Response to Straightening Our Hair

Personal reflection based on "Straightening our Hair" by bell hooks

The essay "Straightening Our Hair" by bell hooks expresses hook's opinion of straightening our hair as black women. Hooks believes that our hair can be a political statement and a way of expressing racial pride and race individuality. By straightening our hair we are conforming to the standards of beauty that has been set by the white supremacist capitalist patriarchy otherwise known as white men. As black women, hair represents who we are and by straightening our hair we are attempting to look white. I agree with hooks because leaving our hair in its beautiful natural state is away of non-conformity and announcing to the world that you embrace your race with pride.

As a young black female of the 21st century, I am a witness of the sudden transformation of trends from braids to straightened and chemically treated hair. Unfortunately, I am also a follower of this trend. I am relieved to admit that I, in the words of Plato, have died in this subject and because of the birth of my new knowledge, I will no longer submit to degradation of my race. From reading hooks' article I know understand that straightening hair is internalized white supremacy capitalist patriarchy oppression where one believes that you are not beautiful until your hair looks "white" by means of chemically processing or straightening. After reading bell's essay, I did some research on straightening and chemically processing of hair and I learned of the harmful effects. According to Akkora.com "[p]erms and relaxers have been a long-time favorite of African American women promising silky straight hair for difficult to manage locks, but this beauty regimen comes at a high price that includes: hair breakage, scalp irritation, stunted hair growth, hair thinning, permanent hair loss and even respiratory problems." Not only is processing your hair an act of conformity, it is also dangerous to your health. While researching, I also found out that straightening your hair could also be harmful to your health. According to Feelgoodstyle.com "[f]ew products are cross-tested to check for dangerous chemical reactions. Any heat applied to hair, whether it is through a blow dryer, hot rollers, curling iron, or flat iron damages the hair and can leave it dry or brittle. I burned my face with styling tools and endured funky chemical smells from straightening balms"

Hair also creates a relationship with self-identity is a representation of who you are. As a Muslim girl, my hair is a symbol of beauty and by covering it I exhibit modesty. Modest is a key component in the life of a Muslim; particularly in the life of a Muslim woman. According to the Muslim holy book, the Quran "[o] Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers that they