As I step out of the shower, I let out a blissful sigh. It’s time for my favourite part of my shower routine.
I grab my go-to hair products that make my hair, well, mine. As I apply product after product, I see my curly hair come to life. Perfect.
My hair is a significant part of my identity. It’s the first thing people notice about me, and honestly, it’s the first thing I notice about myself. I wouldn’t feel like myself without my curls. However, that wasn’t always the case.
Recently, I was scrolling through TikTok when a video of a mother styling her young daughter’s curly hair popped up. The little girl told her mother the kids in her class were making fun of her hair. Instantly, I teared up.
I was never teased for my hair, but the video brought back so many emotions. It brought me back to when I was young and insecure about my curls.
To be honest, I’m not sure where I get my curls from. I’m a bit of a mix — Salvadoran, Italian and Serbian. My mother, maternal aunt and cousin all have similar curls to mine. Meanwhile, many of my paternal aunts and uncles have tighter curls.
When I was younger, I didn’t realize my hair was curly until I entered the first grade. For some background knowledge, I grew up in a predominantly white suburban neighbourhood. As I entered elementary school, only one little girl had the same hair type as me: one.
Naturally, I wished for straight hair because almost everyone I interacted with throughout first grade had that hair type. I got my wish one day when my hair was straightened at school. I was in an after-school program while I waited for my parents to finish work. For some reason, one of the caretakers had a hair straightener with them — obviously, I wanted my hair straightened.
Yet, I still wasn’t happy with my hair. It looked odd and unnatural. Ultimately, I looked like a different person.
I didn’t straighten my hair for years after that day. Instead, I concealed my curls.
When I entered seventh grade, I began experimenting with fashion and beauty. Of course, hairstyles fell within that realm. While I was constantly trying different fashion aesthetics and getting familiar with beauty products, I remained consistent with my hairstyle throughout the seventh grade.
My hairstyle of choice? A top knot bun. The hairstyle became my holy grail — my hair was away from my face, and my curls were nowhere in sight…
I want to swing back to the present day. When I talked about the concept of this article to my friends, it made me tear up. I hadn’t even started writing, but at that moment, I knew my story would represent something deeply personal to me.
Reliving my thoughts, wishes and fears about my hair from the ages of seven to 13 is heartbreaking. Yet, it’s also rewarding to see how far I’ve come. I no longer wish for straight hair or want to conceal my curls. Instead, I’ve become the biggest curly hair supporter.
So, I leave you with these final words of encouragement: Free those curls, girl!