Personal Narrative: My Hair

Are you a coarse haired natural? I am and yes, I love my coarse hair. Do I ever get frustrated? Heck yeah. But after five years I’ve figured out how to take the good with the bad. Here’s my story.

“Long Beautiful Hair,” wrote by Ann Hood, is a piece most would assume just to be a narrative of how the author goes through different hair phases in her lifetime. However, that is only the superficial meaning; Hood’s piece is metaphorically set up for a greater purpose. If analyzed correctly, her piece is a complex explanation of a life lesson that people often struggle with: figuring out who they are created to be. In order for her to convey the message fully to the audience, she tells her story in a time progressing sequence while also using rhetorical strategies such as pathos and a metaphor.

In the sixth grade, I realized that I looked different. The years before had hinted that I was ugly and different, but it became confirmed in my head by this time. It was the 60's, and all the other kids had long, straight, and flowing hair. Then there was my hair, fluffy, wiry, kinky, and when I tried to grow it long, it grew out, not down like all the others I saw. The other kids had beautiful, long, straight hair that laid down in which I admired, but my hair fluffed out like a ball. When in the 2nd grade, one of the ladies in the Fountain told mom she could fix my hair cute, and she cut my hair to be 2 inches all over. This haircut was the beginning of my nightmare about how I looked. Can you imagine a round-faced girl, with a ball

Getting that flawless ponytail, that perfect hold, and the precise length. Waking up and wondering how you’ll do your hair that morning, debating between leaving your 28-inch hair down or up. When wanting such hair do and having to find a headband hair tie because a simple hair tie will be like leaving my hair down. There’s a lot more effort on a ponytail than one thinks! Brushing your hair and having it be almost knot free is almost like getting a hundred percent on a test, or getting free shipping on an online order, exactly it’s amazing! Being able to get that perfect hold is so much better than getting a hundred percent on a test! When you get it too tight it’s like your ponytail is playing tug a war with your own head, but when

I had long, curly hair in elementary school and was very attached to it. My hair was how most people would identify me, but one day while my sister was babysitting I got lice from one of the children. After finding that out my mom was forced to shave my head. Many children were unimaginably cruel to me because I had to wrap my head in a bandana. While presenting in front of the class one day someone ran up and pulled it off my head; that incident brought on one of the most embarrassing times in my life. Having to deal with constant bullying started to turn me into a very angry person. Instead of crying when I was made fun of I would fight the person making fun of me. Having to deal with the constant torture from others at a young age made

And then she saw them. They looked so fucking clean. Shining, glinting in the fluorescents. Frank’s hair-trimming scissors flashed up at her, prodding her, calling to her. Her manic gaze focused in, fingers twitching incessantly. She had never thought of this before, never given much thought to the long, cascade of lush dark hair that fell in waves down her back. Frank loved it, loved to run his fingers through it. Loved to hold on to it, pull it as he arched her back and bent her over to-

The 5th graders kept taking me from my owner as she was walking down the aisle,

Through the natural hair movement, I have accomplished the act to love my natural hair and to let it be known to any one who cares to listen. In fact, going natural has ended up being an extremely significant for me and I have met many naturals during the time I have spent growing my hair out. It feels great to have had the experience to share my story, to gain from other's stories, and to distribute this information so that more women can have acceptance of this information that can enable them and change their lives, as it has

I admire the author of this reflection, because many of the statements relate with my past experiences. I am also a dark-skin African American female. While growing up I was lead to believe that lighter complexion was more attractive as well as straight hair. I remember the dreadful Sundays spent in our kitchen getting my hair pressed by my mother. I used to love the look of freshly straighten hair. I remember hating the process of getting my hair straight and wished my hair was more like my white classmates. Once I was old enough my mother permed my hair and I recall liking the fact that the chemical made my hair much more manageable. It was at an early age that I learned about textures and thought certain hair was considered good hair

Considering the society’s obsession with our smartphones and our love of social media I am quite a bit surprised that apps dedicated to hair in general or even natural hair, in particular, are not much more popular. It has never once crossed my mind to look up an app to help with tracking my hair regimen or to help me find a stylist but now that I am aware that there are apps out there I am even a little shocked I didn’t think about this sooner. I feel like it should be a no-brainer so if you like me have never looked into using an app that might make your hair journey easier in some way, this article will be a wake-up call for you.

At some point in a woman's life, she is, if like most women, unhappy with her hair. A woman with straight hair wishes for curly ringlets. A woman with curly hair wants stick-straight locks. Thick and coarse desires to be fine and thinner. Fine and thin begs for thick hair.

how would you feel if you cutted your hair to the tips of your ears

From the eyes of a fifth grader, middle school is where freedom begins. We get our own personalized schedule, a giant locker to put our “homework” in, and space to explore our true desires. This perception was proven false when I started school. Instead I felt more restricted. As if I had to tone down my spark in order to fit in. Specifically, this affected the way I treated my natural hair. The intricate braids that I had installed were gradually replaced with lifeless strands of straight hair. Even though these strands were growing from my very scalp, I still felt detached from them. Like many other teenage girls, I struggled with my body image. But the conflict surrounding my hair falls into a more unique sector.

You are probably wondering who I am but, when you finish reading this you may figure it out. I suppose if you want to find out you better start reading to find out!

I have dreaded these two words all my life because I really love my hair.