Hair and Self Esteem

I was chatting to my niece the other day and she mentioned that she was doing her hair. 'Doing her hair' = getting a weave.The weave was essentially a protective style. She really wants to grow her hair and, like any good aunt would, I've been encouraging her to do research and learn more about how to take care of her hair. 

So what's slowing down the hair growth?

In my opinion, it's chemical straighteners. She's only 16 and regularly straightens her hair. Why? Because there's immense pressure for girls her age to look a certain way. I remember through my teens being sent to the hair salon to get my hair straightened. During my 20's it was more a case of Dad saying "Here's some money, go and get your hair done". This seems like a long time ago but not much has changed. There's still this pressure on females to conform to a particular picture. (If you haven't seen Good Hair yet, you should!)

Thankfully there's a natural hair movement that's talking about it being ok to wear hair naturally. That straight isn't the only acceptable look. We need more role models for young girls who are proud of who they are as they are and not the look that their money can buy. 

This isn't about judging. This is about a young woman who wants to grow her hair but finds her hair damaged because she wants to look a certain way. She doesn't have the self-confidence to go against the image she has of what good looks like and do what she really wants to do. 

So that's what this post is really about. Building self-confidence. Nurturing our children in a way that they choose a look that's their choice and not one they feel pressured into choosing. Do you know what I mean? It's about telling little girls and boys that they're beautiful, gorgeous and amazing...just the way they are. Something a little like this song...so that they can feel proud to sing this. Because, at the end of the day, 

Thanks for reading.