As many Black women who live abroad have come to realize, our hair can quickly become a source of stress, should certain variables not be in place. Firstly, one must understand that for many Black women, hair is an institution. It is important, with a capital “I”. Look at Tyra Banks and her (often jacked-up) weaves (this is probably a very poor example). Ever watch America’s Next Top Model? The second episode after they choose the girls is always the hair makeover episode. Hair is a major accessory, no matter whether you are White, Black, or Green.
That being said, if you are a Black woman and you live in a country that does not have a large Black population, maintaining your hair with the necessary products and “getting the hair did” can cause a lot of drama. I thought of this as I took on the daunting task of taking out my braids a few days ago (in preparation of the new set I got this past Saturday). Luckily, the plethora of West Indian and African folk here in Toronto basically ensures that I will always have someone to do my hair, for relatively cheap and on relatively short notice. Hair products for “Black hair” abound- at last count, even Walmart had a Black hair care aisle.
But I digress. As I anticipate moving abroad again next year, the question of what I will end up doing with my hair has already popped up in the periphery of my mind. Nothing serious though, as I stopped chemically straightening my hair years ago. Which means that a compact, cute, wash-and-go afro is always an option if need be (though if given the choice, I opt for braids as the maintenance is just so darn easy).
I laugh a little as I think of my various experiences with getting my hair done abroad. I have quite a few. I lived in France from 2003 to 2004, then again from 2005 to 2006. Then I lived in Mexico all of last year. The first time I set foot in France back in 2003, I stepped off the plane with freshly relaxed hair. This,of course, was after having flirted for a year with an extremely short, kinky afro, which my Mom absolutely abhorred (telling me that my “nappy head” made me look like Kunte Kinte from Roots). Once in France, I began to inquire as to where I could get the hair did. I soon found myself at the mercy of a Congolese hair-dresser in the Nantes centre-ville, who just about burned my head off with her draconian methods. Extra-strong, no-name relaxer? Check. Slathering on said relaxer from root to tip? Check. Curling iron set to the highest setting? Check. Charging an exorbitant rate for these horribly overrated (and dangerous) services? Check. What does that equal? A recipe for disaster. Needless to say, that was, and will be, the last time I ever get my hair chemically straightened. Amen.
With that out of the way, finding someone to braid my huge mass of natural hair soon became the name of the game. In Mexico, this was particularily difficult. I mean, I was the only Black girl for miles. Whenever I would see a Black girl comme moi, the topic of hair typically would come up at break-neck speed(and for the record, now that I think about it, I only met 9 other Black females the WHOLE 11 MONTHS that I lived in Mexico- 5 of them at the same time because we were participating an African fashion exhibition)! And most of our hair solutions were often complicated. In Mexico, one Black American lady flew her hair stylist in from Detroit!! Another Black woman in Mexico I knew knew another African girl who lived in the next town two hours away, and would drive over there to get her hair done. And when I went to spend New Years’ in New York after spending Christmas in Puerto Vallarta, I made sure to dedicate a day of my stay to getting my hair done in Harlem. When I lived in the south of France, I used to get my hair plaited by this girl who was the friend of a friend of a friend.
So much drama!! And all this doesn’t even consider the time it takes to get your hair done (which can involve TONS of waiting- my braid extentions routinely take 6 to 7 hours to finish)…
Maybe I should be like Britney Spears and shave my head next year? (Only half joking!!)
27 Comments
This is even a problem within the US in states with almost non-existent black populations. When I moved to New Mexico for my job, the first thing that I did before leaving my home in North Carolina was to get my permed hair cut and hence began my afro. I couldn’t deal with the drama of trying to perm my hair after taking out my braids or finding someone to do my hair regularly. This post speaks volumes to me. Thanks!
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