Nappy Hair - My Body Image Story

by Ameerah Lewis
(Ohio)

Me With Kinky Hair!

Me With Kinky Hair!

I am not quite a teenager anymore, but I wanted to share my story...


I have had lots of body image issues, but one that God has recently brought me through was with my hair.

I am black, and so I have kinky hair. Ever since I was a little girl I always thought that there was something wrong with that. Though all of the women in my family were black, none of them had kinky hair like mine - they had chemically straightened it. In fact 98% of the black women I saw on TV had chemically straightened their hair too. So, I always thought that the way black women's hair grew out of our head was somehow unacceptable.

When I was about 10, I had my hair chemically straightened for the first time. That meant that every 6 weeks, I had to let someone put more chemicals in my hair so people couldn't see the new hair that was growing in nappy. It became a way of life.

I spent most of my life thinking that my hair constantly had to be fixed for me to be pretty.

Well, about a year ago, I realized that God said He gave women their hair as a covering and a glory. I began to wonder, why am I trying to change the glory that God gave to me? If He designed me to have kinky hair, then that is what I am going to have!

Since then, I stopped chemically altering my hair. I admit, I was so self-conscious at first. I felt ugly and boyish. But, God showed me different things I could do with my own hair that was both feminine and unique. Now, everywhere I go, I get compliments on my hair. Yes, some people stare disapprovingly, but I know now that they are not disapproving of me, but of God's handiwork -and they will have to take that up with Him (-:

My husband loves the way it feels and the way it looks. And, I have the confidence of knowing that I am good enough, just how my Father made me!

Comments for Nappy Hair - My Body Image Story

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Apr 22, 2009
You are beautiful
by: Anonymous

You are beautiful...your hair is you...I think straightening it would take away from your face!

Aug 13, 2009
Love Yourself
by: Jamie

i am going through the same thing. I was natural for 7 yrs, i decided to start straightening my hair the old fashion way(hot comb). after 1 year my thick hair started to thin. I then went back to perms, ok, i was fly for a few months then my hair fell out again. i also tried braids , another disaster, my edges fell out. i finally went back to comb twists, and my hair feels so heathly and happy now. i am considering locks because i think it will accentuate my natural beauty, as a black women. I believe soon all black women will begin to see the damage of altering their natural hair isn't worth it.

Dec 13, 2009
Growing on me
by: S'ambrosia

I totally agree with what you said about learning to embrace the natural beauty God created us with, including our hair type.

I did my first "big chop" back in July and I love my natural hair, but sometimes I do get self-conscious when I watch television and the type of beauty that is portrayed for African-American women. I love hearing stories of women that have broken free from the cultural ideals of beauty and embrace their God-given beauty, it's very encouraging!

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