Here are some of the hair confessions that were submitted. Excerpts of them to the Hair Confessions wall at the Wits Art Museum and the full confessions can be viewed below.
THANK-YOU for sharing these stories. I have learnt so much about hair and I'm continuing to learn more about every individual's hair experiences.
THANK-YOU for sharing these stories. I have learnt so much about hair and I'm continuing to learn more about every individual's hair experiences.
"I have done all kinds of things with my hair: Braided -"amaphondo" or night plaits; so the hair could be un-braided and would comb manageably and look natural and soft in the morning. Then came hot stretch with a hot comb you put on the stove, then moved to cold stretch using cream I suppose its what could be called relax these days. For a while did braids with extensions. Then came the weave with human hair. My first experience with the straight weave trouble started! After removing it, "Nji baba!" I thought: "Is this a curse from an Indian girl whose hair was forcefully cut to make money?" When I was a university student, I spotted my natural short hairand it felt free no fear of "hair going home" on a wet day! After the damage from chemical relaxers: Bald patches! Solution-"Sakora"- shave the whole head! But in my profession, a married woman, was not bold to go "chiskop" in public, that is another cultural taboo" Uyahlola"- only a widow a woman in mourning shaves hair! Then what? A wig is itchy and uncomfortable! Miss my university days when I was single and could spot short natural hair! Well---the weave has its place for vanity! Yes I remember the afro style we used Morgan's pomade later sulfer 8 castor oil and glycerin to keep the hair soft that was the 60,s and 70,s.
then the Back Consciousness movement was strong- it felt good to be "Black and Proud" Keep your long natural afro-looks!"
--- Randi Foli
then the Back Consciousness movement was strong- it felt good to be "Black and Proud" Keep your long natural afro-looks!"
--- Randi Foli
"My hair has always been difficult, growing up in a "coloured" environment, it was always coarse when all the pretty girls had beautiful, straight hair. I started relaxing my hair when I was around 12 and it was always a treat to go to the hairdresser and come home with beautiful shiny, straight hair. I cut my hair short for the first time at the end of my matric year, but I continued to relax it, even though I would wear it curly most days because that's how I could manage it. I've had weaves of so many lengths and styles
too and my own hair really thrived under them. One day, just before my 31st birthday party, I decided to shave my head. It was the most liberating feeling and I thought I looked great. I felt so empowered. I haven't used a single chemical on my hair since and it's been great being natural. I work a s TV presenter, so I was concerned that my natural hair wouldn't be considered to be professional, but I am yet to have a negative response. In fact, I'm seeing more briefs for advert castings where the reference pic is a woman with natural hair and I've just recently shot a commercial for DSTV and my natural hair is there in all its glory. I had a baby five months ago and throughout my pregnancy, my hair was strong and healthy. Now, I am struggling with post-partum hair loss. It made me very concerned and sad for a while, but I know it's unfortunately part of the hormonal changes in my body and I'm just giving my hair more TLC and hopefully in a year it will all be back to normal.
My hair is such a big part of who I am and the whole natural hair journey is teaching me patience and also a greater love for myself as I am."
---- Rozanne McKenzie
too and my own hair really thrived under them. One day, just before my 31st birthday party, I decided to shave my head. It was the most liberating feeling and I thought I looked great. I felt so empowered. I haven't used a single chemical on my hair since and it's been great being natural. I work a s TV presenter, so I was concerned that my natural hair wouldn't be considered to be professional, but I am yet to have a negative response. In fact, I'm seeing more briefs for advert castings where the reference pic is a woman with natural hair and I've just recently shot a commercial for DSTV and my natural hair is there in all its glory. I had a baby five months ago and throughout my pregnancy, my hair was strong and healthy. Now, I am struggling with post-partum hair loss. It made me very concerned and sad for a while, but I know it's unfortunately part of the hormonal changes in my body and I'm just giving my hair more TLC and hopefully in a year it will all be back to normal.
My hair is such a big part of who I am and the whole natural hair journey is teaching me patience and also a greater love for myself as I am."
---- Rozanne McKenzie
"Well, have been natural for close to 18 months now. I love being natural, I don't want to lie BUT type 4C hair is not a joke to maintain. Mine is dry and hard to detangle. It's a nightmare!!! But I thank the internet and bloggers like @Aishaandlife and @africanhairblog and @naturalme4c for their outstanding work to help us naturals maintain and embrace our natural hair. Am still yet to learn a lot. And will confess more. Now am usually in braids but can't wait to flaunt my hair and take pride in being black and African. Especially I want to try the Maximum Hydration Method!
I love my natural hair and so should you!"
--- IG @natural_hair4c Kim (twitter handle)
I love my natural hair and so should you!"
--- IG @natural_hair4c Kim (twitter handle)
"I am 37 and going grey!!! I love the natural streaks of wisdom, but sad to say, I dye them. Why? Darling, who wants to be grey at 37!"
--- Anonymous
--- Anonymous
"I was having a breakdown, A nervous breakdown and had my entire being discarded to the floor and all I could think of was my hairstyle, of all the things I could think of, of all the changes I could make, my hair was the one that came to mind and stayed there at that point in time I thought of my identity, who i had turned into and realized how tamed I had become, I was no longer wild and thus I was no longer happy for I was trying to fit into a mold that was never mine, that was never designed for me and I thought freedom could only be expressed through my hair, I could not quit my job, nor could I wear a crop top or even go wild partying, but I could change my hairstyle and consciously let it express me and Identify me as the person I truly wanted to be, the person I knew I was, the oh so wild, oh so whimsical, oh so gorgeous Tshegofatso I named my self Beautiful!"
--- Tshegofatso Seoka
--- Tshegofatso Seoka
"I have ginger hair and used to be teased throughout my school career. I dyed my hair so many times in University that it doesn't want to grow out ginger anymore. I'm really sad now because having ginger hair was a part of my identity and I miss having such unique hair. I wish I was proud of my hair to begin with."
--- Anonymous
--- Anonymous
"I have three confessions to make - well one confession and two stories:
Confession
I have always wanted dreadlocks - too me they are one of the most aesthetically pleasing hair styles (yes I know its odd) but something in me has always been attracted to the idea of have a hair full of dreads. Perhaps some of this attraction comes from my love of certain sub cultures that are strongly associated with the style. However I have never gone through with it for a couple of reasons:
- I am a white man and an atheist too. Dreadlocks are strongly routed in Rastafarianism from both a religious and cultural perspective.
- Since I am neither a Rasta or a part of the wider black african diaspora I have felt that it would be insincere and insulting for me to wear dreads .Since I am a white man my hair will never dread well anyway - its too soft and straight
So I will continue to love the hair style and I respect all the cultural and religious links but I will never wear them myself.
Story 1
I have long hair - like down to the middle of my chest. I am also a man - although this is not odd in the grand scheme of things I cannot begin to count how many times I have been called a girl - a sissy or a 'faggot' for wearing long hair. Oddly these comments have ALWAYS come from men - and men over the age of 35+ at that. I thought we were past these small insignificant gender signifiers - perhaps not.
Story 2
As well as my long hair I have a beard. Recently on a trip through South Africa I was in a rural part of KZN and ended up in a conversation with some local men - all I would think well over the age of 75. They told me that I was too young and inexperienced to wear a beard and that I was showing up my father by wearing one. I had never even begun to consider how other cultures in South Africa view the wearing of facial hair - made me think of how little I know."
--- Daniel Neville