CURLING CURL ENVY...

Ladies, we’ve all heard it at some point-- the “oohs” and “aahs” from women when they spot a woman with loosely curled natural hair. For most of us in the African American community, beginning from the time we are children, we are socialized to believe that having a certain “grade” of hair is better and more desirable. While there is nothing wrong with admiring a fellow natural’s hair, it becomes a much deeper issue once admiration transforms into jealousy.

So how do you know if you’re simply appreciating another’s beauty or secretly lusting for what you don’t have? It’s normal to casually consider, “Oh wouldn’t it be cool to have hair like that so I could try different styles?” But, if you find yourself thinking “I wish I had looser curls” or “I couldn’t ever make my hair look like hers,” then you might be suffering from a case of curl envy.

Some natural hair forums are notorious for curl-envy commentary that ranges from lighthearted expressions of longing to outright covetous remarks oozing with vitriol. It’s important to note, however, that this issue isn’t just for the tightly coiled sisters but for natural women of all textures. From ladies with coilier hair trying to find that miracle loosening product to loosely curled girls down about their inability to rock the bigger styles. There is an ample amount of curl envy flying in all directions.

Trust me ladies, the grass is not always greener on the other side and in the end, nobody wins with envy. When you limit your thinking to what your hair can’t do, you lose the opportunity to discover all the amazing things it can do. Likewise, copying a style better suited for a different texture takes extra time, energy, and you run the risk of damaging your precious strands due to over-manipulation. Instead of wishing for what you don’t have, why not invest more energy into what you can achieve with your own natural texture?

So, your loose ringlets can’t hold a fro-hawk? Oh well! Maybe your super-coily hair shrinks like there’s no tomorrow. So what? By challenging yourself to create styles that work with and not against your natural texture, you’ll unleash your inner hair artist and gain more confidence along the way. Go ahead and admire other hair types. Be inspired by the diverse styles you see, but at the end of the day, embrace what Mother Nature gave you!

By: Leslie

WELL SAID !!!