Stop Holding On To Length, PLEEEEEEAAASE!
Scrolling through social media and listening to the conversations centered around hair and it’s length as it pertains to the Black female experience, I am always in awe of the “scissor happy stylist” who for no other reason than to ensure their client has no length goes in and takes more hair off than needed. The stylist could have only trimmed off less than a quarter inch of their hair that has transparency from the ends throughout the midpoint of length. A good wash and condition with a protein treatment would have repaired the mid shaft breakage and their hair would grow back. It’s amazing how attached we are to length of our crowns despite the very tangible and real need to cut the damage off. We’ve all seen the post where the hair is blown out and several lines are drawn horizontally at various lengths. The highest line up is where the hair really needs to be cut, but everyone is choosing the line closest to the ends of the hair despite the ability to everyone to see the white cape through the client’s hair. We have got to do better.
Length Is Rooted In Micro-Aggressions
I can’t speak for any other woman, but my interaction with Black women and experience as a Black woman is that we are attached to our hair, but more so length and texture. We are obsessed with proving that we “can grow” our hair beyond our shoulders. The hair may be beyond the collar bone, but the vitality isn’t there. It’s uneven and thin. Instead of cutting it off at the point of compromise we hold on to it as to say, “look, I do have hair. It’s long”; but the goal isn’t to have long hair. The goal is to have healthy hair. I often wondered why we were attached to our hair length and I couldn’t help, but think about how micro-aggressions cultivated the insecurity. We were told our hair was not beautiful because it was textured and for those of us whose crowns were shorter due to genetics or improper care, they were made to feel as though they were less than because their hair didn’t reach a certain point. To this day, we have internalized those things and use that as a beacon to measure our femininity and the womanhood. Stop that!
Let It Go, Sis
You aren’t the Almighty and your hair isn’t Lazarus. There will be no resurrection of the dead ends. Once your hair is damaged, it is damaged. No amount of deep conditioners or Olapex treatments will mend the splitting of your hair follicles.
Your Hair Will Have Better Movement And You’ll Be Able To Retain Length
Your coils do not pop nor does your hair move after because it is weighed down by frayed ends. The tangles are signs that your hair needs a cut. Your hair will have better movement and you’ll be able to retain length when you let it go. If you do not cut your hair, the hair will continue to split extending the damage from your ends to mid-shaft. At some point, you will go from needing a trim to a full blown hair cut. If you want to retain length, trim your ends regularly and cut off all damage.