Rooted Wednesdays Vol. 4 Is your hair styled or supported?

Whats On My Hair + Heart 👀

Yesterday, I caught myself at work with a slicked-down bun, gel holding everything in place while quietly pulling the life out of my hair.

At the same time, I was watching a TikTok about how Black hair care is often more centered on styling than supporting. More about appearance than protection. And something clicked.

So much of what we’re taught as Black women is about providing for others rather than protecting ourselves. About making things look good, look presentable for others, even if it costs us something. That lesson shows up everywhere, including our hair.

Black women have always maximized the versatility of our hair for culture, creativity, and survival. And that’s beautiful.

Until it turns into performance.
Until we’re providing others with a polished view while quietly sacrificing the needs of our hair underneath.

That slicked-back style, neat, controlled, “appropriate”, quickly became suffocating. I couldn’t wait to steam my hair out and apply something moisturizing once I got home. I was literally counting down the minutes to take off a scrunchie that had been tied too tight from the start.

I thought about how familiar that feeling is.
Going home. Ripping the hair tie out. Throwing on a bonnet. Resting in that release.

But yesterday, I paused.

I realized my hair didn’t just need relief, it needed care before styling, not after. It needed intention, not correction.

So I slowed it down. I got my steamer✨ going, to open my hair cuticles to release the gel and receive moisture from a yummy UFD's cream. I treated my hair like something worthy of support, not just control.

And in that moment, it felt bigger than hair.

It reminded me that care isn’t something we follow up on once the work is over.
It’s part of the work.

Today, I’m choosing to ask myself a different question(s):
What does it look like to protect before I perform?

Is my hair’s appearance doing more for others’ visual comfort than it’s doing for my hair goals?

From My Wash Day to Yours,

Jasmine