Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Embrace the fro, Nesian!

Note that the following article is a rant session and was inspired by real-life experiences. 

I'm not sure which beauty standard it is that alienates a lot of women and men from owning up to their gorgeous humidity-sensitive ball of frizz- "The Fro".

From Maybelline commercial-like hair to a shiny bald that reflects better than a newly varnished mahogany antique table, if you were born that way, then surely you have every right to flaunt it. It's a pity that some of our Nesian brothers and sisters try desperately to be rid of their fro.















There's nothing that should make us feel more royal than our very own natural tiara.  Now don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with straightening, perming or curling your hair. I straighten mine for Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) reasons but it does become a little annoying that I get questioned if I happen to have a fro.
It's always the same questions and the same statements. Why is your hair so bushy? Boy, you have so much hair. Your hair is so big. What's up with your hair? Is it alive? Does it house citizens of Liliput? That looks like kutu nation in there. Your hair is crazy. Don't you tie your hair? Why don't you tie your hair? Oh, did you lose your hair tie?



Really?? It's much worse when it comes from someone who naturally, would have curly or frizzy hair. Do these people think they inherited their gel over-dosed hair from their fore-fathers? Sorry folks, but back then clothing irons were used for clothes....only. 
We only have to look at albums from the '90s and earlier to see that it was quite popular and normal for our women AND men to be spotting fros as high and crooked as the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Actually, it's pretty sad that not many of our women in the cities keep their bui ni ga.


I hear a lot of things about afros being untidy, unmanageable, ugly.....Why are we bowing to beauty ideals that are going to change in a decade? Sure there are a lot of lists floating around online about the burdens we afro citizens must face, but can we focus our attention to the awesomeness that we project through our majestic gravity-defying hair. 

You don't need a hair tie! You don't have to bother with escaped tendrils of hair and having to retie your hair. 

You're free!!
Save money on those weaves and expensive hair relaxers.
Make your own fashion statement.
Embrace that fro, Nesian!!