Natural Beauty

I love my hair! This new found love was not acquired until Fall of 2004, when I was finished transitioning from relaxed hair to natural hair. Once I cut the final remnants of relaxed hair I felt connected to the real me. Over the years, this love has grown as I have come to understand how unique my hair is and just how versatile it is. I love running my fingers close to my scalp and feeling the tiny curls that spring from it!

Last month I got my hair braided and I've been surprised at the new attention I receive from the opposite sex. My cousin once told me that males love the fantasy of long hair. She said, "It's 85% of what they look for." Now, as much as I honor the advice of someone older than me, I did have to consider her perspective, an entertainer. Lately, I've been pondering our conversation. Would I get the same recognition from these males if I wore my hair in an afro, twists, or locs? Some of my colleagues have even commented on the difference in appearance that I now have with my braids.

I sometimes find it difficult to believe in the true definition my individual beauty in a society that values the generic, euro centric type. It's even more difficult to do this when brothas feed into the latter. Now, I realize that my hair, relaxed, braided or natural, attracts certain type guy, but shouldn't my personality be the determining factor as opposed to my hair?