Love is in the air, but oftentimes, we are so focused on finding love with others, that we forget to love ourselves. Society has a way of convincing us that there is something wrong with our natural hair. We are constantly bombarded with images of sleek, straight hair, and told that this is the only way to look beautiful. But the truth is, our natural tresses are also beautiful and it's time to appreciate them for what they are: unique and beautiful. This is why this year, my curls are my valentine.
Accepting your curls means letting go of societal expectations and embracing your true self. Accepting that your curls may not always be perfectly defined or frizz-free is the best form of love you can give yourself. Curls are unpredictable and that’s the beauty of it! Your curls are a part of who you are and the more we try to fight with them and go against their natural state, the further we get from our authentic selves. It is difficult to get society to change the norm when we are constantly trying to conform to it.
While there is nothing wrong with trying out new hairstyles and changing your look, it is time to believe our natural hair is professional and elegant enough for special occasions. Throughout time, our curly hair hasn’t been special enough for proms, business events, weddings, and even some schools! It’s to the point that if you look back on photos from special events, you are unrecognizable. I’ve been guilty of this. I look back on my prom pictures and formal events throughout my life before I learned to fully embrace and love my curls, and the majority of them flaunted straight hair. That is not me. That is not how God made me. At some point, I decided to drop the heat and instead style my unique curls rather than try to hide them. And that is when I truly fell in love with myself.
No more stress of trying to keep my hair sleek by avoiding workouts, and saying no to jumping in the pool even though I really want to. No more spending hours at the hair shop while being juggled by the many clients my hairdresser decided to book at the same time. No more destroying my delicate curls and getting upset that they don’t cooperate when I haven’t given them the chance to fully thrive. When you fully learn to embrace your curls, you truly begin to live!
We understand that embracing your curls is a journey that is not always easy. There will be bad hair days and days when you don't know what to do with your hair. But remember that your curls are unique and beautiful, and that is something to be proud of. This year, I encourage your curls to be your Valentine and that you show them the TLC they deserve. Take a break once in a while from heat, chemicals, and tight hairstyles.
Let’s embrace our curls and be true to ourselves! Let go of societal expectations and embrace the hair you were born with. Share your experience embracing your curls and how it made you feel in the comments; we'd love to hear from you! Remember that your curls, like you, are beautiful, unique, and one-of-a-kind!
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