Just Hair? Not Quite.

Let’s talk about hair.

No remedies. No DIY mixtures. Just hair.

I can only speak for myself, but hair holds weight—more than just strands growing from the scalp. It’s identity, expression, history, and sometimes, even rebellion. From walking through store aisles filled with hair products to seeing commercials featuring the “perfect” look, it’s clear that hair isn’t just about style—it’s about belonging, validation, and culture.

Lately, I’ve been loving the shift. Seeing more Black Americans confidently wearing their natural hair? It’s beautiful. It looks cool. It’s empowering. And for me, it's healing. Because for a long time, I was trying to find myself—often through a lens that didn’t reflect me. I’d compare and come up short. I’d adjust and still feel like I was on the outside, trying to meet a standard that never included me to begin with.

Hair, for me, is one of those “hmm... wow” topics. I think it is for many of us.

In my experience, people from other cultures are often curious about Black hair—especially the texture. I have 4C hair: tightly coiled, springy, and dense. Not “nappy.” Not “a nap.” Just coiled. There’s a big difference in how you describe something and how you perceive it. The issue was never my hair texture—it was the narrative around it.

What I’ve come to realize is that hair health, like self-worth, starts from the inside. If my hair feels brittle or looks dull, it often reflects how I’ve been treating myself. It’s not just a matter of products—it’s about nourishment, rest, hydration, confidence. The glow doesn’t start in a bottle. It starts within.

But I didn’t always see it that way.

For years, I carried shame around my hair. I didn’t know what to do with it—or worse, I knew too much and still felt like it wasn’t enough. The beauty standard screamed: straight, loose curls, manageable. My hair said: coiled, full of shrinkage, proudly rebellious. And society? It questioned me. Why would you do that to your hair? I’ve even had a stylist try to reassure me: Don’t worry, I’ll get you straight… you won’t have to deal with those naps.

Naps.That word still stings.

Not because of what it means—but because of how casually and carelessly it’s used within our own communities. We’ve inherited language that devalues us, passed from generation to generation, often without question. And somewhere in the mix, we’ve forgotten how powerful, beautiful, and intentional our coils truly are.

We’ve been taught to blend in. To soften. To conform. To fit into a world that was never designed to celebrate our uniqueness.

So what do you do?

You learn. You study. You unlearn the lies and rediscover the truth.

I took time to learn about myself and my hair. I learned what nourishes it, what defines it, what frees it. And I learned what I needed to believe in order to walk in the fullness of who I am—not for others, but for me.

It’s a journey. It’s humbling. It’s not always pretty. But it’s freeing.

So now, I ask you:What’s happening with your hair?

Is it coiled? Curly? Wavy? Straight?More importantly—Is it free?And are you in the mindset to let it be?

Let's keep the conversation going. How has your hair journey shaped your self-image or confidence? Share your story in the comments—I’d love to hear from you.

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