My clients have been overloading me with questions concerning their jobs and their natural hair. Do I need to straighten my hair before I interview for a job or to keep my job? Are twist sets considered “Professional?” What will people say about my hair? Is it ok for my Job to tell me to straighten my hair?
Before I answer those questions here are my questions to you. What do you see when you look into the mirror and why? Are you satisfied with how your hair looks? Why are you concerned with what others will say?
Q&A
Q: Do I need to straighten my hair while working in a office or public setting?
A: No, where is it in WRITING that your hair should be straight. I do believe that a professional should be well groomed.
Q: Are twist sets considered to be professional?
A: Yes. Think about those who wear dreads and sister-locks. Twist sets can be worn in so many different ways, i.e. buns, loose, pompadours, or pinned into a style etc.
Q: What will people say about my hair?
A: May I suggest that you educate yourself as much as possible about natural hair. And Learn to Love your hair. Then teach others about our curls. But, also show them by keeping your hair healthy.
Q: Is it ok for my job to tell me to straighten my hair?
A: No! That’s when you can say my hair is not like yours and my scalp is allergic to the chemicals “I’ve tried it” that’s why I’m natural.
What exactly is professionalism?
The web dictionary says that professionalism is the competence or skill of a professional. However, Webster’s dictionary says professionalism is “the conduct, aims, or qualities that characterize or mark a profession or a professional person “; and it defines a profession as “a calling requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive academic preparation.”
What makes me a Professional?
A professional will provide excellent service and add value to the customer in a manner that is acceptable to the customer.
EMBRACE how God created your hair. Your hair is unique, just like your fingerprint, IT CAN NOT BE DUPLICATED. And no one else has hair like yours. So fall in love with your curls!
Society has taken what we were born with and calling it unprofessional. When the doctor handed you and I to our mothers he did not say: “wait you have one more push, here’s the relaxer – be sure to use this because if you don’t your baby’s hair will tangle up!” When we were born, we came out with strong, beautiful CURLS (not naps). The doctor was concerned with your health not your hair. So with that being said, Natural is for everyone who chooses to wear it. I hate to hear someone of my ethnicity or different say that “NATURAL HAIR” is not for everyone. Inside of your scalp is the same thing (natural hair), the appendage is just masked with a chemical. Misleading information has been passed down from century to century. Unfortunately, it still comes back to my salon “My Hair Is Nappy, like Cotton, Kinky, Bad, or Knotty”. I have since started consultations with each client before a service is given in order to help those that are in need and to put an end to this madness. I would love for us to look in the mirror and “LOVE” our hair as we love anything and everything else. Unrelaxed Natural hair is BEAUTIFUL and a reflection of how our GOD distinctively made our hair. Love Your Hair!