Hair part I

Why is hair such a big issue? Particular for African American/African descendents with coarse, semi curly hair, kinky or as others view it “Napps”. In 2003 I started my graduate psychology program at Florida A&M University. There I met several women who had natural hair and spoke about maintaining a healthy lifestyle. As far as I knew it, I had a healthy lifestyle, I didn’t smoke, drink, or engage in any drug activities. It wasn’t until towards the middle of the semester when I was enlightened about what exactly a healthy lifestyle was and it starts with the chemicals one puts in his/her hair.

I attended a thesis presentation one of my classmates was presenting on; it was titled “Processed hair”. What exactly is processed hair? Well it starts with chemicals, any type of chemicals used to alter the color, length, or texture of a persons hair is processed. I had not realized I fell in the category of young women who processed their hair. Processing my hair was part of my culture. I remember as early as nine years old what a big deal it was to get a perm or to hot comb my hair. When I had my first communion it was a two day process to complete my hair. My grandmother washed my hair, air dried it for half a day and braid it into small sections. I even missed a school day so I wouldn’t sweat at gym class. The morning of the communion ceremony I had to wake up at 4 o’clock in the morning to start the straightening procedure. The first step was greasing the scalp so the hair doesn’t fry. It was the most painful procedure I had ever experienced as a child, yet I felt it was the best my hair had ever looked because I got so many compliments. While having my hair straightened my ears were burned, my head ached, I had dry scalp, and the steam from the comb irritated my neck. No one seemed to notice the agonizing look on my face, but even if they did this was part of our culture. They weren’t going to allow me to embarrass the family with my kinky hair; this was tradition. As I got older I under stood the “importance” of perming, hot combing and coloring my hair was.

At any rate the presentation explained the difference between women who processed their hair and those that do not. Women who continuously process their hair are linked to terminal illnesses such as cancer, all sorts, skin dysfunction and damaged hair. The presenter showed pictures of women’s brains that processed their hair, and these women had developed all sorts of green mucus around their heads. Women who continue to perm, color, Jeri curl, S curl, organic perm or what ever fancy names marketers came up with for altering your hair, are at high risk for:
· Cancer (brain, ovarian, breast, skin)
· Damage to hair and follicles
· Hair loss and thinning
· Burned scalp and skin
Also women process their hairs are more prone to other diseases.
To be continue