As I sat in Coleman Library studying for my psychology class, I rubbed my right hand through my mohawk as if I am generating brain cells. I am then reminded of how much I love my hair.
Black culture has produced some of the trendiest styles introduced to society and it has definitely been very influential to me. I have always been able to style my hair to reflect my current mood.
Whether I am bold in blonde, radiant in red or feeling eclectic with rainbow colors, I have never been without the option to style my hair the way I feel.
Black women all over can relate to the seriousness of the appearance of our hair. The saying “never touch a black woman’s hair” may not have meant much to me as a child, but in my collegiate adult life, I live by that motto.
As a young black woman, I am often categorized as ignorant, pride less, promiscuous and lost, according to society standards.
The above mentioned motto is more than just a phrase to keep hair weaves a secret, but this is what it means to me: “do not touch my hair because it is the most public display of my private thoughts.”
With hair shows, magazines geared toward black hair and a multi-million dollar weave industry, the culture of black hairstyles seems to be a permanent alluring fixture.
I have been “crazy in love” with big honey blonde curls like Beyonce and I currently rock the Rihanna look with choppy short spikes to give my look a little edge.
An influential prominent figure on my personal style has been model and talk show host Tyra Banks. Banks has addressed the issue of hair and its significance to self-identity on more than one occasion.
She has even gone so far as to reveal to America that she wears a lace front wig. She is prideful with or without natural hair because she owns her look and does not allow the style of her hair to affect her personality.
The evolution of our hair has allowed black woman to individually decide what it means to be beautiful. The creativity of our styles has presented us with unlimited options to simply look how we feel. Black women have turned hair into an art form. However you decide to express yourself is your business, whether you paint, write, draw or sing. As for me, I just pick up a comb and brush and get busy.