Be Fearless!: My Kinky Hair Is Not Understood By Most, But So What!

(source)

Kink·ʿite

(coined by yours truly!)

 

kink-ahyt 

–noun 

a person who's hair is kinky and/or nappy in its natural state.

Recently I took my hair out of my twists.  Normally I rock twist outs or some other kinky style.  This time, I decided to flat iron it.  My hair hadn't been flat ironed for nearly a year, so it was a nice change for me.  What was interesting was the response I got from those that do not have curly kinky hair.  

Everyone complimented me on my straight hair.  Even went so far as to say things like " I like you hair like this better", or "nice to see you with your hair done".  Excuse me, but was my hair not nice in its natural state?  Was my hair not done when it was in its natural state?  I straightened my hair by choice and for myself, not to appease others that can't understand or appreciate my hair as it grows out of my head.

My boss, a non-kinkite, once asked, "bad hair day", on a day that I came in with an afro.  I took this moment to educate him. I explained to him that this is the way my hair grows out of my scalp. I further explained to him about chemical relaxers and the reason why lots of kinkites won't go natural is because of people that make statements like his and hold negative views on kinky hair.  He apologized and said that he wouldn't make comments like that again.  His ignorance didn't upset me.  I was glad that I had the opportunity to provide him with insight into my hair type.

All this is to say, be fearless!  Make choices that you want to make for you and not ones that are for the benefit of easing someone else.  I don't care if your hair is super kinky, loosely curled, or straight, do you!!  Because you can me damn sure that I'm gunna do me!