YOUR CURLY HAIR IS NOT ACCEPTED HERE.

We all have this idea implanted in our heads from a young age especially women of color, that our hair is not good enough. That our hair is not worthy and therefore should be manipulated into something more appropriate or manageable, something more.. well straight. But it's time for this to stop, its time for mothers to teach their daughters that their hair does not define them but it is still an important piece of what makes them who they are. Now, being a girl with curly hair I am tired of the endless questions like "how do you get it like that" and "are you mixed, you must be" or my favorite "is that real". Its honestly insulting and degrading and has become a nasty part of our society where many don't even process it as an insult. I want my future daughters to love their curls and to appreciate what it means. I want them to understand that it makes them different and they should feel proud not ashamed or embarrassed. I no longer want to worry about if my hair will be considered a "distraction" in my future workplace. Its time for all women to start to embrace who they really are. Being a woman with curly hair is something special, because you can straighten it and have the same look as a girl with naturally straight or wavy hair but they can never recreate your one of kind curly tresses. They can never take the uniqueness of your hair away from you. But when mothers across the globe tell their daughters to get a perm from such young ages, its as if they are saying , "hey your hair will never be naturally worthy or beautiful so let's change it quick before anyone else sees." I don't say all of this to bash girls who don't have curly hair I say this to let all my curly hair babies out here know that you are enough, and in this world filled with social media and constant reminders of what society thinks is beautiful it is sometimes hard to remember that we are special and we are enough. We are all enough. Please never forget this.

Much love,
E.E.