One of my favorite posts from 2009. Beauty Redefined by a Short and Chic Natural

In honor of my new hair cut, this post seems SO appropriate.  It's a throw back. Enjoy!

When I went natural I decided to:

1. Define for MYSELF what is beautiful and acceptable

2. Not be content to be defined by my appearance alone, but make sure my insides are more beautiful

3. Not allow things (what I am wearing, how much it costs, what celebrities are selling) to factor into who I AM!

With that in mind I am not, I repeat NOT on some fast paced journey to grow long hair. I am no longer bound by the belief that long hair= beauty! Yes a woman’s hair is her crown, but perhaps its length is not the only way to measure its beauty. As a woman of African descent my hair curls and is strong and can bounce back after any weather condition and it is resilient. And as long as it is healthy it is beautiful. 

Growth in ones hair is a sign that you are taking care of it and that it’s happy. Growing stronger, more resilient and healthier is a sign that your hair is loved and that should be how we define beauty as it relates to hair. Growing stronger, more resilient and healthier should be how we define beauty as it related to ourselves in general.

So, no, I am not going to mark my growth and tap my feet impatiently waiting for my hair to grow to certain length. What will happen then anyway? Will wings miraculously sprout from my back and send me flying into a state of euphoria where only people with long hair are allowed to be happy?! Didn't think so. When you or I get to a certain length we will still be the same person, with the same face, same skin color, and same life.

A lot of natural hair bloggers and relaxed hair bloggers too focus on length and how to grow your hair. How about we focus on how to grow your confidence and learn to love yourself no matter what length you're at. Why not focus on changing that lie that equates length with beauty? How about we stand together and embrace our short hair and love it. It's ours! And so it is beautiful. How about we stop waiting til.... and start loving what is happening NOW! 

Let's change the standard of beauty by deeming ourselves beautiful NOW instead of thinking demoralizing thoughts like "When my hair is long enough to.... You ain't go be able to tell me nothing!"

Going natural is a chance to free your hair from chemicals and free your mind from all of the elements outside of you that are trying to tell you what to think and how you should feel about yourself.... And I'll let you in on a secret...this whole image of beauty that is being ingrained in our brains is nothing more than a very well orchestrated, highly effective marketing scheme to get you and I to believe that we can buy our beauty. You cannot buy beauty or worth, you already have it and the sooner you realize that the better! 

It's no coincidence that the Black hair care industry is a $9 BILLION a year industry .

So for all my sisters on the fence about going natural and spending all that time transitioning because you are afraid of short hair.... I say take back your mind and stop being afraid to be you! YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL and the length of your hair will not change that. Stop being afraid to see what the creator gave you.

And just know that Sunshine is here and is going to continue to represent for the Short and Chic Naturals. We aren't any less beautiful, or feminine, or desirable, or intelligent, or worthy than any one else because or hair is short. We are empowered because we have the courage to be ourselves on our own terms.

Peace

Originally posted July 30, 2009