Curly hair has often been overlooked throughout history. Time and time again, society has put down the men and women that wear their hair natural, pushing the narrative that beauty must look a certain way. This narrative is false. Waves, curls and coils are as beautiful as any other hair type and it’s time to leave behind any beliefs on the contrary.
From a young age, little girls are taught that curly hair is an obstacle in the pursuit of beauty. Actresses with naturally curly hair have been forced to straighten their hair for years in order to land successful roles. Even the movies that they star in reinforce this ideal. There is no shortage of fictional characters who straighten their hair to be seen as beautiful by their love interests. It used to be nearly impossible to find a movie with a curly-haired main character, let alone one that is comfortable with the way they look.
This demeaning attitude toward curly hair reaches beyond TV screens. Hair-based discrimination has been a serious issue for years. Curly-haired men and women have been refused jobs, asked to straighten their hair and told that their natural hair is “unprofessional.”
Society’s attitude toward curly hair has had lasting effects on future generations.
Junior Makayla Salvini says, “I’ve struggled with my curly hair. Sometimes I feel like it makes me look messy and not put together.”
Despite these struggles, society has begun to see the beauty of curly hair. More and more actresses wear their natural hair to important events, including Lupita Nyong’O, Viola Davis, Zendaya, Amandla Stenberg and more. Some have even gone about and beyond, becoming public advocates for natural hair. One of the most notable includes Tracee Ellis Ross, founder of the curly haircare brand Pattern. The company specializes in products to allow women with curly hair to feel confident in their own skin and embrace their natural hair.
In an interview with GLAMOUR Magazine, Ross says, “Many of us have become our own best experts in our bathroom. We didn’t have the products and the tools to actually support what we wanted to do with our hair. I want that to end.”
This uplifting view of curly hair is beginning to take root. Online and in person, people are starting to appreciate the beauty of natural curls.
“I have always worn my natural hair, since my parents have always told me what a gift it is. My curly hair is something that makes me unique from others. I’m thankful for that; it has really helped my confidence,” says Sophomore Milee Arroyo.
Too much time has been spent reinforcing the idea that curly isn’t beautiful, but it’s time to change this narrative and embrace the features that make society diverse and exciting.
