Stories & Snapshots

Attention All Naturals: Whether you're bushy, loc'd, or bald (incl caesars, etc)* NATURALS! NATURALS! NATURALS!

We want to hear from you? Email your 'hairstory' along with a picture of your 'napps' to BushBroads@gmail.com for possible inclusion in our first book..... Any and all stories are welcome.....

Crystal's Experience

Over the course of about 10 years I have been undecided between natural and relaxed hair. I consider self low maintainence but work in an industry where beauty and appearance are judged before character and talent. First, let me say that my mother is a hair styist and owned a salon for much of my life. I have never been married to hair because I've seen it fried, dyed, and weaved...meaning it optional. My journey began as a teen. I was experimenting with my hair(cutting/coloring) and decided I wanted a big fro....but around prom time and graduation time I decided I needed "serious hair". I relaxed my hair without a second thought. Two weeks after graduation I went in my godfather's barber shop and got a ceasar. I wore an afro, cornrows, and even pressed hair through college until I decided to experiment with locking my hair. I locked my hair myself and wore them through graduation and finally decided to cut them because I was tired of being the butt end of rastafarian jokes. The breaking point was freelancing @ Southpark and having a distract manager approach me as if I was ignorant of proper english (complete with him rolling his neck and his eyes). Why is it that the hair we have on our head bothers some people?....I don't know...their issue not mine. I was also going through other life changes as I was assuming my role as a proper adult woman. So once again I went back to my ceasar. I decided to take another approach....grow it and weave it. My hair seemed to grow quickly but I relaxed it again about a year later. After about six months and moving to NY I decided to begin cutting my hair again. I like to say that I have had every hairstyle Rihanna has now...but I had them last year. I ran back to my ceasar and have been growing my hair since...best descision ever! I don't see a relaxer in my future anytime soon..I feel my hair has reflected the changes I've gone through and as I see grays sprouting it will continue to grow and change with me. I don't know what the stigma is about natural hair but I suspect most of it stems from ignorance. Why do I have to change what is natural to me to please someone else's eyes if I am the only me I'll ever be? I must please myself and do what's natural.

What's Your Story?

Alright ladies and gentlemen!! Natural or not, we want to hear your 'hairstory.' What does your hair mean to you? How do you keep it fresh, clean, dope? Any 'interesting' care rituals? Are you diagnosed with an illness and losing your locs because of it? How did it feel the first time your hair was pulled during sex? Does your hair cause people to stare? If so, why? How are you coping with turning 'gray?' We want to hear it all, any and everything, bring it on! Will you share with us? Pretty please! If so, send your tale to BushBroads@gmail.com.....

Makes Me Wanna Holler

this morning, my family and i discussed corporate america and how natural hair isn't accepted in this particular realm. mind you, most of the women present were beautiful naturals but since everyone hasn't converted, it was a roundtable of various grades of hair (i still love them...lol)

regardless, we all agreed that corporate america doesn't tolerate our natural state! but more, the question is why? [so what you're saying is, i have to relax my hair for you to (relax)?] and while they may not outright say that your kinks are a catastrophe, they find other means to drive this point home such as including certain criteria in the 'professional dress' section in their rule books. hah!

looka here, my professional dress includes an outfit that looks and fits flawlessly as well as a clean crown of nappiness. yes, nappy! (i embrace that word) my 'professional' includes degrees and experience that made me an ideal candidate for the position but now, i'm not qualified because of what lies atop my head. so never mind the fact that i can do your job and handle the responsibilities of your boss with my eyes close, you're more concerned with the fact that my hair appears to have a mind of its own? oh really? well, you know what? so do i!

really though, who am i kidding, i was never a corporate gal--couldn't, wouldn't fit into a box (cubicle or otherwise). besides, i'm way too colorful and would probably burn their rule books! however, for my sisters who are climbing that ladder, don't let 'the man' interfere with you being true..... define and design yourself!

a change must come..... and, so be it, if you have to form your own corporations, businesses, etc and show them how it's done.... it's 2010!! wake up, people!