Amarachi Okeke and Ava Mason joined the Kultur Stories 2024 team as student interns. Both Amarachi and Ava are seniors at University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC).
Ava connected with Sweden and South Sudan students via internet chats in order to gather hair perspectives from different cultural backgrounds. She gathered the opinions of the students, interns, and facilitators (“elders”), to create the Hair Stories 2024 webpage.
Both interns have unique backgrounds that drew them to this cultural exchange experience. Since they were involved with all phases of the project, we thought it would be meaningful to hear their hair stories as well.
I have grown up with an understanding of hair types. I think that before any discussion on hair, it is important to understand the differences in hair types because of the connections one may have with their hair. Each hair type requires a level of attention to its characteristics whether it’s cut, style, shape, or length. – Ava
Hair is one of the most identifiable features of a person, creating a sort of connection of an individual to their hair. Through this experience, we have learned how culture impacts the way people identify themselves with their hair. The hair experience in the United States tends to have many avenues because of the rich cultural diversity.
Especially with Black hair, I feel like in the past few years my perception on hairstyles has really changed. It seems like every hairstyle a Black girl does is monitored in some way. There’s often discourse about what hair is ‘age appropriate’ or what hair is suitable for birthday pictures, or what hair is best to wear on vacation… silly things like that. Lately I’ve just been trying to do what works best for me and ignore what I see in the media because I just want to do what’s best for my hair and what I like on myself.
– Amarachi
My experience with my hair started with my mom, who taught me how to style and the best products to use to define curly hair. One of the hardest parts about curly hair is finding the right product that isn’t too heavy or too crunchy. Luckily, we can test and share products with each other. Now, I am also on the board of a club at my school called Curl PWR, where I am surrounded by people with similar and different hair types. I think the hair experience is so much better when you have people around you to help navigate through finding the perfect fit for products and even styles.
– Ava
I feel like if my hair is freshly done, I feel more confident. If it’s been a few weeks since I’ve gotten my hair done, I get ‘hair depression.’ I start to feel uglier and I just feel like hiding. I feel like my personality is brighter and happier when my hair is freshly done. After about a week or two, I start planning my next hairstyle.
– Amarachi
From our interns’ experiences with hair, you can see how much a person’s surroundings can influence or shape how they see themselves and their hair. Unfortunately, we know that there are also many spaces where people are not accepted for their features. Our interns spoke on the issues they face in the United States with hair discrimination.
Microaggressions are present in tons of spaces for people of African and African-American descent. One of the most present microaggressions in my hair experience is people not believing my race. People are often shocked to learn that I am mixed-race (black and white) because my curl pattern is ‘too loose.’
— Ava
Not recently, but in elementary and middle school people were a lot more judgmental. So if I wore my natural hair out and it wasn’t neatly done or when I had it cut, people would stare more and comment on it. They would even try and touch my hair without permission. Back then I wasn’t really outspoken, so I would just let it happen. However, now, I would definitely say something if someone made a comment about my hair.
— Amarachi
It is important to recognize that the hair discrimination we, or our friends, families, etc. are still facing roots in continuous racial discrimination and criminalization. Luckily, we live in a state that has passed legislation (The CROWN Act) to protect Black individuals from being criminalized for wearing their natural hair in any professional or non-professional space. Even though I know this type of microaggressive hate stems from racism, it still blows my mind that even someone’s hair would be targeted.
— Ava
Unaffiliated with The Crown Act, linked for informative purposes.
We hope that exploring this page was a meaningful experience and inspires you to learn more about the meaning of hair. Whether it is cultural, social, or personal, hair can completely shape a person. We encourage you to think about your own hair story, and continue the conversation about what hair means to you.