Naleighna Kai's Literary Cafe Magazine January 2018 New Year, New You | Page 52

not wearing her natural hair because she knows he
doesn’t like it. He also mentioned the length a few
times and the style. It sounds like he prefers long
hair and if she cut it off a couple of times, it will take
a few years for it to grow to the length that he likes.
Him not supporting her is unfortunate because
dealing with your natural hair on your own can be
hard, frustrating, and discouraging at times.
So many black women do not know how to take care
of their hair, what products to use, what salons to go
to, and what styles will work. All that is hard enough
to deal with but add to the mix the person that you
want to look good for not feeling you...that’s hurtful.
I understand how she feels it is her fault because
he hasn’t said anything different. She taking
responsibility for them having this issue between
them now, but he hasn’t taken responsibility for his
reaction and how it makes her feel. She seems to
be more understanding of his feelings and while he
says he understands, he would prefer that she put
that weave back in.
Shareta Caldwell-Rippatoe: I’m natural and one
of the top comments I hear from other naturals is
regarding their significant other’s reaction. All of them
thought, oh it’s just hair, he won’t trip. Well, they were
wrong. It isn’t just hair. It never is just ‘anything’.
I remember when I decided to stop relaxing my hair, I
did talk to my husband. He didn’t care, he said it was
my hair. He has only ever seen me relaxed so I told him,
so you know this hair in its natural state is completely
different. Fast forward five years later and he walked
in on me putting a deep conditioner on and lost his
damn mind. He thought I was putting on a perm. All I
heard was, you said you were natural now. How could
you do this? It is so unhealthy. Your hair is fine. Wash
it out, you didn’t say you were doing this. And he was
serious!
Remember, this is the man who said, it was my hair
and it didn’t matter. Turns out, it does matter. I was
like, “Dude chill, it’s conditioner. Can you not smell the
coconut?”
Mary Crawford: We wear weave, we’re trying to be He had the container in his hand like he was about
white. We wear makeup they’ve a problem. We wear to throw it in the trash! Man, do you know how much
out hair the way God gave it to us and they start deep conditioner costs? Put my jar down!!!
longing for the other texture. Women have way
too much pressure on us to be everybody else’s
definition of beauty. Mary Crawford And I know
damn well that he knew that mermaid looking hair
was not real. GTHOH
Keshia RocknRolla Kola: She needs more friends
with natural hair. There are so many beautiful styles
she can play with. I’m glad that she’s finally embraced
it, because she is beautiful. My BF is Mexican and he
LOVES and prefers my hair natural. He doesn’t like it
straight. I don’t understand why all the drama over
hair. It reminds me of the “Good and bad hair” scene
in Spike Lee’s “School Daze” and I thought we were
pass that?!
(pictured: Shareta Caldwell-Rippatoe)
52 | NKLC Magazine