US comedian Chris Rock with his daughter, who inspired his hit film ‘Good Hair’


“My grandmother believes a woman’s


beauty is her hair and I guess so do I. I am from a family, not so dissimilar from most, crippled by convention and centu- ries of conditioning. I’ve been exploring cutting off my relaxer and growing my hair from scratch, naturally and free from relaxer. Every time I book the appoint- ment I wimp out and then curse myself for days, not because I’m scared my man or my mum won’t like it (nothing quite so trite), but because I’m afraid I won’t love myself. “I’ve been reading numerous black


hair blogs for inspiration (my favourite is lecoil.tumblr.com – it’s amazing!) and am always surprised to see young beauti- ful women with gorgeous hair in profes- sional jobs discussing how they manage it. Black women world over are finding the inspiration to go natural. I even have a hair coach. She’s a friend of mine. When I feel demoralised, she sends me photos of beautiful women who have cut their hair off. Not mixed race girls as is so oſten the epitome of media campaigns with their big spiral locks bouncing buoyantly in the air (equally as radiant but foreign to me); no she sends girls as dark as the night, with thick strong hair that grows straight up towards heaven with pride and dignity”. Weeks later, ‘Te undecided’ was decid-


tenfold just to be addressed as an equal. I simply want to keep my head down, work hard and be rewarded based on merit, not because I’m the token black girl with short, boyish and unattractive hair, parading my blackness like it’s a statement. It is as unacceptable for a white man to come to work with long hair as it was a white woman to colour her hair pink. Anything ‘out of the ordinary’ is frowned upon. Plus if I’m honest I doubt very much that men would find it attractive – black or white.” I couldn’t help wondering how much of


this was a self-perpetuating social pressure masked as corporate custom. Maybe it’s time we are honest with ourselves about who is applying pressure to use relaxers and weaves and why.


THE UNDECIDED And then there was ‘Te undecided’ – with cornrows descending the length of her back:


“WE ARE EXPERIENCING A DAWN OF ENLIGHTENMENT AMONG SUCCESSFUL, ATTRACTIVE, POWERFUL BLACK SISTERS”


edly decisive and went for the chop. She looks more beautiful than ever. There were so many powerful and


prolific voices that night. Black women struggling with the concept of their hair, struggling with the concept of their place. In the time I have apportioned to think-


ing, writing, living and breathing black hair I have tended to avoid the topic of ‘natural hair’ because of the political and historical connotations it carries. I’ve not felt empowered or informed enough to enter the debate with any credible perspec- tive; plus with a head full of hair that isn’t my own (contrary to the fact that I paid for it – and before you say it, putting it on your Visa doesn’t make it any more legitimate) – I didn’t feel I had the right to comment. But with the New Year comes a re-


newed confidence, a belief that anything is possible and whatever needs to be said can be uttered free from reprisal… Fait accompli.


WINTER 2011 | NEW AFRICAN WOMAN | 67


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