Six months! They have improvved greatly. They are shrinking and tightening and the roots are cleaning up. But there are good days and bad still. I still cover them up when in public.
A few days after this photo was taken, my sister called me and told me my mom was worried about me because of my hair. They could not understand why I was doing this to my hair. I got so upset and told her that I am not judged by anyone as much as my family. She responded that they did not want to be hurtful, they just didn't understand WHY. My parents thought I would struggle with getting a job and that people would judge me.
I do not blame them for worrying, but I was hurt. Of anyone in the world, my family should be the most accepting of my decisions. But I was so upset that I could not properly explain myself.
After the phone call, I had to reflect and revisit my reasons for dreading my hair:
Political: Dreads are a political stance against the beauty norms of Western society, As a firm feminist, I am against how the media defines the proper female, and male, form.
Spiritual: Dreadlocks have forced me to confront deep, embedded aspects of my Self. I have wrestled with my own superficiality as well as my confidence in the beauty of my inner Self. Prayer has helped me with this reflection.
Nature: Dreadlocks are the natural form of human hair. Contemporary, consumerist society is dazed and confused by unnatural beauty products and socially constructed norms of appearance. Rejecting these practices is a reminder of my ancient human nature.
I do not blame them for worrying, but I was hurt. Of anyone in the world, my family should be the most accepting of my decisions. But I was so upset that I could not properly explain myself.
After the phone call, I had to reflect and revisit my reasons for dreading my hair:
Political: Dreads are a political stance against the beauty norms of Western society, As a firm feminist, I am against how the media defines the proper female, and male, form.
Spiritual: Dreadlocks have forced me to confront deep, embedded aspects of my Self. I have wrestled with my own superficiality as well as my confidence in the beauty of my inner Self. Prayer has helped me with this reflection.
Nature: Dreadlocks are the natural form of human hair. Contemporary, consumerist society is dazed and confused by unnatural beauty products and socially constructed norms of appearance. Rejecting these practices is a reminder of my ancient human nature.