Pink, purple, yellow, blue, every hue and shade was at the fingertips of many little Black girls as their fingers cascaded and combed through the aisles of the Beauty supply store, half of the time the melody of barrettes would sing through their ears clicking against themselves as the day passed but on the other end what awaited them was a golden comb. One that would be sat on the stove before it was brought to their hair, singeing every tiny curl and coil. They would sit holding down their ears in anticipation of a brand new due for the occasion. Something that little afros or barrettes weren’t suited for, the only times Black hair was pressed for many little Black girls were on “special occasions,” which could have been an array of events from weddings to graduations. Where our hair in its rawest and naturalist state wouldn’t suffice. It was where many little Black girls learned what “professional” hair would look like as they moved into their adult lives.
For Black women, hair has long been seen as an expression of themselves. Something that can be manipulated and shaped in any way that they want, but as time went on it became a responsibility for some to “maintain it,” and then with age also came more unspoken rules. Some would be whispered from the mouths of mothers, grandmothers, aunties, and in some cases fathers. When the Black woman would appear with her hair in its natural state, it would be directed with an array of confusion, “are you going to do something to your hair???” A question which was usually met with an appointment the next day.
But when did the shift occur? When did we put down the barrettes and enter that next stage of life? When did primping become our new form of self-expression? Black hair has long held symbolism and fell into the same realm as self-expression; it holds the key to our identity literally and figuratively. It’s fluid in movement from afros to slick backs, all the way down to cornrows.
The youthful and colorful world of hair is something that doesn’t usually last long for the little Black girl, Black hair is quickly ushered into other phases which starts with braids most often, long (but not too long) and then once that's “too childish” or in some cases “not grown enough” for the occasion and or space. Before long, the Black woman's hair is back to that all too familiar world of what used to be a hot golden comb but has now been replaced by an appointment for a silk press. No longer is there a sound of beads and barrettes creating their own melody, which would be used as the anthem of creativity. But simply an open space, where the Black woman has to discover and redefine the creativity that was once being
fostered through her hair.
But as other stages of life begin to occur, there seems to be a “time and place” for certain styles. Suddenly, an Afro isn’t the style of choice; braids, to some, are reserved for special occasions. But the consensus is that in professional settings, in perspective industries, and some cases school. The consensus in regards to Black hair is that it has to be “simple." Not full of the creativity that was once accepted in youth, because hair has to be more manipulated to fit into the standard that some spaces require. Most times, this standard is unspoken and reduced to terms such as “unprofessional," which is then met with rejection of
the status quo of “professionalism.”
Black hair, although met with resistance, will only ever combat it with creativity. There was still expression through Black hair even when it seemed to no longer be an option. From the intricate details in knotless braids, to the patterns and designs shaped into cornrows, the dyed hues of pink, purple, yellow, blue, and every shade that are put through curls and coils, and all the way down to the barrettes and bows that have been reclaimed in adulthood stuck into our braids and curls in retaliation of society's distaste.
Written By: Makiyah Hicks @mikielo_
Creative Director: Tayja Whyte @tayjaa.x
Production Manager: Chloe Kaleah Stewart @chloe.kaleah
Photography: Callum Floris @calamityfloris
Article Written By: Makiyah Hicks @mikielo_
Production: Mickayla Davis @_mickayladavis_ | K Pereira @kaleb.pereira922 | Jazzi Almestica @shes.so.dope
PA: | Elena Richardson @elfrancesr | Amanda Manson @_.amanddaaa | Guilia Rodrigues @guilia_rodrigues9
Models: CharliRose Mosley @chaarrrlliiii | Kyra Merchant @kyra.who