Hair and Identity

I was recently presented with the question of:

“Why should anyone care about (natural) hair?”

This question got me thinking--Why should anyone care about (natural) hair?

As a newbie to the natural hair community, only seven months into my journey, natural hair has become as relevant to my everyday life as much as art is to an artist, or politics to a political figure. I can’t have a normal conversation about the weather without a mention or two about my hair, or the hair of whomever I am talking to. It’s safe to say I’m a little obsessed and everyone who knows me personally is aware. (Laughter) Hair in general is a controversial topic in itself. Whether many share the need to discuss it or not, hair still plays an important role in our lives. Your hair is a representation of who you are. Many would agree that the most important feature to look for when meeting new people is their personality. Which is true but unfortunately our personalities are not engraved on our foreheads. Meaning it is not the first thing that people notice about you. We as people tend to prejudge one another before the word hello has a chance to escape our lips. This judgement is usually based upon appearances. From the moment you step through the door you are automatically judged on your level of appeal, what you're wearing, how you're wearing it, your hair choice, your body language, etc. This brings me to the question of:

“How does hair (Natural Hair) Relate to identity?”  

I personally believe that you’re hair as well as some of the other physical attributes listed above says a lot about who you are. Your look is your advertisement. Your look markets the type of attention you want to seek. For example what comes to mind when we think of Janelle Monae? Her signature array of custom black and white suits and her trademark hair styled in a classic pompadour. Everyone has their own opinion of Monae’s style. The comments usually focus on the fact that her style is based solely around suits and pompadours. It would seem as though many are concerned about the exposure or lack of Monae is advertising. In today’s generation I can’t say that it is common to have an female artist so-- fully covered. Sex sells. And “sex” or rather the exposure of body parts and suggestive content is the tactic used by many of today's most iconic females (Rihanna, Beyonce, etc.)  in order to get them ahead in the industry. Monae recently had an interview with Elle magazine canada responding to the question of why she dresses as she does. She says:

“I have a really nice body. And I had to pick: Do I want them to focus on my body? Do I want them to focus on how curvy and really, really gorgeous my figure is? Or do I want them to look at my music? What has more value? And I made that decision. I want them to focus on the message and the music because I feel like I have a higher calling.”

Well said Janelle. Another example (this one being hair related) of your appearance marketing what you stand for. Angela Davis. Some may be unclear about who she was and why she was incarcerated but we remember her Afro. A halo of natural hair framing her face--and her closed fist raised in the black power salute.

In conclusion hair has a lot to do with identity or rather how you are judged. From the viewpoint of someone else what would your hair say about you?

SR