Quote:
Originally posted by exquizit:
POPLIFE ..here's a question for you. How many times have you questioned the choice YOU made about the hair YOU feel so strongly about?
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I question it every time I discuss hair politics with someone, even if they feel they way I do. I love challenging my beliefs. I find that simple action alone is responsible for much of my mental and spiritual growth.
It's interesting how you emphasize the word "you". I notice that a lot of women don't really make the choice to get a relaxer because their mama's or grandmama's or aunties make that choice for them when they are too young to decided. I believe was 7 when my mom first permed my hair. She says it was 9, but I've seen pictures!!! *lol*.
But on a serious note, I don't think it was fair to me because I didn't get a chance to learn how to do my hair in it's God-given state. When I was 15 or 16 the idea of not having a perm was actually SCARY and I was trapped into perming by the fear that I would look a mess if I didn't keep getting relaxed. When my hair was in the middle stages I wanted to perm it sooo bad because I just wasn't used to it. I tried to judge how my new hair was going to look by the little bit of new growth I was seeing. Surprisingly, my hair texture is totally different now than it was when I first started growing out the perm. It went from nappy, to afro-ish, to wavy, to curly all within 1.5 years.
I feel so strongly about my hair because (a) it's all me...no "tricks" to make it look a certain way, and (b) it's the way I truly want it, not the way my MOTHER, SOCIETY, or ANYONE ELSE think it should be. I feel free. But if you had told me that I was going to be chemical free when I was in high school I would have laughed at you and swung my hair right in your face. *lol* Life is funny like that.
[This message has been edited by Poplife (edited January 14, 2001).]