Ever since I was a little girl I have had a love-hate relationship with my curly hair. I’m not gonna lie, growing up with curly hair was rough.
I never understood why I couldn’t have long pretty, shiny and straight hair like all the other girls in my classes or why all those girls would stare at me differently, ask so many questions about my hair and want to touch it all the time. To be completely honest, probably one of the hardest things was when I started to get bullied just because my hair looked different from the other girls. I didn’t like all the extra attention and honestly could’ve done without the pulling on my curls and the laughing at my frizzy, uncontrollable hair.
I always knew I looked different because of my hair but it wasn’t until I was a little older that I understood why and was proud of my why. I came from a mixed race family with my Hispanic mother having jet black, thick, wavy hair and my white father with his straight hair. But, as I grew up and started to notice all the strong, beautiful women with unique hair just like me, my perspective started to change.
I realized My hairdresser had the same hair as I did and my abuelita and aunt did too. I saw how confident and proud they were of their hair and I realized if they were proud of their crazy curls, why couldn't I be?
As I got older, I carried that confidence and strength with me. I quickly understood I couldn’t treat my hair like I saw all these other girls with straight hair do. So, I learned about products and learned how to properly style and take care of my hair, and along the way and through many bad hair days, I learned the majority of people actually loved my hair rather than hated it, even when I thought it looked like a total mess.
Even funnier, I went through this period of time when I felt the need to deflect any compliments on my hair with an instant apology for my hair. It was almost like I was so ashamed of my locks and when I finally realized what I was doing, I felt so ungrateful for what God gave me.
There was no reason that I should have been apologizing for who I was and no reason why I should be ashamed of my hair. After all, My hair is an extension of who I am and an expression of my culture and my fun personality, so I should never be afraid to let my curls flow and let it show.
The biggest thing I have realized over the past few years is that while I am proud and confident in my curly hair, my confidence does not come from my hair, it comes from within. And even on my least confident days when I am not feeling my best, I’ve discovered that as long as you act confident and walk with grace, no one will question you.
Needless to say, I am 20 years old and I have crazy curly hair and I am 100% okay with it.