Representation matters

"I made the decision to keep my hair natural during my self evolution of learning who I was as a woman. I had to learn to love myself over again but the confidence I have gained has been passed down to my child who can now love her natural hair as well. I have learned that my hair does not define my worth. How I feel in my natural state only strengthened my confidence and the love I can project to others."

"My locs = Freedom for me. It was the start of a spiritual journey of loving myself the wayThe Most High God made me. I also needed to be an example for my daughters and show them what it truly meant to love yourself and how you were made. Now, all 4 of my girls have locs and are committed to absolutely loving themselves unafraid, untamed, and unashamed."

"Growing up, I was taught that my hair was nappy and spent many Saturday evenings getting my hair straightened with a hot comb. As I grew older, my mom began using a relaxer to straighten my hair, this continued throughout my adulthood until one day I stopped putting chemicals in my hair. I cut all of my hair off and it was then that I learned to love my natural hair and understand who I truly was as a black woman. I felt so liberated and free from the conditions of society, the stigma that had been instilled in me and what I should look like."

"I started my natural journey 12 years ago in college when I began really deciding how I wanted to represent myself outwardly. My thoughts, goals, and personal life changing rapidly and I wanted my hair to represent the beauty of coming into my own. I began my loc journey three years ago and have fallen in love with what my hair is capable of doing. To me, my hair is my crown and with locs you really learn to let go. They're stubborn at times and don't always conform to what you want when you want it. I've learned patience, pride and versatility through my hair."

"This is my Yah given hair, my crown, and a daily reminder of who I am. Crowned with a purpose."

"I choose to rock my natural and protective styles because my natural hair makes me feel free and protective styles make me feel beautiful while letting my natural hair grow and flourish."