Whether it’s hair cascading into curls, intricate kinks or coily patterns, every variation represents a facet of our authentic selves. Learning to love and embrace natural hair is a declaration of independence and self-expression. Many societal expectations dictate how women should look, and by wearing natural hair individuals can break away from those norms. It’s a mark of authenticity that inspires others to do the same, fostering a culture of inclusivity and self-acceptance.
Numerous women with curly hair encounter challenges while trying to accept the unique qualities of their hair, especially while comparing themselves to friends within the conventional beauty standard of straight hair. Junior Mia Johnson expressed the difficulties of feeling different while growing up Black in a predominantly white community. During her childhood, she felt that her hair highlighted the differences between her and the other girls who attended her school.
Similarly, as a kid, junior Noora Reiley’s hair also made her feel like an othered. For Reiley, this feeling of separation began when she noticed how her friends could effortlessly wear certain hairstyles that were difficult for her hair to adopt.
Senior Olivia Svallin finds herself straightening her hair often out of ease. However, Svallin knows the beauty that her curly hair brings and isn't afraid to let it shine every once in a while.
Senior Alexa Kofman also got into a routine of straightening her hair to simplify her morning routine. However, the true cause stems from male perception of her at a young age.
“I really did like my hair in middle school up until 8th grade. I hate saying this but other people’s comments and perceptions of my hair, specifically from boys, affected the way that I viewed myself,” Kofman said. “So then, I began straightening. It’s sad because of course now I do not care what guys or anyone for that matter think of my hair but I’ve been straightening it for so long so it feels too late.”
Meanwhile scrolling through social media, can sway anyone to be influenced by looking at people perfectly dolled up in every post. Hair is typically professionally styled and rarely worn in its natural state. Junior Riley Wein reflects on her experiences of how rarely curly hair is portrayed in the media.
“Whenever I watch award shows or anything like that, everyone always has very straight hair or hair that’s been blow-dried. It’s kind of the idea that your hair has to be straight to look nice or professional. Everytime I would go somewhere nice growing up, I would wash it, put it in braids or straighten it because I thought my curly hair wasn’t professional or fancy enough,” Wein said.
While many women struggle to initially accept their unique hair, some have found ways to cope. For Wein, compliments on her unstraightened hair, as well as a fear of undoable heat damage, pushed her to welcome individuality. Throughout her curly hair journey Wein also looked up to her mom as inspiration and hopes her little sister can grow up recognizing the natural beauty in her hair as well.
Johnson learned to embrace the qualities setting her apart. She came to value the distinctiveness of her hair compared to others’ as something to take pride in rather than be ashamed of. Johnson also dedicates her newfound confidence and perception of individuality to the support of those around her.
“No one really has curly hair in my family. [But they] gave me the confidence to show it off by telling me, ‘Your hair’s beautiful. You need to express it,’” Johnson said. “Even people who aren’t really my friends have come up to me and told me my hair is beautiful, or that it looks good. Those compliments really make my day and make me feel so good about wearing my natural hair.”
A more welcoming social media environment can also allow women, like Reiley, to learn what works for their hair type and take pride in embracing her natural curls.
“I started to see curly hair on social media, and I thought, ‘Oh, I could do this.’ I figured out how to style my hair through TikTok and just seeing my friends who have curly hair do their hair. I figured out how to make it work for me,” Reiley said.
Learning to accept and embrace curly hair is not easy for everyone; between the constant comparison of herself to societal beauty norms and habitual use of a straightening iron, Junior Leila Acevado is still discovering her hair routine.
In a society where beauty standards are narrowly defined, women of different curl types have their own stories of self-acceptance and learning to embrace their curls. Although more manageable for some, societal and media expectations of straight “formal” hair often can lengthen our journeys. However, by defying these norms and celebrating the uniqueness and beauty of our hair, we can find confidence in our identities and contribute to a society where the definition of beauty comes from our roots.