Lessons From Becky With The Good Hair.

In keeping with woman's month this August, we continue to focus on our amazing Woman of South Africa. There is a saying that a Women's Hair Is Her Crowning Glory. Over the centuries we have seen woman's hair evolve and change to different styles and the latest trends. It is no surprise that woman's hair has become a multi billion dollar industry. Our hair is an extension to who we are. Many woman openly embrace their hair, but there is also a large majority of woman who hate their hair and spend thousands of rends transfiguring it through treatments, cuts, straightening tools, wigs and weaves. No costs or pain is speared until the perfect texture and style is achieved whether it be done through ones own hair or hair bought in the form of a wig or weave.

My daughter has the most beautiful set of natural spiral hair curls. I absolutely love it! One day she had come back from daycare and told me that she did not like her hair and that the other girls in school had long straight hair. My daughter had come to the conclusion, like so many of South African woman today that curly natural hair is Ugly but preferably long straight hair is beautiful. As a mom, I had to constantly remind my daughter that her natural curly hair was just as beautiful and acceptable than her counterparts straight long hair. If she chooses to straighten her hair, it should be done as her own personal choice not because of the negative stigma attached to keeping her natural thread. Growing up as teenager and then a young woman, I am reminded that I too was led to believe that having curly ( crous ) hair was ugly, but having long straight hair was beautiful. It was the girls with the long straight hair that were considered the prettiest and most popular after all. Then began the journey of chemically straightening and relaxing your hair, the chemicals literally killed your crous hair thread, the famous words echoing, You have to suffer for beauty. And suffer for beauty you did because those chemicals stunk, and it burnt your scalp leaving scabs at the base of your hairline. And once your hair was chemically straighten you better do your best to maintain it. A swirlcos ( stocking ) at night to keep the texture straight and shiny and no getting your hair wet at the pool or the beach and absolute must or else the crous thread will come back with a vengeance,

My mom once told me that during apartheid colored parents had to take their children to Home Affairs and the officers would put a pencil through their hair and whether the pencil falls out and or stays in your hair determines what race of colored you are. The stigma of curly natural ( crous ) hair was a seed sown into families many many years ago. Celebrating our South African Woman, is a celebration of who we are Naturally Are!!!.

If we choose to have our hair straightened, with weaves or extensions, let it be because WE have chosen to do so. If we choose to wear our hair naturally curly then so it be. But our choices should not be defined by an apartheid system and belief that leads us to believe that being in our natural form is ugly and needs to be hidden and covered up. Embracing your natural hair South African Woman, is a powerful statement.

By : Rian Paulsen.