“Why are women your age growing their hair out and wearing it like that?” studying me, she asked with a mixture of curiosity and disgust from a time-honored place of cut, comb, coif, and sprayed perfection that I simply cannot relate to.
My hair is long. It is wild. With streaks of grey. And it offers no apologies or explanations.
Hundreds of responses went through my mind in an instant, but with the utmost respect and deference to my sassy great aunt, I simply replied with a mixture of love and quiet confidence.
“Because we don’t give a damn.”
Feeling nothing but compassion, affection, and forgiveness, I grasp and appreciate that place where her judgement dwells. Because, my sisters, for all that they have been through, we are free.
May 5, 2021
New York, New York
Those words, well articulated my Sister. I do have some grey’s peeking through and I’ve decided to not give a damn. Lol
Several years ago I had a woman (actually she is a counselor) who is much older than me ask with a look of curiosity and disgust “what made you decide to let your hair color go natural?” This was right after I cut my hair in a pixie cut and suddenly you could see how much grey hair I had.
My response was kind but unapologetically true…
“I love and embrace the natural highlights that God has given me!”
She didn’t know what to say. I smiled and walked off while her mouth was still hanging open. I’m not sure if she realized how much her facial expressions told off on her internal thoughts.