With more and more beautiful ladies embracing their natural hair it’s time we start celebrating all the diverse colors, lengths and textures of curls out there. So why is it at a point where we are coming together to empower one another, jealousy is rearing its ugly head? I’ve experienced first hand what it’s like being on the other end of the firing line from some in the natural hair community.
One weekend I got the chance to tag along with a friend for the Curls UK event hosted by “Beauty by Zara” and the natural hair brand “Curls”. I met some beautiful ladies, with all curly hair types (stay tuned for some pictures). Standing around, drinks in hand sharing tips and tricks I really felt part of the curly community but I’ve not always felt like that.
IS THERE SUCH A THING AS BEING A CURL-IST?
Rewind to a Friday evening a few weeks back. I came out the shower feeling great. I had just completed a deep conditioning treatment and my hair felt light and fluffy. The hair Gods were on my side tonight – my curls were looking FIERCE! I’d recently lost weight and my dress was hugging me in all the right places. All that was left to do was apply lipstick and I was out the door. There was a little spring in my curls. Everything was right with the world.
I was aware of a couple walking behind me, I could hear them giggle – Aww young love. I went back to daydreaming until I heard the words “that’s blatantly a weave” (Huh? What? Sorry, weave? Please Lord let her be talking about anyone but me). I was taken aback by what followed next… “Indian people don’t have hair like that”. She was talking about me! She thought I was wearing clip-ins because I looked Indian? I’m of Pakistani origin but regardless I was shocked by her words and the venomous way in which she said it.
I didn’t know what to do. I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me. I had so many thoughts running through my head. I wanted to turn around and tell her it was my hair. I wanted to show her a picture of the beautiful Annie Khalid with her mass of curly hair – her mass of Pakistani curly hair! (See photo below if you’ve never seen her amazing hair).
If people from around the world can all share different body types, skin colors, eye colors and just about everything else, why can’t we share hair types?
Instead I found myself feeling really self-conscience. I pretended to be searching for something in my bag and let the couple walk ahead of me. The girl was drop dead gorgeous, she flicked her hair at me as she walked past. She was biracial with beautiful skin and luscious curly hair.
I tied my hair in a top-knot and walked quickly to the train station to where I was meeting my friend. All I could think of throughout our meal was how similar my hair was to that girls yet she would flick it in my face and flaunt it whilst I must be wearing a weave because “Indian people don’t have hair like that”.
WE’RE MORE SIMILAR THAN DIFFERENT
If people from around the world can all share different body types, skin colors, eye colors and just about everything else, why can’t we share hair types? Why can’t I, being Pakistani have naturally curly hair? There are ladies with amazing curly hair all over the globe. You get curls in every part of the world. I love curly hair, I love MY curly hair.
I admire girls who rock their natural hair. If you check my Instagram page you would see that I follow a lot of curly haired people. Even at the Curls UK event I complimented every lady on their beautiful curly hair. It’s high time we stopped judging one another’s hair and start empowering hair diversity.
Thinking back I shouldn’t have tied my hair up – I should have stopped her and said “your hair is beautiful and so is mine regardless of what race we are. My curls are beautiful.”
Photo Credit: Everyday People
