The Original Manhattanite : Many Phases of My Hair

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Many Phases of My Hair

The many changing phases of my hair : Chloe’s hair history and how women deal with it regularly

Written by: Chloe J. Riccardo

I recently cut my hair…short. Yes really short for the first time in my life ever my hair is really short. I have always had mid-length hair…my hair when I was a little girl was really long too. It was down to my shoulders when I was a little girl. I inherited that from my mom but it grows slow (I inherited that side from my dad, no offense dad). I went through a lot of phases with my hair. They say hair often reflects a time period, a new beginning, a fashion influence, the person’s personality, their career, and even economic-social status. In my twenty-five year journey thus far, I have had cornrows, pigtails, ponytails, wigs, weaves, clip ons, buns, flip outs, curls(Shirley temple curls), twists (flat twists), “the Brandy braids” I only wore for about two years from circa 1995 to 1997 I was nine I cut my hair lol (but I was a little girl being silly and not realizing what would come next)…before graduating over to a doobie(my hair wrapped which comes out into a pageboy). I have even had afropuffs and of course my bangs (my trademark since age 10). So my hair has seen it all much as much as I have. Now with my new look still in its beginning phase. I feel a sense of freedom now, a sense of now I am coming into my womanhood now.

I don’t feel like a little girl anymore, I feel like I am growing into a new person now…someone more willing to take some big risks and challenges ahead of her. I am willing to embrace who I am now even more. I always wanted to cut my hair but I was so worried once I cut it—what would be the outcome. Now I know…it’s really nothing to worry about as far as length. It will always grow back if you take care of it properly. I have learned about hair a lot especially growing up being able to go to hair salons. My mom, my two grandmothers, and even my great-grandmother always gave me a chance to go so hair salons for me. Or I would even go to a family friend or close friend to get my hair done also, To me a beauty/ hair salon is not only a place of beauty, peace, harmony, but also a place to reflect for a little girl, young lady, and grown women’s personal style, and who they are as well.

I often think about those days…when I had my hair in different ways and it makes me smile knowing I went from one phase to the next just as with my life. It’s not just a spiritual and soulful journey…it’s also a physical one too.

I believe for me hair has been important since I was born…the day I was born I had a full head of hair but I was also premature and my doctor’s couldn’t properly find a vein in my head…so they cut my hair off. Now of course my parents were frantic and upset….but I think even at the moment….it’s like God knew…hair will be important to this child.

As an adult of course it is…for a lot of reasons…one hair for women is different for men. They can easily get a cut put a clean shirt on and go about their day.

For women, it’s about maintenance, keeping it clean, making sure your scalp, the roots, the ends are properly taken care of every day. Then it is also about the upkeep…from morning to night…your hair changes. From the elements : humidity, rain, fog, snow, sleet, hail, sun (yes be careful with the sun sometimes it can lighten your hair a bit too), and thunderstorms, the environment you’re in on a regular basis. Even how you decide to sleep in it can also affect you. Also the bills from spending money on beauty products…can hurt your pocket too.

Next comes the competitiveness of keeping up with times…trying to look like the latest movie star, superstar songstress, television host, television personality, model or even author is not easy you literally are sacrificing your pocketbook to maintain an image.

It’s tough for women to keep up their hair and the look of it every day…now with my next and new look. I am willing to accept the unknown and the new journey ahead of me. I am excited…I know that my hair will thank me…if it could speak to say “Thanks for giving us a break…we needed it”. I also know in the business that I am in which is media and I am an aspiring journalist…hair in media and entertainment is crucial! You must have your hair put together whether you are in front of the camera or behind it...it’s important cause you don’t know who you’re going to meet.

I believe hair is important it really is a reflection of identity plus it is one of the things we first notice besides the face. It also is what people can remember us by too when talking about us…such as “Oh the blonde with the blue shirt” or “The brunette with purple top”, or “The Black girl with the long hair weaved down her back”, or “the girl with the pink and red striped hair” for some of us more risky than others. It’s about showing the world who we really are inside and also what we are about too.

I know hair is important to women…I have been around so many of them to know that now. One of my dear best friends has dyed her hair probably more than I can ever keep count since I have known her…her hair has changed about 10 times probably she’s been blonde, brunette, and a redhead…she’s gone super short, super long, and even curly too. So I have seen hair change vastly with women…even my own mother she’s had an afro, highlights, a perm, then no perm, long, curly, she’s worn wigs, buns, and she has had cornrows too. So for women and myself I know hair is important. It is about showing people the person you want to be inside, and also showing your style.

I believe that it’s a blessing to have hair, and to even get a chance to do something with it….that part was genius to who invented hair salons in the first place. I thank the man or woman for that idea. So I have to stay no matter short or long it is sometimes good to take a couple inches off on what’s on top of your head sometimes too.

This photo taken 5/30/2012>>>