Dear Different Hair Type-Person,

part of My Black Hair Stories by Sue-Ann Bel

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I know more about your hair than you know about mine Because your hair is everywhere I mean, really everywhere I see your hair in the theatres and movies Or when I'm waiting for my favourite TV show to start again, I see your shiny hair during a commercial break Or when I'm at the drugstore, asking for shampoo and the only thing I get to see are white models with curly or smooth hair

But let me ask you a question: what do you know about my hair? About my four different combs with four different functions About my mini-brush that ensures my baby hairs stay in place with strong gel Or my homemade hair conditioner because it's exhausting to read EVERY list of ingredients in a black hair store to see if it's not full of crap that's not good for the scalp What do you know about the hairbrushes, so powerful they don't break when I brush my hair What do you know about the three layers of hair products needed to moisture my hair What do you know about cramps in your fingers from tying the extra hair tightly to your scalp Or a throbbing, pounding, aching head after a five-hour braiding session and your tired but you can’t sleep What do you know about the questions whether this is your real hair or fake And you don't feel like answering that question and decide to say it’s all real

And tell me what you know about staying up all night cause you have to finish your hairstyle because the next day you have to look good for work Tell me now that you know how frustrating it is when you've put all your love and all your time into preparing a hairstyle that doesn't turn out the way you would like it but you really have to leave the house for work and you arrive at work and people giving their opinion about your hairstyle. And they say: it doesn’t really look like the last time

What do you know about having 6 days a week instead of 7 because Sunday is wash day and that’s the whole freaking day Or about the rainy season where most of us decide to braid our hair so it’s protected and not exposed to unexpected rain. And let me tell you about winter time. Sometimes so cold that my hair has shrunk during my morning walk before I can realize it

What do you know? What do you know about being tired of people touching your crown About hands that come your way to touch your freshly washed and oiled hair Tell me, what do you know about my hair?

Want to know more about Sue-Ann Bel? Click here to read more.