Let’s talk hair!
A few minutes ago, I saw a video of an Indian actress, Tapsee Panu, where she flaunts her hair and she’s super proud of her curls. The way she was comfortable and adored herself made me write this article.
I have had wavy/curly hair since my childhood. I grew up cribbing about my hair. I felt different and out of place when everyone around me had straight hair. I would ask my mum, why do I have so much hair? As you all know wavy or curly hair comes with frizz and a lot of density. Not only that, I was not happy with my body hair either.
It never really occurred to me until the girls in my class pointed to me. They would laugh about how much body hair I had. I could have been shy and ashamed about it. But I didn’t. Instead, I asked them if they didn’t know how body hair is very necessary to keep ourselves warm during the winter and cool during the summer. Didn’t you pay attention to Kavita Ma’am’s class? I added. Animals too have it, But how come you don’t? Probably God loves you less than me, I shrugged. They bought it. All of them started to feel bad about not having enough body hair. They never bugged me again.
I love moments like these where I am my own cheerleader. I guess the genes that carry curly hair carry these qualities too — To be brave — To be bold — To be unapologetically yourself!
To this day, I love my hair. I am not a fan of my body hair though. But I am not that conscious of it too.
I clearly remember this scene from a Hollywood movie, whose name I don’t remember. In the scene, the female protagonist who has curly hair had to go live all of a sudden. All she did was tie her curly hair so she could look like a professional. This scene was engraved in my heart since the time I watched it as a kid. The message I got was wavy/curly hair is not professional especially when you leave it open.
Women with wavy/curly hair types should either straighten their hair or tie their hair to be professional but can’t leave them open like straight hair. This made me fancy about straight hair a lot. The goal was to look serious so people would consider me as a professional.
Although the times have changed, there are a lot of people who still have such stereotypes about wavy/curly hair no matter where they live or how much they’re educated.
Well, I had a hard time unlearning it. I would fight every day with my hair trying to tame it. I always wanted my hair to listen to me, I wanted to look poised and flamboyant at the same time. One fine day, I just woke up and loved my hair. People’s opinions no longer bothered me. Since then the more I learned about my hair, the more I accepted it the way it was supposed to be. It became easy for me. We were no longer two personalities. I was like my hair. My hair was like me. I could feel like myself from head to toe.
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On the days when I wash my hair, I feel like a diva. On the second day of my hair wash, I feel like a sexy-goofy girl, who understands the world better, and knows which laws to break and which ones to bend. I don’t know if you understand what I am talking about. But this feeling is real, people! Like one hundred per cent real!
You feel like a rebel and you become one. And all of that is possible just with your hair. I want to know if other women feel the same way too (Girls, who feel like this cheer with me, woohoo!). Probably, that’s why women change their hairstyle when they want to change something in them. You can guess the mood of any woman just by looking at their hairdo (Did I just share an open secret?).
Also, I used to envy people who had straight hair. It is so easy to manage straight hair. I was too lazy and I am still lazy enough to manage my hair. It does feel like an entire project. I am still unsuccessful in learning any hairdos. So if I feel my hair is good, I leave it open or bun it. As simple as that. No matter what ceremony or event I am attending. That’s the best I can do.
Straight hair doesn’t really need much care. You take care of it once, you’re good to go. It’s easy to brush them too. Straight hair makes you feel like you’re certain, composed, confident, self-assured and ready to take action at any moment. Women with straight hair know exactly what I am talking about.
Whereas the wavy/curly hair — my God, you need to have a lot of patience to sit with it for more than a couple of hours. And yet you can’t guarantee your hair will look just how you imagined.
I am known for being badass. People who know me, will 100% agree. But I guess, my hair decided on it first. Just like the hat that decided Harry Potter's destiny. Similarly, I got to be who I am today was probably scripted since don’t know when. Because both my Mom and Dad have wavy/curly hair. My grandparents had wavy hair. I wonder if they felt the same vibe and energy too.
I just feel wavy/curly hair breaks the stereotype of hair that it is supposed to be straight. And maybe that’s why, women who have this type of hair don’t give in to any stereotypes the world creates. They make their own road.
The existence of wavy/curly hair is proof that not all women can be conditioned to behave like so-called “good girls”.
To all the girls and women who love your waves and curls, a big cheer to all of you. And to all the girls and women who have straight hair and if you have bought a curl iron or you love waves/curls, you now know why.
I always felt natural and wild because of my hair and I am glad to be who I am.
