The Obsession with Hair Length: Ladies the Length of Your Curls Does Not Define You
Introduction: A Glimpse into the Past
Long hair is a cultural beauty standard in many cultures. Native American, Indian, Chinese, and other cultures have traditionally valued long hair. It is often associated with femininity, wealth, beauty, and even religion. The Eurocentric beauty standards introduced to America were the same, praising long, straight hair. These ideologies have stayed prominent to this day and are still used as a modern beauty standard.
The Black Hair Experience
Growing up, I would tie sheets on my head so I could feel like my hair was long, straight, and flowy. All of the characters in the movies I watched, the popular girls in school, the faces on the billboards, all had one thing in common: they had straight hair. I wanted that; I wanted long, flowy hair because I wanted to feel beautiful. I have a mix of many textures in my hair, but one thing is for sure: I have significant shrinkage. I would always ask my mom to braid my hair growing up to maximize the length. Black hair is magical; it changes forms with a snap of your fingers. I always say shrinkage is a superpower, because we can have short or long hair depending on the mood. We are truly amazing.I’ve been told that my hair makes me look like a boy, or that when my hair is longer (wigs or extensions), I look more attractive. I get more compliments when my hair is longer. My 4C afro is never good enough for these beauty standards that were made just to spite us.
The Social Media Effect
As I scroll through the Instagram feed, I see videos with words that say, “Black girls can’t have beautiful hair.” And the caption reads, “Who said Black girls can’t grow long, beautiful and healthy hair?” Let me ask something: Why does my hair have to go past my butt for it to be beautiful? Why is my hair only healthy if it’s long? This ideology is spread throughout the internet and put in front of many black girls and women. It’s not fair to dismiss beauty just because your hair doesn’t fit the “beauty standard.”
There has been a growth of media that shows black women shaming their hair and shaming other women’s hair. Whether it’s the growth of relaxers, putting in protective styles back to back without letting their hair breathe, or talking to the camera about how much they hate their natural hair, this is making an impact on our self-esteem, especially to young black girls.
Internalization
There is a pressure to achieve a longer hair length that is harder for naturally kinky and curly hair to attain. Our natural hair is often shamed or seen as less desirable and unattractive. For many Black women, our hair reflects our identity, and this underlying hatred against our hair can cause insecurities, negative self-talk, and harm our mental health.
Society tells us that our hair is only “beautiful” if it's long and straight rather than big and curly. Society also praises when hair is styled and slicked down rather than left in its natural state. It is deemed more professional, and some associate long hair with money and success. So, of course, Black women are more inclined to hide their curls, because society deems it less attractive.
Healing and Redifining Beauty
Whether you're rocking a buzz, an afro, box braids, or something else, your hair is a gift. Remember, length does not equate to health. Healthy hair comes in all shapes, sizes, and lengths. You can focus on hair care instead of obsessing over hair growth. Everyone's hair is different, just because someone’s hair looks some wayt mean tha’t mean that your hair isn’t beautiful. We need to stop forming ideologies that inches mean beauty and health. What makes our hair healthy is moisture, hydration, and embracing our natural hair as a gift and not a curse. Your hair is not a status symbol; it’s a part of your body that you have to learn to love just as much as anything else.
Conclusion
Long hair isn’t superior; it's a standard we have all been conditioned to follow. You deserve to feel beautiful no matter how many inches sit on your head, no matter if you have 4c or 3b hair, no matter how tight or loose your curls are, your hair is beautiful. You are beautiful.
8 TV Shows/Movies that celebrate and embrace our natural hair, explore identity, encourage self-love, and celebrate Black beauty.
The Hair Tales - Hulu (Documentary)
Nappily Ever After - Netflix (Comedy/Romance)
Self-Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker - Netflix (Drama/Historical Fiction)
Blackish - Netflix/Disney+ (Comedy)
Insecure - HBO (Comedy)
Black Lady Sketch Show - HBO (Comedy)
Hair Love - Youtube (Kids)
Bad Hair - Hulu (Horror)
Add anymore you have down below!
