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Natural Hair Photo Diary

I’ve been natural since October 2014. My journey through the natural hair world has been filled with highs and lows, but I’m finally easing into a space where I’m enjoying the ride and falling in love with different styles and ways of wearing my hair. In the black community, particularly with black women, hair is a big deal. When I got box braids for the first time, I was honestly nervous about wearing them in professional settings and in environments where many non-minorities weren’t used to seeing the style. Although I felt beautiful with braids, I’d read and heard some horrifying stories involving women of color being discriminated against, sent home from work, or heavily judged because of their natural hairstyles. When I wore my braids, I picked up on some weird vibes from certain people, got awkward stares, and at the same time, received compliments from others. When I was between styles and wore my natural Afro, I really felt I was shunned, mishandled, and treated funny. Especially in professional settings and during job interviews. I thought maybe I was trippin’ when it kept happening, but I wasn’t imagining things. Whenever I didn’t get certain opportunities, I just knew I’d be great at and was qualified for, I couldn’t shake an unsettling feeling that it had something to do with the way I looked and how I wore my hair. I was even told by someone that I should wear my hair “straighter” to be treated better 😳 Crazy right? It’s sad that these kinds of things happen, but it’s real. This whole idea about diversity, equality, and equal opportunity is not always a reality for minorities. Especially for black women and for anyone else who finds themselves on the receiving end of any kind of prejudice or discrimination. You can have a great education, a sizeable amount of experience under your belt, and have a lot of skills, passion, and motivation to bring to the table and still get overlooked, passed over, and discriminated against because of the way you look. I wear my hair how I like to wear it and I’m good with natural hairstyles that make me feel good. I’m happy to see more and more women of color stepping out with their natural styles and doing so confidently and unapologetically. Going natural has been a movement. There’s so much versatility that comes with being natural and some great stories behind each style. That said, I thought it’d be fun to do a photo diary of different styles I’ve worn since going natural. I’ve done some of my own styles, experimented with protective styles, enlisted help from my mom with styling, worn my hair silky straight, got professionally done braids and sew-ins from talented and highly skilled hair stylists, and again, have sported my own Afro puff too. The journey continues… 
 



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