“I knew about my culture because I am West Indian, Antiguan but I did not pay attention to my blackness or the political statement my hair could make.”
Jua (name changed to protect her identity)
Age: 39
Occupation/field: Property assessment
Ethnicity: Antiguan
Ajax, Ontario
Why did you decide to go Natural?
I have always worn my hair natural for the most part. My hair is very thin and I would occasionally wear weaves and braids for special occasions but found that both would pull on my hair and result in hair damage. Also the trips to the salon to get weave and braids done can be both expense and time-consuming.
I remember seeing family photos of my Dad in the 70s wearing an afro and dashiki. As a child, while in public school, my mom would braid my hair so I think subconsciously wearing my hair natural was an evolution of the positive images I saw of Black hair growing up. I knew about my culture because I am West Indian, Antiguan but I did not pay attention to my blackness or the political statement my hair could make. In university, I would wear a small afro on campus and I was part of the Black Students Association. I feel my relationship with my hair was more about working with the texture of my hair and finding hairstyles that would allow it grow and be healthy. Even though I wore my hair natural for the majority of my life, it was less about making a political statement and more about hair solutions that would not damage my hair. I can remember my university days going to the mall with my girlfriends (who also wore natural hair) and the looks I would get as we walked the mall. The university was located in a small rural town in Ontario and unlike the city (Toronto) was mainly made up of White people. I felt that like maybe people thought we looked like a gang and it made me feel criminalized.
I decided to wear my hair in Sisterlocks when I got pregnant with my daughter. Sisterlocks is a hair style that results is the formation of small locs that are installed by a trained Sisterlocks technician as the style has been trademarked. The hair is transformed into locs, not through twisting the hair at the root like dreadlocks but by using a hair tool that resembles a crochet needle to form the locs in unified way. I did a lot of research and decided to get Sisterlocks because it was a low maintenance hair style that would allow my hair to grow.
What do you dislike about being Natural?
The unknown of how to manage your hair: I have five curl patterns in my household and it’s hard to know how to take care and manage all hair different types. My three daughters are growing up and are now expressing an interest in wearing their hair natural and I struggle to know what products as well as how best to style their hair. I feel like I missed out on the traditions of how to maintain my hair so it stays healthy. Also I feel my relationship with my hair is also tied to my health. If I do not feel well physically and mentally on the inside it affects my hair.
On a professional note, I did not realize the negative comments or feedback I would receive from co-workers at the office. When I got my Sisterlocks installed, I would wear a wig to work until my hair grew long enough that I could put it into a pony tail and then I stopped wearing the wig and would wear my natural hair. I remember when I started wearing the Sisterlocks to work, my hair was a lot shorter than it is now, and a co-worker sent me an email asking why would I cut off my hair? He said it looked so much better longer meaning with my wig. I was shocked that he (co-worker) felt that comfortable to send me this email considering we are not friends and do not socialize outside of the workplace. I realized when you think people do not care about how you carry yourself or decide to wear your hair; they always have something to say – good or bad.
What do you like about your hair?
I like that my hair grew and that I have long hair that dangles all the way to the middle of my back. My husband loves my hair and he braids it for me. It is a nice and relaxing way for us to connect and bond as a couple. I like that it is low maintenance in the sense that I am in and out of the salon to re-tighten the locks. My hair journey has taught me that I have always had a strong sense of self and danced to the beat of my drum by embracing my natural hair (before it was “in” or considered a movement). I realize even when you think you don’t know what works for your hair it will just take that one thing someone has learned from you to understand you have been doing you all along. I’ve had Sisterlocks for almost nine years and I am happy. I like what I see when I look in the mirror.
Diverse Women Collective 