Reading While Black

Apparently, during a q&a session at a law firm about the do’s and don’ts of corporate fashion, a Glamour Magazine editor nixed such “political” hairstyles such as afros and dreadlocks.

First slide up: an African American woman sporting an Afro. A real no-no, announced the ‘Glamour’ editor to the 40 or so lawyers in the room. As for dreadlocks: How truly dreadful! The style maven said it was ’shocking’ that some people still think it ‘appropriate’ to wear those hairstyles at the office. ‘No offense,’ she sniffed, but those ‘political’ hairstyles really have to go. [Source]

After years of killing my hair with chemicals to fit the standards of beauty when it comes to hair, I have to give a serious “what the hell!?”. I used to dread the end of each month, when the half-inch to inch of new growth sprang from my scalp, contrasting starkly against my lye-relaxed ends. Squirming in my seat as my mother painstakingly slathered first Just For Me, and later, when kiddie perms stopped working, the professional Revlon relaxer on my hair, my scalp burning and itching, the edges of my hair practically sizzling beneath the chemical. It was either that or a visit with the hot comb–sizzling grease and the fear of being burnt if I even moved an inch. And as I grew older, sitting in the chair for 9+ hours as my hair was braided, my scalp already tender from perms, grown even more tender from the grabbing and tugging and pulling of my hair to manipulate it into the 100% kanekalon that came at $2.99 a pack. A brief stop over with weaves made me vow to never touch them again when the absence of new-growth was attacked with even more vigilance for fear that it would look as though I wore a weave–too much work. I’ve tried wigs, rocking my hair natural, letting it take a break from chemicals, beneath the cap–and for a person tired of dealing with her hair, it was a relief to just cornrow my hair and throw a wig on everyday. Finally I said forget it and went to a stylist. Turns out I have three different grades of hair on my head, all growing in different directions. o.O How fun.

For a Glamour editor to call an afro or dreadlocks political is the result of privilege of being able to get up, take a shower and let their hair air dry. To walk into a beauty supply store and just pick up a few items and go instead of mixing and experimenting with tons of different products that fail to recognize that for black hair, one size does not fit all. Of not being seen as unattractive if they decided to let their hair grow out(ya know…a lack of that “pesky” new-growth), etc. I’m wearing my hair curly (riotous curls), so if anyone is offended by my “political hair”, screw that.

“As I was reading the comments, I thought to myself that my natural hair is political. It is my way of saying that I am tired of chemical burns and paying to much money to some hair salon. I am tired of trying to fit someone else’s beauty standard and I have decided to make my own. Plus, my hair has never been more healthy.” –BGWQLC

The Professional Prejudice @ AfroBella