Eleanor’s Expedition

I’ve worn my hair naturally curly for most of my life with little bouts of relaxers in high school and in my twenties as I thought my curls were too out of control. Even though I still wore my hair curly in its relaxed state it wasn’t up until a few years ago that I decided that I didn’t want to try and tame my mane with harmful chemicals
anymore. So I just gradually let the relaxed hair grow out. I honestly couldn’t remember for a long time, but after going through some old photos over the weekend I now know that that I had my last relaxer in 2010.

Oh I have quite a few… I’ve been called all sorts of things for having curly hair from “MacyGray!” by a passing taxi driver, “Bossiekop!” (Afrikaans for Bushyhead), to “Meisie kyk hoe lyk jou hare!” (Afrikaans for “Girl, just look at your hair”), all meant in a derogatory way. But then I’ve also received the loveliest of compliments and comments like, “Gorgeous hair” and “Your hair is perfect, and I want my hair to look exactly like yours”.
Luckily I’ve never had any pressure from my close relatives to look a certain way, and I love the fact that they’ve always supported my hair choices.

Most of the time people aren’t phased too much about my hair, but every now and again I’ll catch someone staring at me intently. On the odd occasion though people have asked to touch my hair, and because I understand that they are just curious, I’ll tell them they can touch my hair if I can touch theirs. I do this just so that they can feel what a slightly uncomfortable position they are putting me in, as touching someone’s hair is extremely personal.

I think it’s great that it has so many women in tune in to their natural hair, to the notion that you can look fabulous with your God-given hair. I love the fact that it’s encouraging women to embrace not only the health of their hair, but very often also their health in general as well, as a focus in one area of your life often leads to a
wider focus. Sometimes I think it’s crazy that we have to put so much emphasis on hair, because as some people say, “It’s just hair right?” But if it was just hair then the woman of colour hair industry wouldn’t be as huge as it is, both relaxed and natural. The truth is that hopefully we can get to a point where it’s not a movement anymore, where hair really is just hair. For now though, there is a lot of education that needs to be done, and it’s my honest belief that it’s up to us curly girls who have already come to embrace our natural hair to share the love with those who are still struggling. As stated in one of my previous blog posts it’s up to us as mothers, sisters, aunts and friends to educate our children that it’s ok to be yourself and that you don’t have to look a certain way to fit in.

If I knew how I was going to wear it, I’d be a very happy woman. All I know for sure is that curls will prevail without a straight hair in sight!

Just do it! There’s no time like the present and why wait? Do your necessary research: blogs, youtube, forums, Facebook groups… There is enough help and advice out there regarding every aspect of natural hair care that you can think of to help you on your way. I realise that the thought of exposing that part of your true self can be rather daunting, but on the flip-side, just think how liberating it will be to finally embrace that side of you really are!

Stay Gold,