Shame to Pride

Abstract

In this chapter, the author discusses a journey of natural hair acceptance. As a child, she struggled with not understanding how to care for her hair and the desire to have straight hair. She shares the challenges of conforming to Eurocentric beauty standards in institutions that require uniformity, such as cheerleading and military service in the United States Air Force. These experiences led her to focus on natural hair in her graduate studies. She discusses the challenges of wearing natural hair in graduate school and how discussions of professionalism and hair left her feeling isolated yet energized. Ultimately, she shares her recent experience with embracing her natural hair as a researcher and professional. As an assistant professor at a prestigious HBCU, she has increasingly fallen in love with her and other women's natural hair. She teaches students about the CROWN Act and has continued her research on natural hair experiences. Today, she credits her newfound confidence to spaces and people that accept and celebrate Black beauty and natural hair.