Changing My Hair as Pandemic Self-Care

For many of my life I fought my hair’s pure texture. I waged struggle with flat irons and chemical processes craving for silky straight hair. Within the lily-white suburb the place I grew up, one of many few Black college students, having straight hair signified an acceptance I craved, however my hair rejected my assimilation efforts. A number of years in the past, I relented to the mass of kinks and coils. Slowly, a love for my pure hair blossomed throughout frequent deep conditioning therapies and detangling classes.

Normally, I plait my hair in sections the evening earlier than, undoing the sections once I awake for giant, fluffy curls. The primary week of social distancing I skipped this course of; all my social interactions befell by way of digital settings. The attract of Zoom calls with video off made hairstyling tedious. 

As coronavirus circumstances surged close to me, I anticipated loneliness because of social distancing. Nonetheless, the illness which plagued me most was the sameness of every day. 

By month two of social distancing, I deserted my hair routine utterly. Floating by means of quarantine fatigue, my hair stayed in an unkempt French braid for nearly two weeks, the shortage of motivation simply justified by the elevated quantity of time I spent alone in my condo. As coronavirus circumstances surged close to me, I anticipated loneliness because of social distancing. Nonetheless, the illness which plagued me most was the sameness of every day. 

A instructed video on YouTube appeared on my feed in the future, a pure hair blogger putting in her personal braids. The time-lapse video impressed me, giving me permission to attempt one thing new. I drove to my native magnificence retailer the following day to buy the merchandise I wanted. Armed with a wide-tooth comb and edge management, I plopped onto my bed room ground in entrance of my mirror. Splitting my hair into small sections, I grabbed one piece and started braiding, weaving extensions dutifully round my very own hair. 

I launched the primary part, revealing one shoulder-length twist. I grabbed the following part of my hair and repeated the identical movement. Every twist appeared to stare into my mirror triumphantly. It’s simply hair, however it’s my hair. The method took virtually 4 hours, but at the same time as my arms drained my pleasure grew. I used to be alone in my condo with no person to witness this transformation. However for the primary time in two months, I felt something however lonely. 

The method took virtually 4 hours, but at the same time as my arms drained my pleasure grew. I used to be alone in my condo with no person to witness this transformation. However for the primary time in two months, I felt something however lonely. 

I used to be alone in my condo however I used to be taking management of my very own transformation. A small bodily change, I remembered the issues about my hair which I really like most—the endurance it calls for, the area it takes with out apology. The following 4 hours jogged my memory to take up area past the bodily one my physique occupies. Dreaming of going again to my regular, pre-pandemic life now not serves me. As a substitute, I discovered myself dreaming of the model of myself who navigates a brand new regular by giving herself grace. Who can discover it inside herself to increase that kindness to others. It sounds nonsensical, however perhaps generally this type of inside change begins on the surface. Perhaps this transformation began as I braided my very own hair. 

An in depth pal underwent her personal hair transformation. Earlier than deciding to shave her head, she reached out asking for recommendation. I’ll admit my preliminary response was one in all hesitation. My thoughts couldn’t perceive the rationale. 

“Why would you wish to shave all of your hair off?” I questioned. She listed just a few sensible causes. Working at a hospital in a pandemic resulted in frequent hair washes. A shaved head would simplify this piece of her routine. Ultimately, she revealed the first motivation: She’d by no means carried out it earlier than; she needed to attempt one thing new. 

Fortunately, she proceeded with out my approval. One pair of clippers and fewer than fifteen minutes and her shoulder-length hair was utterly gone. She by no means wanted my validation; she wears the brand new coiffure with a confidence I envy. All she did was lower off her hair, however I feel she let go of one thing else too. In our interactions, she feels somewhat lighter; she appears somewhat freer. 

I remembered the issues about my hair which I really like most—the endurance it calls for, the area it takes with out apology. The following 4 hours jogged my memory to take up area past the bodily one my physique occupies.

As we head into August, one other month of social distancing underway, who is aware of after we’ll be capable of return to any semblance of regular. Some days are simpler, and on others I discover myself craving how my life as soon as was. However I can say the dedication to altering my hair, the small act of investing in myself, replenished my spirits in additional methods than one. 

Perhaps you could find the braveness to attempt one thing totally different with your individual hair; with the Web at your disposal, there isn’t any scarcity of video tutorials and Pinterest boards to encourage. When is the final time you experimented with one thing new? An thought I’m notably keen on is dying it a shade totally different out of your pure one (bonus factors for purple). Attempt reducing your individual bangs. I can sense the hesitation already, however what’s the worst factor that would occur? 

It’s solely hair. It all the time grows again. 

Ryan is a contributing author at Wit and Delight. A nouveau Southern Belle, she relies in Atlanta the place she works at a small startup. She divides her free time studying, snuggling her candy rescue pup, and having fun with good wine with good buddies.