Don't Touch My Hair!

You probably read that title and assumed I was off-topic and that it has nothing to do with this platform. I will prove you wrong, read on.

The other day I was shopping with my daughter. As I was buying, a stranger passing behind me ran his fingers through my dreadlocks. Now ladies, do you know that feeling when someone gropes you from behind and pretends it was a mistake? The feeling of disgust and violation like they have taken something from you? It is not something tangible it’s your dignity. I know this feeling all too well because someone grabbed my backside and ran away some years back. I was on my way to work and that ruined my whole day, I kept crying at the office and couldn’t get any work done. That's beside the point.

When this guy touched my hair, I felt the same way as I did when the other guy groped me. He was on a call while walking his dog and I yelled at him ‘Don’t touch my hair!’ He mumbled something about wanting to feel my hair. I was too violated to keep talking to him so off he went. Now, I know my 8-year-old well-kempt long dreds are tempting to touch and all but please!

Hair. Hair is so intimate and sensitive, no wonder it’s a multi-billion dollar industry currently worth $48.5 Billion in 2023. You have weaves, wigs, human hair, synthetic, etc and then there are those of us who like to keep it natural. In fact, the latter is usually the norm these days as more people prefer dreadlocks for their simplicity and affordability.

Dreadlocks have been associated with certain unmentionable sects, unruliness, and Rastafarianism. While that might be a characteristic it is not fair to impose a blanket cover on the whole matter. I think we can all agree that one doesn’t have to dread to be rasta and vice versa. Wore unto the men spotting dreadlocks because you will always be a suspect in the eyes of the police. I think society fusses too much about it, it’s a problem when you wear your hair naturally, and ok when you add fake hair to it.

Let us now address the employers who would not hire candidates on the basis of them having locs or long hair in an afro (for men). I feel you miss out on the best candidates by imposing such mediocre notions. Imagine letting someone be themselves and bring that authenticity to work. Wouldn’t you be happy when they express themselves as their true selves? Instead of creating this box that you want them to fit in making people go to the extent of shaving their hair for that paycheck that sometimes isn’t worth it.

We have institutions and schools that deny admission to students who have dreadlocks. While I agree with the need to maintain uniformity and tidiness, I don’t see why natural hair is frowned upon with such magnitude. Hair is the only outward feature other than dressing that gives a person character. By wearing it however they like they show their individualism and uniqueness. Imagine if we all had the same hairstyle, wouldn’t that be ridiculous?

I will not address white people who find it cute to touch black people’s hair because that is a matter for another day. For now, I am not my hair as sung by India Arie, but also I am very much my hair. So figuratively and literally, please, do-not-touch-my-hair!