A F R O C H I C K M A G A Z I N E | Vol. 1 (December 2013) | Page 12

A F R O C H I C K | M A G A Z I N E 12

Black Women and Identity:
What’s hair got to do with it?
NATURAL HAIR CARE EDITORIAL ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION
By Cheryl Thompson

When it comes to hair, all women can relate. Whether you are white, black or Asian we all
agonize over how to wear it; toss and turn about what colour it should be; and, cringe at the
thought of cutting it too short. Dermatological research (see Browne, 2006; Loussouarn and
Rawadi et al., 2005; McMichael, 2003; 2007; Wolfram, 2003) has shown that we are all born
with approximately 150,000 hair follicles on the scalp but when it comes down to it, not all hair
is created the same. Visually, black hair is thicker, curlier, and often frizzier as compared to
Caucasian and Asian hair. And, from a grooming standpoint, it is also more sensitive to
excessive manipulation, requiring a different set of styling techniques.
For me, hair has always been a constant battle. Sure, as a child it was long and healthy, but after
over a decade of using a chemical straightener, it grew increasingly damaged – a tale that rings
true for millions of black women – and I became tired of repeating the “process” every six to
eight weeks. Why am I doing this, I wondered? What does my thick, curly, frizzy hair actually
look like? And, is there a way I can take care of my hair without using a chemical, a hot comb, or
having to wear a wig? Fortunately, both my sisters have worn their hair natural for several years,
so I have seen firsthand how to care for that style, but so many women are not as lucky. And so
last January, I sought to share my story with whoever would listen, and that is when my hair
journey and that of Strictly Roots (SR) [1]owner, Ruth Smith, collided.
One gloomy morning in February, 2008, I walked into SR, a natural hair care studio – which
means no measures are taken to alter the natural state of black hair – located in Toronto. Open
since 2002, I had been a client of SR for months; however, this morning was different. As I
entered the shop, Ruth was on the phone doing an interview about an article F