Natural Hair: My Struggles, Tangles, and Freedoms

My relationship with my hair has been a multifaceted one. Thus, I’ve chosen to explore the origins and reasons behind my decisions to “go natural” and to share what I’ve learned along the way.

My position on the National Student Advisory Council has required me to look at myself and the labels society has given my hair in ways I never have before in order to empower other women.

Around the age of 12, many African American girls begin either receiving a perm (a colloquialism for “permanent hair treatment”) or getting their hair pressed with a hot comb regularly. A permanent hair treatment uses chemicals to straighten extremely curly hair. Such tactics are usually intended to make hair “more manageable” for parents but can damage hair. In addition to possible hair damage, these extreme tactics send young girls the message that their natural hair must be altered to be socially acceptable.

Before the end of my senior year I decided that I would no longer perm my hair out of rebellion. As time passed, however, I continued to straighten it (without chemicals) and eventually began to notice how difficult it was for me to feel “attractive” with my hair natural. Ironically, the less emphasis I put on my hair, the more emphasis society did.

What is to be said about women’s infatuation with looking like everything we are not?

Who is to be blamed and what is to be done to stop the perpetuation of this idea that in order to be beautiful your hair must be some unnatural texture?

The shame (and torture) of my culture is that so many black girls grow up thinking that what they have been given isn’t enough. The beauty (and freedom) of my culture is in the option to choose what we can make ourselves look like (be that straight or natural).

Thus, I’ve made it my job to empower black girls and make sure they know that what they were given is beautiful and that straightening their hair is a choice, not a requirement.

This understanding has allowed me to feel much more comfortable in my own skin (and hair) and inspires me to make young girls aware that they are beautiful in whatever way they choose.

There is freedom in choosing.

This blog post was written by 2010–11 AAUW National Student Advisory Council member Chanel Beebe.