Comments on: Our Hair, Our Memories, Our History

By: Amanda

Amanda — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:16:39 +0000

Great article, my memories are from doing my daughters hair every Sunday. She would never sit still for anything, so we had a lot of screaming going on. After the hair was done, she goes to a mirror and shake all the beads or barrettes in her hair. Then the smiles would come.
Amanda
curlyprincesshairboutique.com

By: SJay

SJay — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:32:30 +0000

I used to joke about not having the right to be tenderheaded because my hair was so nappy, but now reflecting on the old attitudes and shame I carried makes me sad. Glad I got over it!

By: nyc/caribbean ragazza

nyc/caribbean ragazza — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 09:24:06 +0000

My memories are not of bonding but sheer torture. Sorry, getting burned with a hot comb was not fun.

By: misha

misha — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 05:41:00 +0000

I hated those times and cringe at that memory. The pain, the tears, the sobbing. Feeling my hair break and seeing handful after handful being tossed to the floor (not believing for a moment that that was natural). In fact, I wore braids for a good decade so I would not have to go through that daily ritual. I am so glad I decided to give my hair another chance and research what it takes to at least get a comb through it properly. Both my hair and I are grateful.

By: 2Serenity

2Serenity — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 23:03:13 +0000

This article and your story of becoming natural is a testimony to how we BOND through our hair rituals. I hope more people though will be positive about the times when our mothers took time to make their daughters CUTE everyday for school. That’s some love even when it hurt getting our hair combed or hot combed!

I think that is a testament of our mother’s strength. I’m so thankful for all the times my Mom combed my hair, hot combed, washed my hair and introduced me to the hairdresser who gave me my first perm.

Though I’ve been natural, permed, natural and permed and now natural again, it’s a testament of all the things we can do with our hair texture. My Mom has always transitioned between natural hair and permed hair. I guess I’ve observed and I’ve been doing the same thing.

Thank you for sharing as always, afrobella.

By: talktotisha

talktotisha — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:28:30 +0000

I have fond memories of getting my hair done.

Yep – it was always Saturday evening.

Yep – it hurt sometimes. But I got to watch TV while she did it.

Yep – she greased my scalp.

When my mom did my hair – it was all love but then my older sister started doing it. I guess she was mad that Mom made her do our hair – because she made sure to braid real tight and push the beads into my scalp while doing it!

Great article! As always Bella, thanks for sharing! (Cute picture)

T.T. that’s a cool picture!

By: Niki

Niki — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:48:29 +0000

I remember being tender-headed and having lots of hair when I was a little girl. My eldest sister would braid it for me and put lots of wooden and plastic beads on it, sealing the ends with foil. How I loved to shake my head around and hear the beads “swoosh”! LOL On special occasions, my mother would press my hair. This usually took place on Sundays. My mom was really gentle with my hair though, but I hated sitting in my slip on two telephone books for what seemed like hours trying to press through my thick, long, bushy Chaka Khan-like mane. When it was done, my mother would either pin-curl it or set it with foam rollers. I loved my curls and mama would put yarn ribbons or barrettes in them. I got my first relaxer at about 11 or 12 years old, then I started doing my own hair.

By: J.Adia

J.Adia — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:53:37 +0000

I saw my 4 yr old niece get her hair done by my sister in law this weekend. That childe was not happy. I had to put The Princess Diaries on to distract her she was crying so hard. And I was told that she has worked herself into so much of a frenzy somethimes she has thrown up.

I don’t have a lot of hair memories. I remember getting it pressed just for it to revert before church service the next morning. I remember the burns on my ears. My mom wasn’t the best braider so I wore lots of ponytails.

By: Eli

Eli — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 10:48:46 +0000

I agree with Em. This article was sad and there was so much negativity and pain that seems to be coming forth into the NEW/NEXT generation. Must pain be a part of hair care? EVERYBODY from stringy/straight to curly/kinky has an ouch once in a while, but PAIN? Too bad it is part of the history but let’s not make it a memory for our children!!

I am feeling happy for vonmiwi’s Granddaughter! Em, enjoy those bikerides!

By: nexgrl

nexgrl — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 20:01:59 +0000

My Mom doesn’t do well with combing hair, hers, my sister, or mine. She paid someone to comb my sister’s hair, or my dad did it. When I came along, she tried and failed. At the age of 5, I tired of wearing the same pony tail for 1 week, while she brushed it every morning. The other style choice was two braids, same routine. I began combing my own hair, only asking her or my sister to part it for me. My Mom also began sending me to the Beauty Shop every two weeks for a shampoo and press.