VANESSA

Hairstyle: Pre Lightener

Time Taken: 5 hours

Hairstylist: Floria

I've always endured micro-aggressions toward myself and my hair as I'm very fickle, One month my hair could be short & curly and the next it's in long extensions. So I'd get asked "Wait, wasn't your hair short? now it's long? how did you grow it that long so quickly?" I'd ended up asking myself really? Is that a real question? 

I work in a predominantly corporate industry - which has a preconceived notion of professionalism, so I felt more comfortable in weave and straight hair because I'd get stared at less, have less questions asked about my hair, and have less people trying to touch my hair. Whenever I went natural there was always the "Can I touch it?" or people trying to stroke my hair. Like do people not understand personal space and that there is no need to touch my hair? I don't go around asking to touch your hair when you've got a new cut, so why do it to me? 

It happens so often at work that I can say that I've practically switched off towards it. Focusing on it is a downer especially when you know that you can't speak out against it. If you do speak out against it you are labelled. However, as I have got older I have embraced who I am & the fact that my hair is an expression of my personality. I no longer conform to make others more comfortable and do speak up if I feel uncomfortable.