Woke up this morning with the energy of two beauticians with all the intentions of: styling my hair! So I got dressed in my best quarantine sweats, and headed out to an "essential" business to pick up some hair products.
In our neighborhood, we have an abundance of hair supply businesses that I would normally patronize, however, given our stay-at-home status, those businesses have closed due to a pandemic that has taken the world by storm. So running errands, (which includes mental sanity aka “getting cute”) takes more time and effort.
As I strolled down the “ethnic” hair aisle, in the “essential business” looking for my favorite leave-in conditioner, bobby pins, Etc.. I started to get upset. Bobby pins are priced at $5 and my favorite leave-in was over-priced as well. Frustrated with the prices, but still felt compelled to look, I walked down the aisle named “beauty" of the hair care section. Side bar: if no one has noticed, the “ethnic hair" section and the "beauty hair" section are NOT the same section.... interesting. (I'll save the topic of "ethnic hair" not being considered "beauty hair" for another entry.) However, today my issue is with the over-charging! Can the government at least give permission to ONE beauty supply shop in our neighborhood to remain open? Restrict the hours of operation, the number of people in the store, etc etc however don’t cut off our means of feeling good about ourselves. Not to mention, $5.00 would get you a medium size Tupperware bowl full of bobby pins! Sheesh! At this point the beautician in me had left the building. First the prices, and then the labeling of "ethnic" and "beauty" as acronyms instead of synonyms? They can keep their $5.00 bobby pins, I will settle for the two braids my mom use to put in my hair when I was young. It’s cheaper and I look “presentable”.
It's the year 2020 and black women are still dealing with two words “ethnic” and “beauty”. It’s sad that the world still can’t see the beauty of being different. I will not apologize for my hair introducing me when I walk into a building. My hair is my antenna to the universe, in which I communicate with daily. And for that reason, my hair is essential! I am essential! You and all of your coils, are essential as well.
Confession: as much as I didn't want to purchase the $5 pins, I did *facepalm* (I won’t do it again though!) However, I didn’t want to feel less than beautiful, because even in my natural state, I am! I will not allow a label to define me because I have an obligation to the younger black and brown girls, coming under me. I am their reflection as well as they are mine. And we need to shine! Your hair is beautiful and essential - don’t you forget it!
T.Williams
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