In 2003, I decided to cut off my relaxed hair and wear it short with texturizer. I thought my hair stylist was going to have an anxiety attack because she was so afraid of my reaction to the results. She felt the only time clients ever ask for this drastic measure was for damaged hair. My hair was fine it was just a decision eliminate me from robbing on the long hours spent at the hair salon. Let me paint a picture from the age of 14 when I got my first relaxer it was too much time, money and energy. I think I tried every hairstyle imaginable between the 80s-2000s which included trying microbraids, a weave (least favorite) and finally deciding to cut it off. Then for some reason I felt I had to consult with an individual who was totally lost behind my intentions. I ask myself now, why did I even care what this person thought? What I did learn is how superficial some men are about hair. His perception of women with short hair was so absurd, I still kept asking myself why do I need his approval this is my dam hair! I scheduled the appointment for the evening and never thought twice about it! The results were amazing and I felt so free! (doing cartwheels free) All the time spent in a hair salon was like being held hostage on a Saturday morning. I just realized the number of hair salons I went to over the course of a 20 years and the different hair stylists.
It was so liberating to know that I could color my hair and not think twice. When it was time to go out I could just wash and go with no problem. It was less stress and that was long overdue. In 2008, I decided to grow my hair out and get a relaxer for some crazy reason. I relaxed it again and had a new nice hair cut which did not last long. The hair stylist at the time decided to cut my new growth into a shorter hair cut, I was sitting there totally confused! The visits to the salon were back on scheduled yet again. I asked myself what was the point in doing this? In the summer of 2009, I decided to return to my previous hair stylist and cut my hair again. In 2011, the same brick hit me again so I decided to grow it out and by the end of the summer it was off again. My intention in 2003 was to alleviate the stress of not having a hair style that was flexible, less of an expense and less time spent in a salon. Now that I have those things I still struggle with doing something different, bored or crazy? I have started going to my son’s barber as that saves money vs. going to a salon for a twenty minute hair cut. The only thing I do need to go back to my hair stylist for is color, salon color is far better than the over the counter stuff.
Ok, now that you have my hair history summary…..here is the point of this rambling. When I watched the Chris Rock movie, Good Hair I was baffled by the time and amount of money some women spent on their hair. I was thinking in the back of my mind how happy am I to not have those issues and feelings of being trapped. Do what ever floats your boat but some things are just not for me. I am in such a place where I don’t care what anyone thinks about how and why I wear my hair natural (I do color)! It works for me and that’s all that matters.
Well that was until my second bundle arrived in 2006, who knew hair was going to be a bone of contention between myself and mini me! In her eyes she thinks hair is the main source of beauty, now should I blame the media for infiltrating her mind with this misconception? I say to her all the time if mommy is happy that’s all that matters. However, she insists “mommy you should grow your hair out; your hair looks like a boy”. I was thinking oh no am I raising a superficial child with a misguided interpretation of “beauty”. Why did I introduce her to the salon? Each time we go she has a different request and it is usually to wear my hair long. She is over it once I tell her the hair style will not last very long. The hair stylist is able to do spiral curls and she is smiling from ear to ear. Summer camp brings swimming each day so I had a stylist come over to braids and of course she wanted beads. etween hair styles I did Afro puffs and thought she was about to go into cardiac arrest. I have constantly remind her of how versatile our hair is and whether we blow it out or wear Afro puffs it’s still cute! I also told her beauty is what is on the inside. How do I reverse this quick fast and in a hurry? A family member suggested I play Indie Arie’s song I Am Not My Hair for her and unfortunately bedtime came before I could play the video. 
This song will be in rotation…..
She loved the song!
[…] she is BEAUTIFUL and her NATURAL hair is beautiful. These factors compelled me to write the post Battle of Hair-Me and Mini Me. When I started taking her to Hair Cuttery to have her hair done, it was always a battle with […]