Insert 2: A question of Hair and Identity

1 April 2022

I have been waiting for this month for a while now. I feel the excitement, but at the same time, worry.

Today, I unplaited my singles. There was an immediate drop in my self-esteem. I wondered to myself, ‘If my self-esteem has dropped just from unplaiting my singles, how will I feel when I shave all my hair off?’ I thought I looked way prettier when I had singles braided. This also happened when I had plaited my hair during high school, there were far more compliments.

'Wow, you look beautiful,’ or, 'You just look different.'

People told me I looked prettier with my hair plaited. My self-esteem would immediately shoot up.

I’ve heard it from other girls too, friends who always plait their hair because they feel prettier like that.

I know most people simply love their hair and aim to take care of it, to nurture it as best as they can. Hair is a part of our bodies, a beautiful thing, something to enhance our beauty. We ought to take care of it. Many use hair as an art, a form of expression, whether this is dying hair, or plaiting a unique braiding style. To others, it is a confidence booster.

My question is this:

It's just so blurry, when does hair go from enhancing beauty to defining it? When does loving my hair and taking care of it lead to my hair being the basis of my identity, my self-esteem, the thing by which I am recognised or represented?

I still have not found an answer to that question, perhaps there is no answer. Is there even an issue to begin with?

God, I pray that this is a good decision.

Signing off

___

Comment question:

This insert is more questions than answers. Still, it opens room for discussion.

What are your views about hair and how it relates to your identity, and self-worth?

Should hair form part of identity or not? And if so, to what extent?

Signing off (in real time)

You Are Never Alone