quite crew cut material. “WhatEV!” I’ll get a TWA, maybe I’d even embody my righteous & outspoken, don’t F with me-ness? Or not. LOL, that feeling of empowerment was short-lived and I was left feeling boyish and starved for the identity of a strong, black woman who loved herself passionately!
Years later, on a natural high on life, I stopped eating meat and went natural, making my own body care products....that was, as my brother would say, “Too Much Madness!” As my lifestyle swang back to centerspace (between overprocessed and overwhelmed hippie) I found myself!!! Ironically enough it was when I dreaded my hair that I fell in love with my hair....and by extension (cheeky, I know)... myself! I am constantly surprised at how many styles I spontaneously create. At how many people stop to ask me about my hair (that NEVER used to happen). At how some of my more outrageous styles invoke joyfulness in others. Most of all, I love the way my hair is an art form that perfectly captures the essence of me!
Thanks Kirya for sparking this dialogue on facebook
and of course to Chris Rock for bring the conversation to the big screen!
Love, Locks & Laughter, Karen
PS... DREADS is my favorite coffee table book!
by Francesco Mastalia & Alfonse Pagano
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