Poll Results: Opinions of Others

Hello ladies, here are the results to yet another poll. This time 34 people voted and participated. The question was,

Does it matter to you what other people think or say about your hair?

• 6 people (17% of the voters) said, “Yes, it hurts my feelings”
• 8 people (23% of the voters) said, “Yes, to the point that it makes me ashamed at times”
• 4 people (11% of the voters) said, “No, its like water off my back”
• 19 people (55% of the voters) said, “No, I am who I am and I love me!”
• 5 people (14% of the voters) said, “I am very indifferent”

It made me happy that over half of the women who voted said, “No I am who I am and I love me!” That is very encouraging and inspiring to hear! For those of you who are struggling with what people think about you, let me offer some encouragement…

Lately every little thing someone says about my hair has been bothering me. Now normally you hear your average comment, but nothing offensive. However, I have been hearing things that were just ignorant and offensive. Let me give you some examples:

• Someone said, in response to my god-sisters natural (and beautiful) curly fro- “She should fix it.” Another person responded and said, “why is it broken? You don’t fix hair.” 
• I am so glad this person responded this way. I was flabbergasted that someone would say that her hair wasn’t fixed. If someone with straight hair can wear their hair down, why can’t we?
• I read an article where Oprah’s hair stylist said that he believed African-American natural hair was the only hair that needed to be chemically altered. 
• Word? YES! And to top it off , the man is black or mixed. I was like wow, wow, and wow
• Recently someone flat out did not believe me that black hair could be to your waist. I was so irritated. 
• There are PLENTY of black women who have very long hair. Just go on youtube and start browsing. Its harder to find pictures. 
• Someone just said this to me, “Well having natural hair is really limited isn't it? I mean basically all you can do is wear it out or up. You can’t like wear it slick?” I laughed and said, “There is a lot we can do…” And I named styles. I told her, “Are you meaning to ask, are my styles limited when my hair is in its natural state because I don’t straighten it?” She said, “Yes.” 
• Seriously? That person must not pay attention to my hair. And my response to me not being able to slick it back was, yes I can but when I do, by the end of it all, it frizzes. Hey y’all my hair is frizzy! And it doesn’t bother me because that’s how God made it.
• One time, several months ago, some ladies in my church were making reference to one of the sisters hair. They were telling her how much it had grown. She had straightened it that day and it was very close to being waist length. I happened to have my hair in a curly style- so it looked shorter (due to shrinkage). Well this sister they were complementing looked and me and said, “yes my hair has grown a lot. When I first got in the church it was as long as Kendra’s is now.” 
• Her hair was to her chin in the front and basially buzzed in the back when she came to the church. I can’t lie, that hurt my feelings

But you know what?? We are going to show the world that black natural hair can be beautiful, healthy and long. Black hair CAN grow. Want proof? Look at this…

ALL NATURAL hair.
No weaves, no tracks.
All girls who wear natural hair and straightened it to see the length...

So be inspired! Your hair is beautiful. Sure it might be short now but I promise if you take care of it, it will grow. No need to be ashamed because you are who you are and you should LOVE yourself :)