Mother's Love in My Hair

For as long as I can remember I have had issues when it pertains to self-image. I have suffered with low levels of confidence and insecurities due to my hair loss. At the age thirteen, traditional sew-in weave hairstyles and braids where my go to styles. When I think back my mother attributes my hair loss to a time when I was around five years old and playing in the sand box. While playing with one my peers she rubbed sand in my hair. The sand in my hair caused ringworms on my body and the scalp. This actually was the beginning of my hair loss journey.  Ringworms are a fungal infection spread through direct contact with people causing hair loss that normally grows back 6 to 12 months after successful treatment. With treatment I still have not experienced hair growth. This has been a flaw that has caused lasting effects on my confidence when it comes to my hair. Wigs and hair extensions have been my light throughout this journey. Hair extensions have also been a staple bringing confidence and benefit to my overall look. Hair loss specifically, on my hair line has not been comfortable growing up with. Even when my hair is done professionally I feel frustration and insecurity. Stylist tend to question and insinuate that I am not taking care of my hair and I do not want to be judged. Some stylist lack versatility and inability with working with various hair types. I am at a point where I am unable to venture out to different hair stylist limiting me from letting different people install my hair weave Present day traditional sew-in weave hairstyles and braids have not been an option. I have struggled with depression and suffered for fourteen years due to thinning around my hair line. I am now a young adult, and my hair still has not grown around my hair line. My hair has taken me on highs and lows, I have progressed but continually striving to overcome. Dealing with a severely thinning hair line has placed me in situations where I have felt inferior. I was at the point where I could not leave the house without a wig or extensions. I have no clue how it feels to wear my natural hair. Wearing weave, wigs, and hair extensions has strengthen my self-confidence, giving me the ability to wear different hairstyles without showing my hair loss. When it comes to the woes of hair, all women can relate. Whether you are white, black or Asian we all agonize over hair at some point in our lives. I have certainly come a long way of accepting my hair and it has undoubtedly been an uphill battle learning to endure my hair. Acceptance of my hair has aided me in embracing and loving who I am as an African American woman. Society tends to focus on outside beauty and I have learned to place my value on my inner beauty. Accepting my hair has helped me build confidence. I strive to accomplish my goals and I know that as long as I continue to put forth effort in taking care of my hair it will grow back one day. India Arie said it best “ I Am Not My Hair” therefore I will not let wholesale hair extensions determine who I am.   Today I am overcoming my fear of my hair insecurity. Wigs have given me another opportunity to feel more comfortable and braver about my hair loss. I am thankful for wigs, weave, and hair extensions. I am brave every moment that I choose to continue onwards despite my insecurities and uncomfortableness caused by the thinning and absence of my hair. I am in a place where I know longer care what people think or feel when it comes to my appearance. When you feel happy and fulfilled regardless of what other people think, do, or say you are taking control of how you perceive yourself and the way people perceive you. I am well into my sophomore year at Prairie View A & M University I plan to attain a degree in the field of education to one day become a School Guidance Counselor. I work hard to maintain good grades academically and I aspire to work with young people that may be suffering from self-image issues and insecurities. I believe living through my own adversity gives me the ability to relate and understand issues young people are facing. Giving them the best chance at finding their own success. I am an “Overcomer” and through life we experience many challenges, I believe that you must find the silver lining in dark circumstances. Only the strong will survive and through this I have and will continue to be triumphant.