Girl Comb Your Hair

I’ve always had natural hair, even when natural wasn’t the “in” thing like it is now. Thanks to my mom, from a young age I understood that my natural hair was a part of who I am and made me unique.

One day while in high school, I was strolling down the hallways going to class when I passed a group of girls standing near the wall talking to each other. One of them felt the need to acknowledge my presence. “I wish she would comb her hair! Walking around here looking a mess, she needs a perm”. It wasn't really her words that stung me , because I had heard those words before from others. What hurt my feelings was that the words were not only heard by me and the friends that surrounded her, but also by other people in the hallway. And everyone seemed to get a kick out of it. I felt so embarrassed. I had no choice but to continue to walk to my class like I’d hadn't heard a thing.

I knew I had combed my hair because I comb my hair everyday. That day I had actually took the time to try to do something different to my hair. It took a lot of time and effort, so for her to say what she did baffled me. Even though I tried to present myself in a good image, it wasn't enough for her and that hurt, the kind of hurt that you know is intentional and is meant to sting. The kind of hurt that makes you feel like no matter what you do it wont be good enough or acceptable. I was only a freshman, a native freshman at that. In that time and place i still believed that people were good and wouldn't go out their way to try and hurt you with their word unless what they were saying was true. Those words crushed my ego like an egg falls and splats all over the concrete.

It may have all been in my head, but I felt as though everyone was zoned in on my hair all day. All eyes were on me and not in the good way. I hated it, I didn't linger in the hallway in between classes to talk to my friends like I usually did. It wasn't until later that day when I saw one of my best friends in my last period that I received a compliment on my hair. She told me that my hair looked nice today and that she could tell I did something different to it. That’s when I realized everyone isn't going to see me how I see me, but that shouldn’t stop me from loving and appreciating what I love about myself, which is my hair. A woman’s hair is her crown and glory, the essence and uniqueness of her. Me loving myself is the essence of life and loving my hair helps me to do that. I continue to grow in this every day and evolve, and as I evolve I find new things to love about myself. I shouldn't be worried about what others think about me as long as I truly love what I see in the mirror every day. When I embrace my crown, I embrace greatness!

​Cierra - AKA Accessory Diva